182 M. GLOMERATA, TRIN., MUHLENBERG'S GRASS. 



The following is by Dr. C. E. Bessey, now of Lincoln, Ne- 

 braska : 



'' Ten or twelve years ago I had my attention first called to 

 this wild grass as one possessing many valuable qualities, making- 

 it desirable for introduction and cultivation. I found that the 

 liverymen of central Iowa were in the habit of cutting those parts 

 of the prairie which lie between the sloughs and the high land. 

 The hay obtained from these places was of fine quality, being 

 composed of leafy, branching stems of fine length and medium 

 hardness. It was always cut late, but even then it was not often 

 in seed. In fact, the rarity of the seeding is so great that I have 

 heard it averred, over and over again, that it is a seedless grass. 

 Of course this was an error, as all grasses are seed-bearing at 

 some stage or other of their existence. In fact, it api)ears to 

 seed freer under cultivation than in the wild state. 



'' So much for this grass in a general way. As to common 

 name, I find no uniformity whatever. It is known here and 

 there under many different names. For example, in some places 

 it is known as Nimble AVill; in others as Limber Bill, names 

 which in other regions again are entirely unknown or applied to 

 entirely different grasses. I have heard it called Fine Slough 

 grass, a misnomer, us it does not grow in genuine sloughs at all. 

 Again, the name '/f Small Willow Top is occasionally heard, 

 although not confined to this grass alone. In the books, all the 

 Muhlenberg grasses are called drop-seed grasses, a name which 

 cannot be expected to come into general use. In reports it is 

 often spoken of as sim^ily fine prairie grass, which is, to say the 

 least, exceedingly vague. 



"■ The name I have used — Muhlenberg grass — is one which I 

 think wo might well adoj^t, in honor of the discoverer, old Dr. 

 Muhlenberg, a botanist of the last century, who did much to 

 bring before the world the natural resources of this country. 

 Now it is cnrious that although this grass has been known in the 



