38 



Introduced from Europe, where it is one of the most valuable species for both hay 

 and pasture. It is so highly prized in Europe that it has heeu plauted repeatedly 

 in all parts of the United States, and with widely varying results. In most cases 

 it has been more successful in the Xorth than in the South. I'rofessor Scribuer 

 recommends it for Tennessee, and it has also been highly recommended for northern 

 Alabama, (leorgia, and Xorth Carolina, but that seems to be about the southern limit 

 of prolitable cultivation. Farthc^r south it is so weakened by the long summers that 

 after a few years it is crowded out by other species. It grows best on a light and 

 rather dry loam ; it makes its best growth early in the season, and is easily cured for 

 hay. It does not cover the ground well wbeu sown alone, and for cither h.iy or 

 pasture should be mixed with orchard grass, perennial rye, red clover, or some other 

 plant which will occupy the ground more fully. 



Texas Blue grass (I'oa a ra dm if era). — Perennial from underground rootstocks; 

 stems scattered, erect, rather stout, seldom branched, smooth, 18 to 24 inches ; leaves 

 abundant, long, thick, smooth; panicle loose; spikelets covered with white woolly 

 hairs. 



This is emphatically a winter-growing si)ecies. In favorable location it begins its 

 growth in October, and from November to May furnishes an abundance of luxuriant 

 pasturage. It matures its seed in April and from the first of June until October 

 makes but little growth. It is difficult to propagate by seed, but can be increased 

 rapidly by means of the suckers which are produced in great numbers. A rich, loamy 

 soil seems best suited to its growth, but in many places where the soil has ai)peaied 

 to be favorable its growth has been disaiipointing. Its only value is for winter jias- 

 tures. It has given good results at the experiment stations of Missis8ii)pi, Alabama, 

 Georgia, and Florida, but owing to the difficulty of propagation it has been very slow 

 in coming into general cultivation. 



Tecsinte {Eudilwna luxurians) (fig. 12). — Annual; stems very numerous, sometimes 

 60 to 70 from a single seed, 6 to 12 feet tall. The stalks, leaves, and spindle resenilile 

 Indian corn. 



This is the plant of which Prof. Asa Gray said, "Possibly affording an opportunity 

 for one to make millions of blades of glass grow where none of imy account grew 

 before." At the experiment stations of Louisiana, ilississii)pi, (ieorgia, and Florida 

 it has given the heaviest yields of any of the forage crops grown, Georgia rei)orting 

 38,000 pounds of green forage per acre, Mississippi 44,000, and Louisiana the enor- 

 moMsamonnt of over 50 tons. It needs a long season of hot weather, a lichsoil, and 

 abundant moisture in order to succeed well, and it is useless to plant it where all 

 these conditions can iu)t be had. It is a remarkably vigorous grower, reaching 10 

 to 12 feet in height, with an unusually aliundant supply of leaves and tender stems, 

 which continiu- to grow until i<illed by frosts. If cut when it reaches 4 or ."> feet in 

 height it makes excellent fodder, and will produce a second cro]> fully as large as 

 till' first. \i' lelt to grow until September or October it furnishes excellent material 

 for tlie silo, in greater amount ])cr acre than either corn or sorghum, and there are 

 few i)lants which are its equal for soiling purposes. Its leaves are similar to those 

 of sorghum, but much longer, and the stalks contain from 8 to 10 per cent of sugar. 

 Its value for feeding and soiling is a))parent from the fact that the entire crop of 50 

 tons jier acre grown at the Louisiana station was sold to local dairymen at the rate 

 of $2 per ton while standing in the field. Its season of growth is so long that it 

 .seldom matures seed north of latitude '.W\ but it has ri]iened well at Ihe Louisiana 

 and I'lorida stations. The seed, I to 5 jtounds per acre, should bo ])lanted in hills 4 

 to 5 feet ajiart each way, aliout cotton-jdanting time, and the crop cultivated like 

 corn. The greater distance should bo gi\-cn on the richer soils. 



Timothy ( I'lilrnm jiratoiar). — K'arely successful in .iiiy part of the (Jnlf States. It 

 makes one good (■iitting in the sjjring after it is sown, but the long summer weakens 

 the l)ulb-like roots so that but few jdants survive until tiie next year. 



Toothache-grass {Campidosua aromal'n-nn). — Perennial from stout rootstocks; 

 stems siugh- or clustered, erect, uiibranched; leaves long, narrow, smooth; sjukes 



