94 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



UrerhLstiii;/ (jrass {Erioehloa unnnlHtu). — The J)e])artmeiit iiiii)()ited 

 seed of this IVoiii Australia in 1889 and, while it promises to be valu- 

 able for the (lulf coast, it has not succeeded as well in the northern 

 districts as in its native count^3^ In Australia it is a perennial, but 

 here it barely survives the winter, and a large part of its spring 

 growtli comes from seeds which were scattered on the ground during 

 thei^revious season. It starts its new growth early in the spring, reach- 

 ing a height of about 2 ft., and producing a large number of slender 

 culms, whicli are well covered with leaves and an abundant supply of 

 seed. It bears })asturing well and late in the season makes excellent 

 hay. Mr. Turner, the botanist of the Australian Department of Agri- 

 culture, says that this is "a superior pasture grass, found in the coastal 

 districts, and in the colder parts of the colony. It will grctw and 

 furnish feed nearly all the year round in the coastal districts, but during 

 the early suunner months it yields a great amount of rich, succulent 

 herbage, greedily devoured by stock of all kinds. 'This grass is worthy 

 the attention of dairy farmers." In this country we tiud its chief value 

 to be for mixing with other grasses for pasture late in the seas(m, and 

 this only in the southern districts. 



Mexican everlasting grass [Erioehloa aristatu). — Seed of this Avas 

 procured from Mexico in 18SS, and it is much more promising than the 

 Australian species. It produces a heavier growth, is more hardy, and 

 is less injured by droughts. It is an annual, but reseeds the ground 

 so freely that it may be treated as a perennial. It grows fully 3 ft. in 

 height and will make two good crops of hay annually, its best growth 

 being from the second crop, which is ready to cut in October and which 

 makes rich, tender, and nutritious hay. As it has a larger proportion 

 of leaves and seeds than crab grass, and may be grown in the same 

 inexpensive manner, we value it highly. 



Para grass [Panieum harhinode). — This is a perennial species which 

 produces runners from 10 to 20 ft. in length, Avith an abundant sup- 

 ply of leaves and upright branches, yielding an immense amount of 

 forage. It does not matijre seed in this latitude, but the roots live 

 through the winter, the new growth being ready to cut by June 1, and 

 yielding a good cutting once in 6 weeks until the end of the season, 

 though it should not be cut after October 1, in order that it may hav^e 

 time to produce a crop of leaves to serve as a winter protection to the 

 roots. It is of considerable value for the region near the coast, but is 

 too tender to be recommended for localities subject to severe frosts. 

 The "showy panic" {Panieum spectabile) from southern Europe is very 

 similar to Para grass, but is rather coarser and does not appear to be 

 so well relished by stock, tliough it bears a lower temperature. 



Anjan grass [Pennisef urn eenchroides). — This is common on the plains 

 of northwestern India, especially in the sandy districts, where it is 

 regarded as an excellent fodder grass for both horses and cattle, and 

 where it yields three annual cuttings for hay. It is so highly recom- 

 mended for pastures in its native country that the Department went to 



