126 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE. 



I watched its growth and tried my horse to see if he would eat it. Passing along 

 the same place again I observed where my horse had eaten before it had tillered out 

 again with numerous vigorous shoots. A rain coming on soon afterwards, I sent my 

 wagoner with a box and spade and had some dug up by the Pbots and put out at homo 

 in a Bermuda grass plat ; and, although the tap root was cut, it grew finely and pro- 

 duced seed abundantly. Some of it I cut and fed to the different animals — horses, 

 cows, and hogs — I had then on my place ; all seemed to eat it readily. (This, I a m sat- 

 isfied, however, is an acquired taste, for some stock will not eat it at first, but become 

 very fond of it when wilted.) I cured some, and found that, like clover, lucerne, and 

 the pea vine, it would readily 6hed its green leaves iu drying, hence it should be put 

 away when partially dry only. 



Stock seem to be very fond of it, and when cured will eat the very stalks with a 

 relish, notwithstanding they appear so hard and uninviting, I presume it must cure 

 with a reserved amount of sugary residue in the stalks and twigs, particularly if cut 

 when just in bloom. The odor of the leaves when drying and the blooms are very 

 sweet, and during this blooming stage the tops smell like a swarm of honey bees. 

 Considering it allied to lucerne, of wnich so much was written in the agricultural 

 papers, I sent some specimens of the plant to the " editors" of Country Gentleman 

 and Cultivator, Albany, N. Y., for examination. 



We have also growing with us during the winter and early spring another species 

 of this same plant, called also sweet clover, Melilotus vulgaris, with a yellow bloom 

 and strictly an annual, whilst one great recommendation of the plant Melilotus alba 

 is its being a biennial growth, and if not grazed or mowed too closely and regularly, 

 will reseed itself every second year, allowing two good cuttings of hay. I was for a 

 long time at a loss to discover its origin, but meeting an old acquaintance, a former 

 owner of the plantation where it first appeared, I was referred to Prof. H, Tutwiller, 

 of " Greene Springs Academy," whose letter I inclose to you. Until the last six or 

 eight years this plan t was treated as a worthless weed by many of our farmers, and 

 you well know how I have embraced its cause and advocated its more general use 

 against so much opposition ; from a weed whose seed was not worth the gathering to 

 many (though formerly I paid twenty-five cents per bushel for it) it is now worth 

 $2.50 to $3 per bushel, and valued even with the oat crop. 



Thore are many other uses to which this plant is applicable, not the least of which 

 is its great value as a fertilizer, believed by some to be the equal if not superior to 

 our common field pea. I could give you many references of its value, but this letter 

 is even now too long. 



Yours, very truly, 



R. H. DUGGAR, M. D. 



Mr. J. T. Collins. 



Torreya taxifolia — Stinking Yew; Savin, 



A very rare evergreen tree, resembling the yew, growing in the north- 

 western part of Florida. 



According to Dr. Torrey it is a tree from 6 to 18 inches in diameter 

 and 20 to 40 feet high, with numerous spreading branches, having an 

 appearance at a distance not unlike the hemlock (Tsuga Canadensis). 

 The wood is said to be rather light, not very close grained, of a yel- 

 lowish-white color, or in old trees of a reddish color like that of red 

 cedar. 



It has a strong and peculiar odor, especially when bruised or burnt, and hence it is 

 frequently called in the country where it grows, stinking cedar; it makes excellent 

 fence rails and is not liable to the attacks of insects. A blood- red turpentine, of a 

 pasty consistence, flows sparingly from the bark, which is soluble in alcohol, form- 

 ing a deep, clear solution, and when heated evolves a very powerful terebinthinous, 

 but unpleasant odor. 



According to Dr. A. W. Chapman it is found on the calcareous hills 

 slong the east bank of the Appalachee Kiver, near the confluence of 

 the Flint and Chattahoochee, and also on the banks of the Aspalaga 

 River in the same district. 



The foliage is much like that of the yew, but the leaves are broader 

 and marked with two longitudinal lines. They are two ranked on the 

 branchlets, about 1 inch long, and one line wide, of a light green color, 

 very rigid, and with a stiff sharp point. 



