The record-union., 1896-12-04

! bloom, and for their capsules, which on
| bursting display a f1occulent substance
more silky than cotton, which from its
shortness of staple and elasticity can
not be spun by cotton spinning machin-
cry These qualities, however, adapt it
| finely for stuffing pillows, cushions,
| coverlets, etc, for which it is largely
used. The flowers are large, red and
very snowy: the leaves digitate: the
stem is covered with prickly tubercles;
| the wood is light and porous; the bark
has medicinal properties and yields a
pure gum.
| We have but few plants which have
been grown in small pots, and will send
one to each applicant for % cents. post
paid We trust that only those resid-
! ing in strictly thermal situations will
apply for them. The plants will not be
mailed until after February 10th.
CAROB (Ceratonia siliqua-)
This handsome useful tree is the true
| "Algaroba" or ST. Johns bread of the
Mediterranean region, which has been
heretofore recommended for cultivation
on dry or otherwise unavailable hill
sides, as we'll as in richer and moister
lands for the production of an excellent
| feed for cows or for swine. The Carob
is about as hardy as the orange, but
owing to it's drought-resisting qualities
| when once established, it is destined to
have much wider range than that tree
1t has been grown to limited extent in
| this State for the last twenty years, and
it deserves much wider trial. Plants
grown from seed on the estate of James
Shinn at Niles, Alameda. County, have
borne fruit for several years and sup
ply has been donated for distribu
ton. We will send to each applicant
several pods, which are to be broken up
and the seed taken out. The seed should
be soaked over night and planted in a
box Of sandy soil placed in a warm place
and kept moist. Cover the seed about
half an inch. We send several pods for
| five cents, postpaid.
PLANTS FOR GREEN N-MANURING.
In the report of this station for 1894
30 quite full discussion is given of
green -manuring in California. The in
terest in the subject is keen and we are
now receiving reports from those who
experimental with the plants of which
we distributed seed last year. We de-
| sire to hear from many more corre-
spondents in this line. Reports thus far
indicate that in some localities the win
ter growth Of the plants in the coast
valleys is quite satisfactory; from in
terror situations reports are conflicting
| We desire further trial this winter.
| Snail Clover (Medicago turbinata).-
| This plant is a native of Southwestern
Spain and has shown it's value as a
winter forage plant in this State. 1t is
closely related to the burr clover" but
it has a larger seed pod, which is smooth
| and more abundantly produced and
therefore the plant is superior as a dry
forage plant for stock. The green
growth of the snail clover resembles
that of burr clover, but with us it is
| much ranker. 1t starts from the seed
as soon as the earth is moistened by the
| fall rains and makes a strong growth
during the winter and spring, drying up
| as soon as its vast crop of seed pods
| ripens early in the summer. By SOW
ing upon orchard ground and plowed
as early as practicable in the fall it
| should make a dense mat of foliage bv
the time of the spring plowing. 1t
| seeds SO freely that, by allowing a small
|
enough can be secured for covering a
| considerable area of orchard. Soak the
pods and sow rather thinly broadcast as
early as the ground can be put in shape,
and cover by raking or narrowing. Seed
in twelve-ounce parcels, ten cents each
by mail.
| Square Pod Pea CTetragonolobus,.-
from our observation of the growth of
the plant another season, we are less
confident of its value for the purpose
contemplated. It's roots, by their thick
iacrustation Of tubercles, show that the
plant is very active in its assimilation
| OF atmospheric nitrogen, but more OBJ
| serVatlon is needed on it's winter growth
TO determine its availability for green
| manurlng In different portions Of the
State. 1t is noticeably less hardy than
snail clover and more sensitive to
| drought
We have two species OF tetragonolo-
| bus; one is redflowered with erect
stems (purpureus, the other is yellow
hoWered with PROSTATE stems (siliquo-
sus). with US in Berkeley the pur-
pureus shows the more uniform and de-
sirable growth, but we desire to have
observation made upon the two species
| side by side in other parts of the State
The seed should be sown thinly broad
| cast as early as possible on newly
| turned ground and lightly raked in. The
experiment should be made in an in
| closed place, SO that the plants will be
safe from intrusion and handy for OBJ
| servation. We send the seed at five
cents per packet of each variety, by
mail, postpaid.
DRY LAND GRASSES.
The grasses which years of trial have
shown to be the best for moderately dry
lands in California, especially the up
lands of the coast region, are Austria
liam Rye Grass" Q1olium perenne), OR
chard Grass" Oactylis glomerata),
Red Top" (Agrostis vulgaris), and
| Meadow Soft Grass" locally called
Mesquite" Qolus lanatus) All these
can be purchased at the seed stores. and
| for this reason we do not distribute
them. In addition to the foregoing we
offer the following list, including
grasses of our own introduction, which
are proving valuable where the heat and
aridity are not too great. The seeds
should be sown in places where their
growth can be conveniently watched.
so that each grower can determine for
himself which ones should be largely
sown the following year. BY collecting
seed from small plot a large area car
soon be secured:
L. Tall Oat grass (Arrhenatherurl
avenaceum).
=. Awnless Bronze grass CBromus in
ermis)