17 



obtained during the season. It is best sown in the spring, but in the Southern 

 States it may be! sown in September to advantage. In New Zealand this grass 

 is spoken of as fast becoming a weed in mixed pastures; and, further, it is stated 

 that the early growth is much relished by stock, but later in the season it is not 

 touched. On rich, clayey loam this grass has made a yield of 17,015 pounds of 

 green fodder, 6,380 pounds of hay, and 13,612 pounds of green aftermath per 

 acre. When sown alone, the amount of seed to sow per acre is 5 to 6 bushels. 

 Owing to the structure of the seed, it may be sown deeper than most other 

 grasses. Average number of grains in one pound of jjure seed, 1.59,000. Price of 



seed, quoted from New York 

 catalogues, $3.2.5 per bushel, 

 or $18 per 100 pounds. 



Fig. 12. — Needle-grass (Aristida fasciculata) : a, spikelet ; 

 6, indurated flowering glume, the awns cut oif. 



Fig. 13.— Tall Oat-grasa (Arrhe- 

 natherum elatius). 



No. 34. Arundinaria macrosperma Michx. Cane. (Fig. 11.) 



This is the bamboo which forms the well-known canebrakes of the South. It is 

 perennial, with woody stems 10 to 30 feet high, and evergreen leaves, which 

 furnish a valuable supplement to the winter pastures. The plant blooms but 

 once, and when the seeds mature the cane dies. The canes are used for many 

 purposes, such as fishing rods, scaffolds for drying cotton, splints for baskets, 

 mats, etc. Attempts made to cultivate this grass have not been successful. 



No. 35. Arundinaria tecta (Walt.) Muhl. Small Cane. 



This is regarded by some as only a variety of the cane mentioned above, but it is of 

 smaller growth, rarely exceeding 10 feet in height, and extends as far north as 

 Maryland. It forms extensive "canebrakes" in many parts of the Southern 

 States, and its perennial leafage, together with the younger stems and branches, 

 supply forage for thousands of cattle duriug the winter season. This fodder, 

 4393— No. 14 2 



