8 University of California Publications in Agricultural Sciences [Vol.3 



of which germinated. This somewhat low viability was due to the 

 fact thai we had no fanning-mill that was suitable for cleaning grass- 

 seed, so that much chaff remained. 



Prom this home-grown seed we have sown an acre in rows mainly 

 for seed increase purposes. In addition we have distributed a large 

 number of packets to co-operative experimenters in different parts of 

 the state in order to find out the range of soil and climate in which 

 it might prove valuable. 



In regard to its palatability, I have not yet had sufficient personal 

 experience to determine this with certainty. Nor do we know its 

 chemical composition or nutritive value. We fed some of the hay 

 to work-horses accustomed to alfalfa and they ate it readily. Reports 

 from other sources would lead us to believe that it is well liked by 

 stock. The following excerpt from the catalogue of a branch of the 

 well-known and reliable British seed firm, George Carter and Com- 

 pany, located at Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, speaks for itself. 



A magnificent winter grass for fairly good lands. This is our sixth season 

 of experience with this grass, and we have had no reason as yet to alter our high 

 opinion of its value. For farms where the land is of a poor, light, sandy nature, 

 we do not recommend it. But on good, fairly heavy loams (say wherever a 

 good crop of Mealies can be grown), or on deep veldt lands, it is magnificent. 

 The yield of luscious feed is tremendous all the year round, and it is particularly 

 valuable for the winter and early spring months, growing even during heavy frost 

 and long droughts. The rooting system is very large and deep. In seed the 

 plants reach the height of over five feet, while the ordinary growth without seed- 

 stems is about three feet high, and just like a permanent crop of rich green 

 barley. It can be cut continually, growing at the rate of an inch per day. 

 While growing with great success on dry lands, it will well repay both good 

 manuring and irrigation. 



For dairy farms Ave can not praise it too highly, particularly for producing 

 milk during the colder months, when other food is so scarce; while it is just 

 the grass to grow near the homestead for cutting for calves, horses, or indeed 

 any animal which eats grass. There is no need to say that the cattle relish it — 

 it is a difficult matter to keep them fenced out at all from a crop of this grass. 



I refrain from quoting the praiseworthy accounts of it in the 

 public press of Australia, as we are unable to determine whether the 

 comments are attributed to Phalaris commutata or Phalaris stcnop- 

 tera, both of which (as previously explained) are indiscriminately 

 mixed on the seed market of that country. 



Even if the Harding grass should not prove to be adaptable to a 



Avi ' 1 " range of territory in California and elsewhere, the immense 



Stretches of land between the foothills on the east and west in the 



ea1 central valley, where in many instances only a poor crop of 



