366 MEADOWS AND PASTURES 



of beggarweed hay can be secured. If the first crop be cut as early 

 as the first week in August there will be time enough for a second 

 cutting. 



Natal grass (Tricholaena rosea). This is an annual grass, a 

 native of South Africa, and is now grown to some extent in a 

 number of other tropical and sub-tropical countries. Its appear- 

 ance before flowering somewhat resembles timothy. When in bloom, 

 however, it is very unlike timothy, and has a purple flower. It has 

 a straight upright stem with many side leaves. It grows from 2' 

 to 5' high. When natal grass first germinates and comes up it is 

 almost impossible to distinguish it from crabgrass ; but after it has 

 reached a height of 4" or 5" it is readily distinguished. It is easy 

 to eradicate natal grass by cultivation. For this reason it is seldom 

 seen as a weed in tilled fields, while the growing crop is being culti- 

 vated. But when cultivation ceases natal grass seed may come up 

 and make a good growth, after such crops as Irish potatoes, melons, 

 oats and other early crops have been harvested. In feeding value 

 natal grass hay is somewhat richer than timothy hay. The analysis, 

 as given in the Florida state chemist's report for 1907 is as follows : 



Per cent. 



Moisture 9.75 



Fiber 36. 75 



Ash 5.02 



Protein 7.45 



Nitrogen-free extract 39.23 



Ether extract 1 .80 



The yield of hay from this crop is satisfactory, being from y 2 

 to 4 tons per acre for the season. Two good hay crops can gen- 

 erally be obtained during the year, and under very favorable con- 

 ditions 3 may be had. 



GEORGIA. Director Martin V. Calvin of the Georgia Experiment 

 Station, Experiment, Ga. : I regret I can not find among the bulle- 

 tins of this station any that touch the subject of meadows and 

 pastures. It is a very interesting and important subject, but, as 

 you know, our people very many of them ex necesitate rei have 

 been giving so much attention to cotton production that they have 

 lost sight of live stock. Out of office hours, I am, and have been, 

 trying to get a good word to the people through the secular press 

 in the interest of more and better stock, and improved, labor-saving, 



