134 ARRHENATHERUM, TALL OAT-GRASS. 



favorite, orchard grass. It made a much better stand than did 

 orchard grass growing beside it, and endured the severe and pro- 

 tracted drought of the latter part of the season better, retaining 

 its incense green throughout. This grass, although sown late in 

 April, gave a heavy cuttinf of hay in July, a feat that we have 

 never before accomplished with any other sort. It makes excel- 

 lent pasturage early in the spring and late in the fall, but as a 

 hay plant, and for general pasturage, it is greatly inferior in 

 Kansas to orchard grass." 



The Students' Farm Journal, of Iowa Agricultual College, 

 sums up its merits as follows : 



" It vegetates earlier in the spring than any grass we have ever 

 seen, producing pasture for cattle by April 15. It stood five feet 

 ten inches May 1, started April .5. This is a great item to the 

 farmer, for hay and corn are worth something in April and so is 

 the time required in their feeding. It grows strong and even 

 throughout the entire year and very late in the fall. It is best for 

 pasture but makes coarse hay, but of fine flavor if cut early. 

 It will blossom twice in one season if cut early. Its flavor and 

 smell are good. By chemical analysis this grass contains some 

 more flesh or muscle forming material than Timothy. More fiber 

 and less fat. But chemical analysis is not the most important 

 element used in judging of a plant's value. It is better than 

 Timothy in not being so hard on the soil, and produces nearly 

 twice as much hay. No grass in the college experimental grass 

 garden is more promising than this. It ripens earlier than 

 Timothy and is therefore better mixing with clover." 



Lieutenant Governor Sessions, of Ionia, Michigan, has given 

 this grass a good trial and reports : " In a very dry season the 

 newly seeded clover and Timothy disappeared, but the oat-grass 

 sown with it grew well. It more than holds its own with clover 

 and Timothy. It is rank and early and will seed twice each 

 season. It makes good pasture and good hay, and is very pro- 



