Z MISC. PUBLICATION 200, U. S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE 



HAY GRASSES 



The grasses together with the clovers and alfalfa are the basis of 

 permanent meadows. The most important perennial grasses used 

 for tame hay are: Timothy (Phleum pratense), redtop (Agrostis alba), 

 orchard grass (Dactylis glomerata), meadow fescue (Festuca elatior), 

 smooth brome (Bromus inermis), and Johnson grass (Sorghum 

 halepense). A few other species are used occasionally or rarely: Rhodes 

 grass (Chloris gayana), Dallis grass (Paspalum dilatatum), crested 

 wheatgrass (Agropyron cristatum), velvet grass (Holcus lanatus), Natal 

 grass (Tricholaena rosea), tall oatgrass (Arrhenatherum elatius), and 

 slender wheatgrass (Agropyron pauciflorum). Some of the grasses 

 used primarily for pasture are also occasionally used for hay. 



Market hays from grasses usually consist of timothy, prairie 

 grasses, Johnson grass, or grain (wheat, oats, and wild oats). The 

 prairie hays are divided into upland prairie and midland prairie. 

 The species of most importance in the upland prairie are Agropyron 

 smithii and Stipa comata (northern Great Plains), Andropogonfurcatus 

 and A. scoparius (eastern Great Plains), A. saccharoides (Texas), and 

 Panicum virgatum (Kansas to Texas). Midland prairie is invariably 

 composed of Spartina pectinata. Tussock sedge (Carex stricta) is 

 harvested in large quantities on the marshes of Wisconsin for use as 

 packing hay. 



For temporary meadows the grasses most used are the cereals, 

 which, with wild oats, furnish the grain hay of the Pacific coast, the 

 sorghums, including Sudan grass, and millet (Setaria italica). 



PASTURE GRASSES 



The more common grasses used for permanent pasture are: Ken- 

 tucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis), Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon), 

 redtop (Agrostis alba), colonial bent (A. tennis), orchard grass (Dac- 

 tylis glomerata), smooth brome (Bromus inermis), Italian ryegrass 

 (Lolium multiflorum) , perennial ryegrass (L. perenne), meadow fescue 

 (Festuca elatior), Dallis grass (Paspalum dilatatum), carpet grass 

 (Axonopus compressus), Canada bluegrass (Poa compressa), and sheep 

 fescue (Festuca ovina). Many of the meadow grasses mentioned 

 above are also used for pasture. 



Temporary pasture is furnished by the cereals and by rescue grass 

 (Bromus catharticus) , Italian ryegrass, and Sudan grass. 



Two grasses, important in the Tropics but in the United States 

 grown only in southern Florida and southern Texas, are Guinea grass 

 (Panicum maximum) and Para grass (P. purpurascens) . 



SOILING GRASSES 



Grasses used for soiling are for the most part the cereals, millet, 

 and other annual grasses used for temporary meadows, and in addi- 

 tion but only locally, pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum), teosinte 

 (Euchlaena mexicana), and Napier grass (P. purpureum). 



SILAGE GRASSES 



Any grass may be cut and stored in silos, but corn (maize) and 

 sorghum are the ones most used. 



