•"forage plants for southern states. 95 



considerable trouble and expense to secure a supply of tlie seed in 

 18S!), and it lias been carefully tested at each of the stations, but with 

 disappointing- results. It does not begin its growth until late in the 

 spring, and, as it is killed by even moderate frosts, it fails to give 

 either late fall or early spring. pastures, and its growth is too small for 

 a profitable hay crop. As it will make a fair growth on sandy soils 

 which are too loose for most other grasses, it is of some value along 

 the coast region, but will not pay for planting elsewhere. 



Texas blue grass {Foa, arachnifcra). — This was extensively dis- 

 tributed by the Department about 10 years ago, and is now widely 

 advertised by many dealers throughout the South, but its real value 

 for cultivation is still unsettled. It is a perennial, and emphatically a 

 winter-growing species. In favorable locations it begins its growth in 

 October, and from December to May furnishes an abundance of luxuri- 

 ous pasturage. It matures its seed in April, and by June the leaves 

 become dry and withered and little is seen of it until October. Its 

 growth depends so much on slight differences in soil that it is impossi- 

 ble to locate any sections where the planter may be absolutely sure 

 tliat it will succeed. On the red and gravelly soil of the Korth Caro- 

 lina Station it has done but little, making only a moderate growth the 

 first season and soon disappearing. At the Georgia Station, on a soil 

 apparently similar to that in Korth Carolina, it has done better, 

 though not as well as the Kentucky blue grass; in several t)ther 

 places in the same State it has proved very satisfactory. E. J. Eedding, 

 the director of the Georgia Station, states that on a pebbly, sandy 

 loam underlaid by heavy clay, in the pine woods region of western 

 Georgia, it holds its own well against broom sedge, briers, and other 

 noxious weeds, and grows well in the shade of trees, even at the roots 

 of the large pines. He regards it as being well adapted to both lawns 

 and pastures in the pine woods region of the south Atlantic and Gulf 

 States. At the Florida Station it has succeeded admirably on a loose, 

 white, sandy soil, making a heavy sod and entirely checking the 

 growth of other grasses and weeds. Both there and at the Louisiana 

 Station it is regarded as a very desirable winter grass. At the Mis- 

 sissippi Station it was planted in a dozen or more places, and with 

 varying results. On light, rich soil it made a vigorous growth which 

 fully covered the ground within G months from j)lanting, and furnished 

 good winter grazing during 4 years. Planted on equally good and 

 well-prepared ground which was already set in Bermuda it lived, but 

 increased very little, and now only occasional plants are to be seen. 

 On dry, heavy clay it nearly all died during the first season, while on 

 some of the black prairie lands it did well. A rich, loamy soil seems 

 best adapted to its growth, but in many places where the soil has 

 appeared to be suitable the growth has been disappointing. It is diffi- 

 cult to propagate from the vSeed, but can be increased rapidly by means 

 of the underground stolons, which are produced in great abundance, 



