402 



GRASSES OF IOWA. 



from 111.72 per cent to 4.17 per cent. The percentage of crude 

 fiber increases from 19.77 per cent to 39.70 per cent. The per- 

 centage of ash varies between 4.58 per cent and 11.76 percent, 

 while the nitrogen free extract increases from 82.47 per cent to 

 50.03 per cent. The grass represented by sample No. 3, taken 

 on May 29, was in a very favorable condition for harvesting, 

 when the height is a matter of consideration. 



The following results have been selected for comparison 

 with the results of this investigation: 



NATURAL CONDITION. 



WATER FREE SUBSTANCE. 



Iowa (1): 



Cut June 25 



South Dakota (2): 



tut July 2 



Tennessee (3): 



Cut July 9 



7.03 

 4 00 



The Canadian lyme {E. canadensis) is indigenous only to the 

 loess of western Iowa, and as a forage plant is no better than 

 the preceding. It enters in very largely to the forage of this 

 section of the state. 



Terrel Grass (E. virginiciis, L.) is common along streams 

 and borders of woods. It is smooth and erect, from two to 

 three feet high, and affords some pasturage when young. On 

 June 15, 1900, it had grown one foot nine inches in the body of 

 the plat, and two feet four inches on the edges. Whea cut in 

 July this certainly makes a fair forage plant, but should never 

 be cut later than July, owing to the fact that when it comes 



(1) BuU. Iowa Agrl. Exp. Sta. 11 : 437. 



(2) BuU. South Dakota Agrl. Exp. Sta. 40 



(3) Bull. Tennesaae Agrl. Exp. Sta. 9 : 90. 



158. 



