156 



of the mesquite grass on the tules. I suggested to him that, as he lived near the sea coast, I 

 thought he could make it profitable in his section of country, and gave him about a table- 

 spoonful of the seed. That he planted on his place, and succeeded so well that the grass became 

 very popular, and he could not at first supply the demand for seed at one dollar per pound. 

 This grass grows two and one-half to three feet high here, and seeds. in May; and before the 

 seed stems are dry, the young shoots are springing up from the roots. When not cut for hay or 

 grazed, it will seed the second time before frost. 



On the low lands in question it attracts attention on account of its 

 peculiar light green tint, and also from the fact that frost does not 

 injure it. During the winter months, when the rank swamp growth 

 and most of the introduced grasses and clovers are blackened and 

 worthless as forage, a patch of meadow soft grass stands out in relief, 

 like an oasis in a desert. 



As with the rye grasses, the more you trample on it, the deeper 

 it sends its roots, and the more it tillers. This, of course, is a very 

 valuable trait in pasture grasses. This species grows in bunches, 

 if not very thickly sown. Its name of soft grass, or velvet grass, is 

 given on account of the texture of the foliage, which is covered with 

 very fine, soft hairs. In this State it sometimes grows to a hight of 

 six feet, but from two to three feet is more common for the seed 

 stalks. The color of the heads or panicles varies from light green 

 to a decided purple. On account of the down upon it, cattle do not 

 seem to like it at first, and will avoid it if more palatable grasses are 

 at hand. When other feed is cut off by frost or drought, they take 

 very kindly to the soft grass, and thrive upon it. 



I make the following extracts from a letter kindly written to me 

 by Mr. J. M. Hudspeth, of Sebastopol, Sonoma County, who received 

 his seed from Mr. Kimbell : 



I have been growing the grass mentioned since eighteen hundred and sixty-five, and have 

 found it well adapted to the coast counties. It grows well on all moist land, regardless of soil. 

 I say this because we have here in this vicinity some 'honeysuckle land' that produces no grass 

 .of any kind, but the mesquite will grow on such places six feet high, producing a large crop. It 

 grows from the root. I have had some in pasture for eight or nine years without reseeding. 

 It makes a light hay, and stock do not seem to like it until they have used it a while. I think 

 it is very nutritious. It is esteemed very much by the milk ranchers here, to give green feed 

 in the latter part of the season. Stock prefer it green to dry. I do not think it will do on dry 

 upland. I think it best to sow alone. It does not matter much whether the land is plowed or 

 not for it, so that the seed is covered. It should always be sown early. 



The merits of this grass have been very thoroughly discussed in the 

 Oregon papers within the last few months, and there seems to be a, 

 considerable diversity of opinion about it. The estimate set upon it 

 seems to vary with the soil and climate, and the mode of utilizing it 

 on each farm. Its main virtues seem to be: that it will battle suc- 

 cessfully with fern on its own ground; very wet and frosty weather 

 does not injure it; the close cropping of sheep does not kill it out, as 

 it does timothy and some other grasses. (The French call it "sheep 

 grass," Join de mouton.) On the other hand, some say that it is only 

 second rate as a butter grass, and is superseding better kinds. It is 

 also said to be very hard to eradicate when it is once established. 



There are one or two points, brought out in the newspaper articles, 

 which suggest that the Oregonians may have two grasses, closely 

 allied forms, under the name of " mesquite." These are, the wide 

 range of opinion as to its value, and the statement that the grass has 

 running roots. Now, in Europe, besides the meadow soft grass (Holcus 

 lanatus), classed as about a second rate grass, there is the creeping soft 

 grass, Itouque molle of the French {Holcus mollis), set down as very 



