FAEMERS' INSTITUTES. 197 



Plats of Grasses, Millets, and Leguminoiis Forage Crops. 



For the past six years I have had from fifty to one hundred and fifty species 

 of grasses, clovers aud kindred plants growing in small quantity at the Agri- 

 cultural College. To help on the start I received a lot of seeds from the Kew 

 Gardens near London. I have purchased all the new or old kinds which I 

 have seen advertised. Many of these failed to grow, and many were not true 

 to name. Even from the Kew Gardens I received panicum cajnllare (old witch 

 grass) under three different names. Among new ornamental grasses bought 

 this season tlie same grass comes under the name of Eragrostis elegans. My 

 previous reports have contained some accounts of these plats. A lot of 115 

 species were sent to the Centennial Exposition. When these grasses and clo- 

 vers were first started those resembling each other were placed in contiguous 

 plats, but it was soon found that the seeds scattered from one plat to another, 

 and there was an undesirable mixture. Now similar plants are grown with 

 other sorts intervening. At first a part of the seeds were sown broadcast. 

 This was a mistake. I now sow in rows about six inches apart, and by this 

 means the desired plants can be easily distinguished and weeds removed. 



Tiie most troublesome plant or weed in these parts is June grass ; the second, 

 white clover. No quack grass has been allowed a foothold. 



Among these plats are sweet herbs, peanuts, opium poppy, tobacco, Per- 

 sian insect powder, several sorts of vegetables from Japan, chicory, and a 

 great many other interesting economic plants. I am trying the effect of good 

 cultivation on o/jws tuherosa, mandrake, and wild geranium. 



These plats are interesting aud instructive to my students and to many vis- 

 itors, especially when accompanied by some one who understands the various 

 kinds of plants, their history and uses. They are all plainly labelled. 



I refrain from giving any specific account of these plants, as most of them 

 have no common names, and I could not make such an account interesting: to 



the general reader. 



The Wild Garden, 



Between the green-house and the site of the new botanical laboratory is a 

 ravine through which runs a brook. Along one of the banks is a natural 

 thicket which has been thinned, care being taken to leave at least one tree or 

 shrub of a kind. Some flat boulders have been used to make pockets along 

 the bank. These pockets are about a foot square and each contains a distinct 

 kind of plant. The plants are all well labelled, and a plat made and recorded 

 in a book. At the foot of the bank is a small pond for water plants, and by 

 the side of this a good place for bog plants. Not far from here is a collection 

 of about twenty of our wild vines. 



Most of these plants are native to our State, but some were a gift from Har- 

 vard College, and came from various parts of the world. 



In the wild garden are now growing over 400 species of plants. In most 

 cases there is only one specimen of a kind. Tiie garden would make a much 

 finer appearance if we duplicated some of the finest plants and left others out 

 altogether, but beauty is a secondary consideration. 



The plants are of especial interest to those who have some knowledge of 

 botany , and no botanist will fail to appreciate all which has been done. 



In learing botany, our students need living; wild plants for making experi- 

 ments and observations. 



