182 



28. Muhlenbergia glomerata, Trin. (Wild Timothy, Muhlenberg's Grass). Seed 

 from Mr. Duncan Kennedy, of Bird's Hill, Man, Sown in open 15th May, 1890. 

 Transplanted to bed Ist July. Speared 24:th July. Flowered 6th August. Ripe 

 Ist October. There has been more enquiry concerning this than any othei- native 

 grass. I consider it and the following amongst the most promising in the collection. 

 The plants mentioned above have not attained full gi-owth and only grew about 1 

 foot in height; but I have specimens from Manitoba over 3 feet in height, branching 

 and leafy to the top. In this part of Canada it grows in bogs and swampy meadows, 

 but in the west it extends up on to the high lands. In Prof Beal's excellent work 

 "The Grasses of North America" Dr. C. E. Bessey, of Lincoln, Neb., is quoted as 

 follows : "Ten or twelve years ago I had my attention called to this wild grass as 

 one possessing many valuable qualities, making it desirable for introduction and 

 cultivation. 1 found that the liverymen of Central Iowa were in the habit of cutting 

 those parts of the prairie which lie between the sloughs and the high land. The hay 

 obtained from these places was of fine quality, being composed of leafy, branching 

 stems of fine length and medium hardness. It was always cut late, but even then 

 it was not often in seed." Chemical analysis shows it to be very nutritious, and 

 cattle eat it greedily. It is very hardy, and although thriving best in low ground 

 will grow almost anywhere. Mr. Duncan Kennedy says : " As to the Muhlenberg grass 

 it will grow anywhere no matter how it is abused." Mr. Bedford says: "This 

 grows on level prairie and meadow, is excellent feed, and is doing well under 

 cultivation." 



29. Muhlenbergia 3fexicana, Trin. (Satin Grass) (Plate III.) Eoots collected in 

 low pasture, Nov. 1889. These were divided and planted in present beds 2 days before 

 continuous frost set in. Every one of these roots lived and flowered 20th July. Seed 

 collected at same time was sown in the open in May, 1890. Transplanted 30th June. 

 Speared 1st August. Flowered 20th August. Ripe 30th Sept. The plants grown 

 from seed sown this spring gave almost as heavy a crop as the old plants. This 

 sj^ecies is more leafy and produces finer hay than the last. The stems branch at every 

 joint. It seems to have every character of a good hay grass. The following extract 

 will indicate that it may help to fill the great need for good hay grasses in the far 

 west. In Prof. Beal's " Gi'asses of North America," p. 185, is the following : " Dr. 

 Bessey also speaks well of this grass for Iowa and Nebraska. He writes : ' When I 

 called Prof. Budd's attention to it he said that he grew a three-acre lot of it for four 

 years, and that it yielded from 2^ to 3 tons per acre of hay of the highest quality. 

 This agrees with other testimony. ' " Mr. Bedford says : " This makes extra good 

 feed." A special value of these Muhlenberg Grasses is that they will bear more shade 

 than most species. 



30. Muhlenbergia sylvatica, T. & G. (Bearded Satin Grass.) Plants collected in 

 dry wood ai Ottawa in autumn of 1889. Roots divided and planted in present bed 

 16th October, 1890. This species resembles the last closely; but has stouter stems 

 and grows in drier localities. The flower panicle is looser and bears slender bristly 

 awns. 



31. Panicum virgatum, L. (Switch Grass.) Seed from Dr. Yasey. Sown spring 

 of 1888. Transplanted to present bed June, 1889. Speared 10th July, 1890. Flowered 

 5th August. Cut for hay while in flower 11th August. 132 lbs to sq. rod. Height 

 5 feet. This is a late grass and must be cut young to make good hay, as it becomes 

 very hard when the seeds are ripe. It thrives in low ground and comes in like the 

 Mahlenbcrgias, when many other grasses have passed their prime. Dr. Vasey says : 

 " It is a good and prolific grass if cut when young." One drawback is that it matures 

 few good seeds, this however, Mr. John Craig informs me is not the case in the 

 Western States. • 



32. Phalaris arundinacea, L. (Reed Canary Grass.) (Plate TV.) Seed from Ger- 

 many. Sown spi-ing of 1887, did not flower until 1890. Transplanted to present bed 

 June 1889. Speared 12th June. Flowered 24th June. Ripe 11th July. Height4feet. 

 Although the actual plants mentioned here were grown from European seed, this valu- 

 able grass is found wild in low ground and along streams in all parts of Canada from 



