54 GRASSES AND FORAGE PLANTS. 



superiority of the grass, then will the agricultural community 

 owe him a debt of gratitude for having introduced to notice here 

 a species of grass which is highly beneficial on light sandy soils, 

 much superior to any otlier species, and producing most abun- 

 dantly on land of better quality," I very recently directed this 

 grass to be submitted to such a jury, empanelled and kept under 

 the charge of Mr. L. P. Chamljerlain at the State Farm, which 

 unhesitatingly pronounced a verdict in accordance with the 

 fa,cts, which were as follows : — 



The grass which was first submitted for comparison with the 

 bromus was the Reed Canary grass, (^'phalaris ai'undinacea,') a 

 grass of very slight nutritive and palatable qualities, as will 

 appear by reference on a subsequent page to the careful analysis 

 made of it at my request by Prof. E. N. Horsford, of the Law- 

 rence Scientific School, Camln-idge. The English hay used was 

 such as commonly goes by that name among farmers, made up 

 of Timothy and Redtop mainly, of fair quality. The meadow or 

 swale hay was taken from a wet meadow, made up of coarse 

 swale grasses, such as are common in eastern Massachusetts, 

 and pass under the term of " meadow hay." The bromus was 

 carefully picked out from all other grasses. The two kinds 

 given in each trial were put into the same crib, but separated by 

 a partition. 



First trial — Bromus and reed canary grass. There was no 

 choice. Both were eaten alike till they were gone. 



Second — Bromus and English hay ; preferred English hay. 



Third — Bromus and swale hay ; " swale. 



Fourth — Bromus and oat straw ; " bromus. 



Fifth — Canary grass and English hay ; " English hay. 



Sixth — Canary grass and swale ; " SAvale at once. 



Seventh — Canary grass and oat straw ; " oat straw. 



Eighth — Canary grass and cornstalks ; " cornstalks. 



Ninth — Bromus and cornstalks. Ate nearly alike of each till 

 both were gone. 



Tenth — Bromus and millet. Cliose the millet and did not 

 touch the bromus. 



This is a true transcript of tlie verdict of that intelligent jury, 

 and it is precisely what I should have anticipated from what I 

 knew of the grasses. The trial by jury sliould be final. 



It is unnecessary to say that " Cheat" is a troublesome v/ced 



