GRASSES AND FORAGE PLANTS. 181 



stem slender, eighteen inches to three feet high, leaves and sheaths hairy. Flowers in June 

 and July. Of no value for cultivation. 



Schrader s Grass, Rescue Grass (Bromus unioloides). The description of this grass 

 is taken from a recent report of the Department of Agriculture: 



&quot;This is one of the so-called winter grasses; that is, it makes a la/ge share of its growth 

 during the winter months. It belongs to the Chess or Cheat family. In its early growth it 

 spreads and produces a large amount of leaves. Early in the spring it sends up its flower 

 stalks, which grow about 3 feet high, with a rather large, open, spreading panicle, the ends 

 of the branchlets bearing the large flattened spikelets, which, when mature, hang gracefully 

 upon their stems, giving them quite an ornamental appearance. These spikelets are from an 

 inch to an inch and a half in length, and composed of two acute lanceolate glumes at the 

 base, and from 7 to 10 flowers, arranged in two rows alternate on each side of the axis. The 

 flowers are lanceolate, or ovate lanceolate, the lower palet extending into a fine point or short 

 awn. 



During several years past this grass has been sent to this department, chiefly from Loui 

 siana and Texas, and has been much commended. Many years since the same grass was dis 

 tributed and experimented with under the name of Australian oats, or Bromus schraderi. It 

 is not adapted to use in a country with severe winters, and hence did not give satisfaction in 

 all places. Mr. C. Mohr, of Mobile, says of it : 



&quot; Only of late years found spreading in different parts of this state ; makes its appearance 

 in February, grows in tufts, its numerous leafy stems growing from 2 to 3 feet high ; it ripens 

 the seed in May ; affords in the earlier months of spring a much-relished nutritious food, as 

 well as a good hay.&quot; 



Mr. Williams writes from San Antonio, Texas, describing the introduction and spreading 

 of a patch of this grass. He says : &quot; Inasmuch as Western Texas is the great stock-producing 

 section of the Southwest, and considering the fact that pasturage is scanty, particularly in 

 February, stunting the growth of young cattle, this seems wonderfully adapted to supply just 

 what is greatly wanted, both for milch cows, calves, colts, and ewes just dropping lambs ; and 

 besides, this grass grows well on the thinnest soil and crowds out weeds, maturing in March 

 and early April, while not interfering with the native mesquite. I therefore regard this grass 

 as a wonderful and most important discovery.&quot; 



This grass is said to have been introduced into Georgia by General Iverson, of Columbus, 

 and by him called Rescue grass. The favorable opinion which it at first received does not 

 seem to have been well sustained in that state. 



Fringed Brome Grass, (Bromus citiatus,) is often found in woods, and on rocky hills 

 and river banks. It has a compound panicle, very loose, nodding, spikelets seven to twelve 

 flowered, flowers tipped with an awn half to three-fourths their length, stem three to four 

 feet high, with large leaves. Flowers in July and August. Of no value for cultivation. 



The Meadow Brome Grass, (Bromvs prateruw,) is a perennial weed in the corn-fields 

 of England, and is only recommended in any part of Europe for dry, arid soils, where nothing 

 better will grow. 



The brome grasses generally have not been found worthy of much attention as cultivated 

 agricultural grasses, and the cleaner the farmer keeps his fields of them, as a general rule, the 

 better. 



Tanilla Or Seneca Grass (Hierochloa lorealis). This is a grass growing in the northern 

 latitudes, in moist meadows near the coast, also in low, marshy ground in some parts of Illinois 

 and other Western states, bordering on the great lakes, and in the mountains of Colorado and 

 further north. It derives its generic name Hierochloa, from two Greek words, which signify 

 sacred grass, so called because it was customary to strew it before the doors of the churches 



