73 



sents a pleasiug appearance wheu iu llower, and the panicles are valued for dry 

 bouquets. It has recently received some attention by agriculturists on account 

 of its very vigorous rapid growth and productiveness. Experiments made iu 

 this country and elsewhere indicate that it possesses much value as a meadow 

 or hay grass in mild climates. Three hundred stems have been counted on a 

 single plant. These stems take root wherever they touch the ground, and an 

 acre has been calculated to yield 30 tons of green fodder iu the rich valleys of 

 the Macleay River, New South "Wales. It is easily propagated by seed. 



No. 242. Triodia exigua Kirk. 



A little alpine grass, endemic in New Zealand. It forms even plots of turf, often 

 many square yards in extent; the leaves are firm, short, and shining; the com- 

 pact growth of tbe turf or sward prevents the encroach- 

 ment of other grasses or weeds. It is particularly to be 

 recommended for croquet lawns, never reiiuiring mowing 

 (K:rk). In the mountain regions of the West are sev- 

 eral of these small turf-forming grasses, which would, 

 if cultivated, make excellent carpet-like lawns in the 

 region of the Northern and Middle States. 



No. 243. Triodia seslerioides (Michx.) Benth. Fall Red- 



t<ip. 

 A stout, erect, native perennial, 3 to 5 feet high, with long, 



flat leaves and an ample, spreading, usually purple pan- 

 icle 6 to 12 inches long, growing in dry or sandy fields 



from southern New York southward and westward to 



Missouri, blooming iu August and September. It is a 



striking grass, and often covers considerable areas, but 



IS apparently not liked by stock, and is not recognized 



as possessing any agricultural value. 



No. 244. Tripsacuni daotyloides Linn. Gama-grass. 



(Fig. 88.) 

 A tall, coarse perennial, 3 to 8 feet high, growing in large 



tufts, and producing a great mass of broad leaves, 



which when young and succulent are eaten with avidity 



by all kinds of stock. When abundant it affords a large 



amount of natural forage, and is valuable to this extent. 



It has very strong, creeping rootstocks, and the quan- 

 tity of forage produced is large and of excellent qualitj-. 



The grass may be deserving of cultivation for forage 



under certain conditions, and it makes an interesting 



and attractive plant for lawn decoration or the garden. 



moist soil IS best suited to it. 



Fig. 88. — G.am.a-grass 

 {Tripsaciim dactyloidei). 



A rich and rather 



Yellow Oat-grass. 



Nj. 245. Trisetuni pratense Pers. 



A rather slender, loosely tufted perennial, growing to the height of 2 feet. It is a 

 native of Europe, northern Africa, and western Asia. It occurs along roadsides, 

 in open fields, and on grassy mountain slopes, where its presence is said to indi- 

 cate land of good quality. In Europe, Yellow Oat-grass is classed with the best 

 fodder plants and is highly valued for temporary, but more particularly for per- 

 manent pastures. It can be grown on almost every variety of soil, is fairly pro- 

 ductive, aud is readily eaten by stock. This grass has a record of yielding on 

 clayey loam soils 8,167 pounds green grass, 2,8.58 of hay, and 4,083 of aftermath 

 per acre. In this country it has received little attention. It is qiioted in New 

 York seed catalogues, the price ranging from $70 to $115 per 100 pounds. Sown 

 oulv m mixtures. 



