GRASSES OF IOWA. 



303 



Fig. 142. Loess hills of western Iowa where wheat grass and grama grasses grow. 



or too dry periods, to stand drouths or other vicissitudes of 

 climate, or to endure or flourish under the grazing of cattle. 

 Let us keep in mind, also, that while the natural tendency of 

 plants is to produce seeds and propagate in that way in crops 

 of grass, either when cut for hay or grazed for pasture, it is 

 foliage, not seed, that is the aim of the farmer. " 



Our own native sod of blue stem, untouched for ages, 

 becomes more valuable as the years increase. Some of the 

 bunches are several feet across and constantly increasing in 

 size. When untouched by plow or mower these grasses form a 

 lusty growth, frequently reaching a height of six or seven 

 feet, yielding two tons of hay to the acre. 



Such meadows could still be retained. The native prairie 

 sod would afford equally valuable pastures but' for the over- 

 stocking. This native sod at one time not only contained a 

 large number of species of different grasses as rich in nutrient 

 qualities and produced as bountiful crops as any pastures east 

 of the Mississippi, affording a great source of revenue. But 

 during the last decade this has changed. Jared G. Smith* 



*1. C. 311, 



