Scotch broom (Cytisus scoparius). Leguminosee. A leguminous shrub, with yellow pea-like flowers on nearly leafless green stiff branches, native to Europe. (Fig. 423.) It is naturalized in this country, growing on stony or sterile soils and establishing itself in open woodlands. The slender twigs are used in parts of Europe as a sheep for age, being said to be more valuable than furze. It appears not to have attracted much attention as a forage plant in North America. As a naturalized plant it occurs mostly from New Jersey, southward in the seaboard region, and it is reported in Massa chusetts and Nova Scotia ; also on Vancouver Island.
Shad scale (.4triplex caneseens). Chenopodiacem. The most important of the American saltbushes, of which there are about fifty species in the western part of North America. Shad scale is a scurfy, branching, shrubby perennial growing four to ten feet high. The fruit has four broad thin wings looking somewhat like shad scales. It is native of the high valleys and plains of Wyoming, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico and western Texas. The leaves and branches are eaten by cattle. Seeds are produced in great abundance, often a half bushel or more on a single plant. These are readily eaten by sheep and are considered very fattening. In the Southwest shad scale is found on alkaline soils, and even withstands small amounts of the black alkali. Its resistance to cold adds greatly to its value. (See Farmers' Bulletin, No. 108, U. S. Department of Agriculture ; also article on Saltbushes.) pea (Lotus tetragonolobus). Legumi nose. A quick-growing annual, native of southern Europe, where it is grown for ornament and for salad. It is notable for its heavy production of root-tubercles, making it a valuable soil-renovator. It makes an unusually heavy growth of herbage, having yielded in test plats at the California Sta tion, where it was introduced, at the rate of twenty-four to twenty-six tons per acre, equal to about five tons of air-dry hay. The seeds are rather large, and are borne in four-sided, winged pods. It has been disappointing, however, as it is unable to withstand frost and brief intervals of drought in the winter season, rendering it unfit for field growth.
Sulla (Hedysarum coronarium). Leguminose. A strongly-rooted, vigorous perennial legume with numerous very succulent radical compound leaves one to six feet high, according to soil and climatic conditions. It is a native of southern Europe. In
the dry climate of Algeria in soil not irrigated, sulla was the most satisfactory plant grown for feeding and green-manuring. It failed in North Carolina, and was of no value in Michigan. It grows vigorously in early spring, but is tender, and will not stand frost. It is not recommended except in Florida. There it grows through the winter. [Bulletin No. 22, Division of Agrostology, page 57.] Tarweed (Media saliva). Composites. A rank growing annual, native in Chile and California. A variety is said to be a useful plant for sheep pas tures in dry soil. It is cultivated in the arid South west and parts of California. In many places it is considered a troublesome weed. In Chile it is grown for the lubricating o i I contained in its seeds. The leaves have a viscid ex udation and the plant has a rank odor. It is spring sown and grows rapidly after warm weather comes. The seed heads ripen un evenly and shat ter badly.
Tagasaste(Cy ti sus proliferus var.albus). Legu Ininosee. A shrub, native in the Canary islands where it is greatly valued as a forage. It is used there chiefly for cows and is said greatly to increase the flow of milk. On the strength of its reputation there it has been in troduced into many countries for the same pur pose. It has been tested at the California Station and elsewhere, with rather unfavorable results. Unless kept down by browsing or grown in dry places, it becomes large and woody, good only for firewood. On drier lands it makes a low, shrubby growth that is browsed by stock when the more succulent grasses disappear. All of the plant is ex ceedingly leafy. It has been recommended for all stock, but has not yet demonstrated such general usefulness. It is said to be unsuitable for horses except as a dry fodder. It is intolerant to frost. It has been recommended for light, dry soils. A loose, friable soil is an advantage, as the taproot can penetrate to greater depths, enabling it better to withstand drought. The soil should be well drained. In favorable situations it grows luxu riantly, and is very attractive because of its dark green foliage and profusion of white flowers which are much visited by bees. It is adapted to barren hilly lands, and will endure for twenty years or more.