364 GRASSES OF IOWA. 



impressed with it as a cultivated grass. Its further early his- 

 tory is given by Stebler and Schroter* as follows: "Towards 

 the beginning of the last century, false oat grass was cultivated 

 in Dauphiny, in the neighborhood of Geneva, and here and 

 there in Canton Berne. Stapfer, in a memoir presented to the 

 Agricultural Society of Berne ia 1762, strongly recommended 

 its cultivation. In 17U0, Judtmann advocated its use for mix- 

 ing with red clover, sanfoin, and lucerne. Later it became 

 .much over-estimated, e. g., by Mauke, Hanson and Hannemann. 

 The French, as Schwerz says, 'elated it to the skies. ' Soon, 

 however, it became as much depreciated as it had formerly 

 been over-estimated; Hector in his work on grasses does not 

 even mention it." 



European authorities differ in regard to its value. Sir J. B. 

 Lawes states it is of questionable value in England. Mr. 

 Gorrie states that it yields continuously from early spring until 

 winter frosts. It has a very disagreeable, bitter taste, which 

 causes it to be avoided by horses, cattle and sheep. It is much 

 subject to rust and smut. Professor Buckmanf thinks it is not 

 advisable to encourage its cultivation. The opinions in this 

 country differ in regard lo its usefulness. BealJ states that it 

 is suited for alternate husbandry and for dry countries. It is 

 cooamon in California and greatly esteemed there. He says in 

 regard to it: "The writer has raised this grass on rather light, 

 sandy soil at Lansing, Mich., for twenty years or more, has 

 seen it in some other localities in the state, and thinks he can 

 tell why there are such conflicting opinions in relation to its 

 value. In England the climate is moist, and the finer succu- 

 lent grasses thrive well, while tall oat grass does better in a 

 hotter, dryer climate. As it blossoms rather early, many let 

 it go too long before cutting, when the stems become hard and 

 of poor quality. Again, bad weather often interferes with the 

 cutting at just the right time, and poor hay is the result. A 

 man doesn't want a very large quantity of this grass to mow, 

 unless he is prepared to cut it all in a day or two. It makes a 

 fine growth the first season after mowing, and if sown alone will 

 cut a good crop of hay. " 



Flinty notes its early cultivation in New England, where at 

 one time it was highly esteemed. It has been tried in Iowa 



*Best Grasses. 39. 



tBeal. Grasses of N. Am. 1: 132 2 Ed. 

 *Beal. Grasses of N. America. 1: 125. 

 ^Grasses and Forage Plants. 129. 2 Ed. 



