8 



plats of Bristly grama {B. hirsuta Lag.) were planted on May 21 on the highest 

 ground of the field. 



All three of these valuable gramas germinated rather poorly and the Bristly 

 grama quite slowly also, but all were uninjured by the drought, and all made a 

 vigorous growth and produced an abimdance of both foliage and seed. Their 

 value as native pasture grasses in the Southwest is well known. 



Blue grasses (Poa).— Twenty plats were sown to different species of Poas, 

 mostly from western seed. Some failed entirely, owing to poor seed, dry weather, 

 and unsuitable soil. Others made a very satisfactory progress, considering the 

 conditions. 



The soil of the Flats can scarcely be considered suitable for testing the moun- 

 tain grasses. Several plats planted with forms of Kentucky blue grass from 

 Oregon and Washington gave very promising results. Six plats of Canada blue 

 grass, of two different lots, made a good growth and are well established for 

 another season. 



Fescues (Festuca). — Nineteen different lots of fescues, comprising fourteen 

 species, were planted June 7 and 8 on the lowest part of the field. Two lots of 

 King's fescue {F. Kingii Scribn. ) failed to germinate. Most of the smaller 

 ones, such as forms of red fescue, sheep's fescue, and slender fescue, did not do 

 very well. From a few scattering tufts to a meager half stand was secured, 

 the growth ranging from 1 to 3 inches. Two plats of tall meadow fescue from 

 Russia (S. P. I. Nos. 1180 and 1337) both came up well and grew slowly during 

 the entire season, reaching a height of 1 foot. A plat of reed fescue {F. arundi- 

 nacea), from grass-garden seed of 1899, made the best stand and greatest growth, 

 about 2 feet. Two plats of rough fescue (F. scabrella) from seed grown at our 

 grass station at Walla Walla, Wash., presented a fine stand and a vigorous 

 growth of long, soft leaves, 12 to 18 inches in height. With a variety of hard 

 fescue from the same source a fine stand was secured with a sturdy growth of 

 1 foot. * 



Palm-leafed panic {Panicum plicatum Lam.). — This ornamental grass was 

 planted on June 2, from seed raised the previous year in the grass garden. The 

 two plats were on very low ground and were wet for some time after planting. 

 On one plat and part of the second the seed came up quickly, while on the 

 remainder of the second it did not germinate for several weeks. Growth on 

 the first was fairly constant during the season, and the plats pi'esented a very 

 pleasing appearance. By the middle of October the grass was 3 to 4 feet high 

 and the long, slender panicles appeared. The folded or plicate leaves were 12 

 to 18 inches long, about 2 inches wide, and very handsome. The foliage was 

 entirely killed by the first hard frosts. 



Some roots have been potted with the intention of trying its value as a house 

 plant. By proper trimming it may probably be made to resemble quite closely 

 the common Pandanus. It is valuable as an ornamental grass. 



SUMMER AND SOILING CROPS. 

 MILLETS. 



More than 50 plats were devoted to the different kinds of millets, 

 exclusive of pearl millet, which will be found in another place 

 (p. 10). The millets are divided into three groups, the foxtail 

 millets, the broom-corn millets, and the barnyard millets, each rep- 

 resenting a different species with its varieties. 



Foxtail millets (ChaetocMoa italica (L.) Scribn.).— Thirty-one plats were 

 seeded on May 17 and 18 to the different forms. Common millet, German millet. 



