It is adapted to soils that will grow alfalfa. It is very resistant to drought and has been recommended for arid regions. It has given fair results in parts of the South, but its real worth has not been established.
Hagy or Ha gi (Lespcdcza bicolor).
LegUIThillOSM. A perennial forage plant, introduced in recent years from Japan,that has some promise for lands where it is difficult to get a catch of clover, and on light, dry soils. It grows rapidly, sometimes to a height of six feet, and is leafy and bushy. It is planted in the spring, sprouts readily, flow ers late in summer and remains green until killed by hard frost. Its usefulness is limited somewhat by the fact that it becomes woody soon after blooming. It has small blue flow ers and produces a heavy crop of seeds. Grown also for ornament. [See Fig. 1263, Cyclopedia of American Horticulture.] Kidney vetch (Anthyllis l'ulneraria). Leguminosie. Fig. 416. Perennial, with spreading stems to a foot high ; whole plant covered with short silky hairs ; flower-heads in pairs at the ends of the branches ; flowers small, yellow to a deep red. It is found throughout Europe and western Asia, from the Mediterranean to the arctic circle. It grows where soil is poor, in limestone re gions. It was first cultivated by a German peasant about fifty years ago. It has been reported as of small value wherever tried in the United States. [See Circular No. 6, Revised, page 7, Divi sion of Agrostology, United States Department of Agriculture.] Krishum. Under this name the inhabitants of Cashmere cultivate a leafy species of the blue-flag genus for forage (Iris ensata, Thunb., var. pabu /aria, Naudin, or Iris pabularia, Naudin). Figs. 417, 118. Seeds of this plant have been offered for some years by at least one American seedsman, but it does not appear to have attracted much attention. The plant is perfectly hardy and vigor ous at Ithaca, New York, on poor soil, but it has not been tried for forage, being used as an inter esting border plant. It makes a profusion of ribbed grass-like leaves nearly or quite a half-inch wide, reaching a height of two to three feet. The leaves are said to afford hay and pasturage. It is a per ennial, the subterranean parts forming a tough hard growth. The flowers are small, not
showy, lilac-blue. Krishum is said to thrive in very dry places.
Lentil (Lens esculenta). Leguminosce.
Fig. 419. A much-branched, tufted annual, one to one and one-half feet high. The leaves have several leaflets and end in a tendril. The flowers are small, white or pale blue, axil lary and borne. in pairs. The pods are short and broad, very flat, and contain two fiat seeds. The lentil is a very ancient food plant, and ranks among the most nutritious of vegetables for human food. It is used in Europe and somewhat in the United States for fodder, made from the vines. If the plant is cut early incite growth, and is cured properly, it is said to make a very palatable stock food, es pecially for dairy cows.
It is of easy culture. re quiring no special care between seed-time and harvest. The seed may be sown in drills one and one-half to two feet apart, in early spring, preferably on warm, sandy soils of moderate fertility. It is harvested when the stems begin to turn yellow.
When the pods are dry the seed may be beaten out with a flail.
The plant is hardy and prolific.
Mesqnit (Prosopis jutiflora).
Leguminosie. A small, spiny shrub or tree which is the most common woody plant of the southwestern arid region. It is often found in groves with a short trunk much like an apple tree. It is very valuable as a honey plant, as its period of bloom extends over two months. Its forage value lies in the pulpy edible pods which are six to ten inches long, containing about a dozen hard seeds. The pods are very nutri tious, and are eaten by natives and travelers as well as by stock. The leaves, pods and bark are rich in tannin. The seeds are said to be next in value to barley for fattening horses, cattle, sheep and hogs.
Mexican clover (Richardsonia scabra). Rubiacew. Known also as Spanish clover, Florida clover, pigeon weed, ipecac weed, water parsley and others. An annual forage plant, native of Mexico and Central America, but naturalized along the gulf coast and occasionally farther north. Stems branching, dif fuse, two to four feet long, creeping ; leaves nu merous, oval, rough ; flowers nearly white, in small heads. In its general habit it resembles red clover.