17 



tures. Immediately on the line of the Texas and Pacific Railroad, in 

 the latter county, is the latan A' alley, and a few years ago there were 

 several thoui^aud acres of this grass growing there, practically to the 

 exclusion of other sorts. The stiff red clay soil seemed peculiarly fitted 

 for its growth. Stockmen in that vicinity were in the habit of cutting 

 it every year ; it made an excellent quality of hay, much valued by 

 the livery-stable men of Colorado City and Big Springs. It was in 

 fact preferred to the baled hay shipped from other sections of Texas. 

 Now comparatively little of 

 this grass is available for hay 

 purposes. It is recognized by 

 all stockmen as being a valu- 

 able pasture grass. 



Alkali Saccaton {Paniaum 

 hnlbosum). — There is but little 

 of this grass in central Texas 

 and stockmen do not know 

 much about it. Farmers re- 

 port that it only recently made 

 its appearauce in cultivated 

 fields. It will prove a valua- 

 ble hay grass, though it is 

 light for its bulk when cured. 

 The specimens gatliered grew 

 on a valley farm in Eastland 

 County. 



Barnyard G-rass {Panicnm 

 crus-galli) (fig. 5). — The local 

 names for this are goose grass 

 and sour grass. It grows best 

 in moist soils, in the i^rairie 

 and Southern States, but until 

 about 1893 was unknown in 

 central Texas, so far as re- 

 jiorted. That year it made 

 its appearance in several of 



the counties, and was sup- F.a. 5.-Ban,yard Grass. 



posed by farmers to be Colorado grass {Panicum texannm). It is found 

 only in cultivated fields, or in the immediate vicinity of barnyard build- 

 ings. It grows in bunches from two to foud? feet high, makes a great 

 deal of fodder and seeds, and when cured is soft to the touch. Cattle 

 eat it with evident relish. It has a great many small roots that spread 

 out near the surface of the ground. One farmer referring to it said: 

 ''It is easy to rid a field of it, as it can be kicked out of the ground roots 

 and all, or easily knocked out with the back of a hoe." Specimens 

 were collected in Jones, Taylor, Eastland, Nolan, and Shackelford coun- 

 ties. Under cultivation it will doubtless i>rove to be a great hay grass. 

 1588G— No. 10 2 



