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trary, thinks all species of the Muhlenbergia make very poor forage and 

 are not eaten by stock unless they are compelled to do so by the absence 

 of more nutritious grasses. The writer is inclined to think that the qual- 

 ity of this grass is affected by the soil upon which it grows. 



Mexican Muhlenbergia is another species that is highly commended 

 by some writers. Dr. C. E. Bessey, of Nebraska, says this grass has 

 been known in the West for many years as a valuable one. "Chemical 

 analyses," he continues, "show that Muhlenberg grass is highly nutritious. 

 In the years 1878 and 1879, at my suggestion, Mr. W.K.Robinson, a grad- 

 uate of the Iowa Agricultural College, made analyses of this grass, with 

 results which showed that in nutritiousness it ranked with red top and 



Nimble Will— Muhlenbergia diffusa. 



blue grass, and, in some instances, timothy. More recent analyses by 

 the government chemist at Washington make a still better showing. 

 Taking an average of the analyses I find the following results: 



"Timothy contains 4 1-3 per cent, of albuminoids. 



"Orchard grass contains G 1-2 per cent, of albuminoids. 



"Red top contains G 2-3 per cent, of albuminoids. 



"Blue grass contains 8 per cent, of albuminoids. 



"Muhlenberg grass contains 17 2-5 per cent, of albuminoids. 



"That is, Muhlenberg grass is more than twice as nutritious, weight 

 for weight, as blue grass. It is nearly three times as nutritious as red 

 top and orchard grass, and about four times as nutritious as timothy. 

 Now I would not for a moment be understood as considering these an 

 alyses as settling the relative merits of these grasses. It is well known, 

 however, that the analysis of a grass is one of the important factors in 

 determining its value, and I bring it in here as simply corroborating what 

 the feeders of hay have been saying for a long time." 



There are four or five species of this grass found growing on wooded 

 lands in Tennessee. All of them remain green until winter. In their 



