BOTANICAL DEPARTMENT. 179 



No. 16— BOTANICAL DEPARTMENT. 



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REPLIES TO QUESTIONS ABOUT GRASSES. 



It may be generally known that the last Legislature passed an act whereby 

 the writer should be one of six professors of the Agricultural College, each one 

 of whom should prepare two bulletins a year. In the present case, no pro- 

 vision was made for defraying any expenses for making experiments. With no 

 assistant, the care of a botanic garden, an aboretum and the large increase of 

 students who attend the college and study botany, little time has been found 

 for original investigation. Most of the results of former experiments in this 

 direction have been given in lectures at farniers' institutes and reports to the 

 Board of Agriculture. 



This' explanation seems to be in order as a partial excuse for selecting the 

 above subject for the present bulletin. 



The relation and uses of the Botanical Department of the Agricultural College 

 to the people of the State have been explained in several former reports, and 

 in the reports of the State Horticultural Society. 



At different times during the past twelve years, we have had large numbers 

 of plats of grasses and' clovers. Lectures, re^^orts, and notes for the press, 

 have called attention to these experiments. Add to this the great importance 

 and difficulty of the subject, making it impossible for any one except a botanist 

 to recognize many grasses, inquiries have been frequent. 



The Department could be of still gijater benefit to the farmers, if there were 

 provisions made for using it. Here seeds of various sorts could be tested for 

 purity, vitality, and freedom from weeds. For example, a plan might be fol- 

 lowed i'^'iilar to one adopted by the members of the Royal Agricultural 

 Society of England. They employ a consulting botanist, who, for a small fee, 

 examines farm seeds, especially those of grasses and clovers, before they are 

 purchased by members. 



The amount of work of the consulting botanist of England has rapidly 

 increased, and the seeds sold in the market have vej-y materially improved in 

 regard to the points above mentioned. 



PHLEUM PKATENSE, TIMOTHT. 



A Professor of Agriculture in another State, and others, want to know if 

 Timothy blossoms twice. 



Ansiver. — On a certain day a few flowers open and close, not to open again. 

 On each succeeding day, for six to ten days, depending on the weather, other 

 flowers open and close. During the middle of this flowering period most of the 

 flowers open. Fewer blossom on the first and on the last days than on any 

 other day. 



" In Dakota, Timothy dries up, and produces a very light crop," says an in- 

 •quirer. " What would you try ? " 



I. M. S., Otsego Co., asks the same question, and wants to know what to do. 



Replies appear in what follows. 



DACTTLIS GLOMERATA. ORCHAED GRASS. COCK'S FOOT. 



Every little while specimens arrive, and questions are asked. 



Answer. — This is a native of Europe, a nutritious, early grass, much prized 



