160 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE. 
Habit and uses.—A_ grass of vigorous, rapid growth. It is very leafy, 
the leaves broad, rather thin, sprinkled with short soft hairs. It grows 
2 to 3 feet high, but the spreading stalks are often 4 feet or more in length, 
growing very close and thick at the base, and yielding a large amount 
of food. 
This grass has been brought to the attention of the department dur- 
ing several years past. Mr. Pryor Lea, of Goliad, Texas, has had it in 
cultivation for a number of years, and writes respecting it as follows: 
I consider it far superior to any grass that I ever saw for hay. It is a much more 
certain crop than millet, and cultivated with less labor, and all kinds of stock prefer 
it. I expect toreport a good second crop on the same ground this year. In thisregion 
this grass, in the condition of well-cultured hay, is regarded as more nutritious than 
any other grass. It grows only in cultivated land; it prospers best in the warmest 
fourth of the year; its luxurious growth subdues other grasses and some weeds, with 
the result of leaving the ground in an ameliorated condition. (See Plate 1.) 
Proximate analysis of Panicum Texanum, from Texas (Texas Millet). 
’ Per cent. 
Oil sees sceweves terest eeseeseee a eneewes ecees ese ee wroes cee ee ee eee ees eee eas eee he 98 
Wiaxcoces DSS E Be BaD SS CHC CROIROSD CHO SUS SOUS RGSoSe SS5os0 Sotood dooms Oboes . 56 
Sugars.... ------ -- --- 2+ een nee ee eee e eee e wee ee eee a = Fen 12. 49 
Gum and dextrin...--- ado so sccecs ss0gEssncess zee quoscone sess ceemedenSace 5.98 
Cellulose ~ eeenes cess wees cease fos eee BBs FOES Cele Cees COS4 CF28 HFSS Bees See ees 27. 68 
Amylaceous cellulose -- .--------- ----2+ eens eee ee eens ene e eee e ee wee serene 20. 64 
Alkali extract......-------------------- »---- 6 S698. S520595545555 95- Areas Sone 18. 43 
Albuminoids ....-..------------ ------ --22-2 eee 0 eee Rea Skt oe ee se 5. 61 
ASD io cc ce cece woce cnn one coc cnn ecw e cee nce once ones ase co ewer sone Hes enensee 6. 63 
100.00 
Analysis of ash of Panicum Texanum (Texas Millet). 
Per cent 
Potassium ..--. Soossss so5see sa0e6 BORSA Spe eeeDonaodos SocoSssosascsepeccasace 4,54 
Potassium oxide ...-.- ssecee 26685 Asocodae BeeoScd ososcs reson betesé cose dace 27.95 
Sodium ....-- SSg0 gaee osagenscencss REO S REED Bou aisoe S55 coGo assed SaSee thee eeee 1.58 
Sodium Oxide ...--- --ooc6 ween we 2 on owe oe wee ee =o oe a ceesooseessesosces - Jax 
Galciumoxid6 <2. 20. face come aoc ces cons woe = cecelenee aaa haem a= ana incivnie 7.39 
Magnesium Oxide -... ---- 02. ---- eo e+ eee eee ce ee cee ne ee ee eee ee ce ee eee 4,57 
Sulphuric acid ...... .----. +--+ ------ --- e ee ee ene cee eee eee eee eee ee Scisas- 4.63 
Phosphoric acid ....---. ---- 2-20 ween woe e eee e ones cece wen cee cee nn ec eee= 8. 48 
Silicic acid <-s ceca ce bet eee weciss <= oe ooo eneieeiee ee ei atone lem oii 34, 31 
@hlorine cose see cece cook wee cen esse eos qecle nce cemereeee)= (ene =ieleen eee 6, 59 
100. 00 
PANICUM CRUSGALLI—Barnyard grass, Cock’s-foot grass. 
Description.—This is an annual grass, with thick, stout culm, branch- 
ing from the base, 2 to 4 feet high; leaves long, } inch or more wide, 
rough on the margins, otherwise smooth, with the sheath smooth or 
rough; spikes 1 to 3 inches long, numerous, crowded in a long raceme 
or a dense panicle, which is rough with stiff hairs; the glumes ovate, 
rough, abruptly pointed; lower palet of the neutral flower usually 
bearing a rough awn; varies greatly, sometimes awnless or nearly so, 
sometimes long awned, especially in the variety hispidum, a very large 
and coarse form of the species, with the sheaths of the leaves rough, 
hairy ; another variety, muticum, is destitute of the awns and is smooth 
throughout. Very common in waste places in all parts of the country. 
Uses.—Of this grass Dr. C. Mohr says: 
An annual, 2 to 3 feet high, bearing its roughly awned flowers in dense one-sided 
panicles, composed of numerous crowded spikes; it grows luxuriantly, particularly in 
the lowlands of the coast, is greedily eaten by horses and cattle, and ma kes a hay of 
good quality. It is justly regarded as an excelent grass, particularly before it ripens 
its seed, as in the later stages of its growth the long and stiff awn's of its spikes tend 
to make it somewhat unpalatable. 
