25 



GRASSES AND FORAGE PLANTS OP PROBABLE VALUE. 



In addition to the above 34 varieties of grasses and forage plants, 

 the followiug are worthy of being carefully studied by farmers and 

 stockmen : 



Bur Grass {Cenclirus trihuloides). — This is another grass that is 

 much abused, even by well-informed stockmen, on account of its pecu- 

 liar thorny bur-like seeds, and because in cultivated fields it is a bad 

 weed. It is pretty well distributed throughout the United States, east 

 and west. In this section it has a real value that more than offsets its 

 disadvantages. That is to say, it witlistands dry weather better than 

 many of the other grasses found here. A great deal of it was seen in 

 September on a range in Mitchell County, Every pasture grass except 

 those in the moist valleys was looking dryland cured except bur grass. 

 The latter was as green as a young wheat field, and loaded down with 

 seed. In traveling over this section, in September and October, when- 

 ever one notices an especially green spot on the range it may safely be 

 assumed, without examination, to be the bur grass. After it has 

 shed its seed it is relished by all classes of stock, and stockmen, while 

 finding much fault with the seed, agree that it is very nutritious. It 

 is also valuable when young or before the bur-like seed is formed. 



Wild Millet ( CJiaetochloaitalica) is found as a weed in cultivated land, 

 in Nolan, Taylor, and Eastland counties. It grows, under such condi- 

 tions, to be from 18 to 30 inches tall, seeds freely and produces a fair 

 amount of fodder. It has the appearance of being a good hay grass. 

 Its growth as a weed indicates somewhat the adaptability of millet 

 and Hungarian grass to these central Texas soils. 



Sedges {Cyperiis and Carex species). — These are not true grasses, 

 technically considered, but are so regarded by stockmen in this 

 section. They are distributed over a wide extent of country, and 

 while occurring chietiy in the low and moist valleys, there are some 

 that grow well on the uplands and even among the rocks. Stockmen 

 do not as a rule value the sedges highly for pasturage, because while 

 they become green in early sj^ring and stock eat them until the seeds 

 commence to form, they do not supply a lasting forage. By that time 

 other and better grasses abound, and stock do not then care for them, 

 and will not eat them if they can get anything else. 



Bog rushes {Jnncus species). — These also are not true grasses, 

 although from their grass-like habit they are so regarded by stockmen. 

 The most common sort grows on high and rocky places. They pro- 

 duce many seeds that do not drop readily, and the stems are slender, 

 but rather harsh, and produce little fodder. An intelligent farmer 

 says that these rushes are eaten by cattle, and possibly some of them 

 are of value as low-ground forage plants, as are the sedges. 



Satin Grass [Muhlenheryia tenuijiora) was first found in Eastland 

 County, but it has since then been reported from several other counties 

 of this section. While not common, it is here in sufficient quantities to 



