SERRADELLA. Oraithopus satirus, Brot. Legu minos(r. Fig. 803.
Serradella is an annual forage and green-manure plant growing six to eighteen inches high. The leaves are odd-pinnate with numerous leaflets, and the flowers are pale purplish. It has been culti vated in the United States only in an experimental way, and it is not grown extensively in Europe. There it is employed as a combination forage and green- manure plant, particularly valuable to precede potatoes or corn. It is eagerly eaten by sheep and cattle and is comparable in value to the clovers. It has no deleterious qualities whatever, when fed either green as pasture or as hay. At r the Massachusetts Ex periment Station, where it was cultivated in rows, it was fed in comparison with cowpeas and vetches and gave more satisfactory re sults than either of these for dairy cows, in this agreeing with the results of European experience. For late pastur age it has given some promise in Michigan, espe cially on sandy lands. Owing to its relatively small growth and light tonnage it has no place where other legumes will grow, and is not likely to find much use as a cultivated crop in this coun try, although in limited localities it may be valu able. Good, heavy stands yield ten to twelve tons
of green fodder per acre, which will make about two tons of hay.
Serradella is especially adapted to medium light, sandy soils. Even where lime is deficient it thrives. While it is fairly drought-resistant, it makes very small growth under dry conditions. The plant will not withstand severe cold, and therefore should be planted in the spring, at least in the northern states. It may be seeded alone, or in small grain. If planted alone it may be drilled in rows about five inches apart. Forty to fifty pounds of seed per acre will be needed, sown in March or April. As for other legumes inoculation is important, and this factor accounts at least in part for the poor results obtained in many experiments. The growth is slow until the advent of warm weather. About the time the plant begins to bloom it tends to branch out rapidly and cover the ground.