30 



as rSerman millet beiiij; the largest, i^rowing from 3 to 5 feet high, and makinji the 

 best yield on heavj' .soils; the common millet, growing from 2i to 4 feet high, being 

 the best variety for light soils; and Hungarian millet being the smallest and most 

 (|nickly maturing sort of the three. Seed may be sown at almost anj' time during 

 the summer, even as late as the first of August, at the rate of from 35 to 50 pounds per 

 acre, and the early maturing sorts will be ready for cutting in about forty days 

 from sowing. 



Nimble Will ( Mnhleiiheyf/ia d'ljTu^u). — Perennial; stems numerous, nmch branched, 

 sjjreading and ascending, very slender and wiry, 1 to 2 feet; leaves numerous, short, 



narrow, slightly roughened; panicle 

 very slender, 3 to 6 inches; branches 

 few, erect; rather densely flowered. 



Very common in dry, shaded places, 

 esjjecially along fence rows, on the 

 borders of woods, and abr)ut dwellinjrs. 

 The stems are so tough and wiry that 

 the grass is difficult to mow, but it 

 often forms a considerable addition to 

 the winter grazing. A very good pas- 

 ture grass, but hardly worth culti- 

 vating. 



Orchard Grass {DartyUs f/lomcrata) 

 (fig. 7). — I'erennial; stems in large 

 clumps, erect, simple, 2 to 3 feet high ; 

 leaves very numerous, flat and broad, 

 slightly roughened, often 18 inches in 

 length. 



This is one of the most widely grown 

 of the cultivated grasses, and in the 

 Gulf States is one of the best for win- 

 ter pastures, as it makes a good growth 

 on wet and heavy clay soils with ordi- 

 nary field treatment. It commences 

 its growth with the first warm days of 

 February, and if not pastured is ready 

 to cut for hay in April, and will tlien 

 alTord excellent grazing until checked 

 by the summer drought. With the first 

 autumn fains it starts a new growth 

 of leaves, making rich fall ]>asturage, 

 and remaining fresh and green through- 

 out the winter. The hay made from it 

 is of excellent quality, though its habit of growing in large clum))s is against its 

 use as a hay grass; but it bears grazing well and recovers (juickly when cropped 

 down. It does well when mixed with redtop, or alsiko clover, and succeeds better 

 than almost any other grass in woodland pastures. Sandy soils arc not suited to its 

 growth, and it can not be recommended for light and thin lands. Seed sliould 

 be sown in August, or very early in the spring, at tlie rate of 30 to 10 pounds per 

 acre. 



Panic Grasses. — The g(!nus I'anicnm contains more species than any other in the 

 Gulf Statis, no less than 91, besides numerous varieties, having been found there, 

 many of them being peculiar to that region. They grow in all situations, from 

 swamps to ilry hilltojis. Some of the species are Inuinl only on wild lands, w liere 

 they furnish more than half the grazing, while others rarely occur i'xct])t on lands 

 which li.ive betin in <ulti vation. and where they often make heavy yields of hay, 

 which costs nothing but the harvesting. Although so abundant, there are few 



Fia. 7.— Orchard grass (Dactylia glomerata). 



