358 



GRASSES OF IOWA 



native to South America and was evidently early introduced into 

 the Carolinas. Mr. Shear says it also appears to be native in 

 Central America and Mexico, and possibly Texas. Its cultiva- 

 tion was first introduced by Iverson, of South Carolina, in 1853 

 or 1854. This grass is not adapted to our conditions in this 

 state, but for the southern states it is an admirable grass. Mr. 

 C. L. Shear* says: 



" The grass is naturally an annual, producing its seed and 

 then dying, but if prevented from seeding by continuous cutting 

 or pasturing, it will survive several years and produce well; 

 but as the grass dries up during the summer, the use of the 

 land during that period is practically lost. Results giving the 

 most general satisfaction in growing this grass may be secured 

 by pasturing it until spring and then letting it reseed itself. 

 After it has matured its seed, the land may be plowed and sown, 

 preferably to cow peas or Japan clover, which should be har- 

 vested in time to allow the rescue grass to start again with the 

 first autumnal rains. Excellent volunteer crops may be secured 

 in this way for several years. '■ 



CHEMICAL COMPOSITION. 



The analysis by the South Dakota Experiment Station (1) 

 gave the following results: 



The United States Department of Agriculture (2) analyzed a 

 number of samples of this grass, with the following results: 



Sample No. I. 

 Sample No. 2. 

 Sample No. 3. 

 Sample No. 4. 

 Sample No. 5. 



Cut April 23d. 



Cut; May 4th. 



Cut May 13th. 



Cut June 1st. 



Cut June 1st, in seed. 



'*U. S. Dept. Agrl. Div. Agros. 23:51. 



1 Bull. South Dakota Agr. Exp. Sta. 40: 146. 



2 Bull. U. S. Uept. of Agrl. Off. Exp. Sta. 11: 32. 



