Grasses and Sorghums 179 



region? Which method is better from a soil-improvement stand- 

 point ? 



7. Tell how the following grasses multiply after planting: tim- 

 othy, Bermuda-grass, blue-grass. 



8. What are the chief annual grasses used for hay? 



9. State the characteristics of the sorghums. 



10. For what two purposes are saccharine sorghums grown ? 



11. In what part of the United States are the grain sorghums 

 grown? How does the grain of these plants compare with that of 

 corn in feeding value ? 



EXERCISES 



1. Roots of grasses. Dig up a few plants of timothy or other 

 grass and wash the soil from the roots. How deep did the roots go into 

 the soil? What term is employed to describe the root system of 

 grasses? Dig up a few clover or alfalfa plants and compare with the 

 grass plants. How do the two classes differ in length and arrange- 

 ment of the roots? 



2. Tillering of grasses. Examine grass plants in the field for till- 

 ering in the way small grains were examined. Which kinds tiller and 

 which do not? 



3. Testing of seeds for germination. Secure from several sources 

 samples of grass seeds and test them for germinating properties in seed' 

 testers. 



4. Purity of seeds. Examine the samples of grass seed with a 

 hand lens to determine whether or not weed seeds are present. Secure 

 from the Secretary of Agriculture, Washington, D. C., a copy of 

 Farmers' Bulletin 382 and by following the directions given in this 

 bulletin determine the purity of the samples. 



5. Characteristics of different grasses. Throughout the year as 

 the different grasses mature secure plants showing roots, stems, and 

 blossoms. Press and mount them on cardboard. When studying 

 grasses in the laboratory observe their characteristics by examining 

 these mounted specimens. Write descriptions and make drawings of 

 the plants. 



6. Collection of seed. The seeds of the chief grasses and the weed 

 seed commonly found with the grass seed should be available for study 

 in every school-room where secondary agriculture is taught, and these 

 collections should be made by the pupils. To care for such samples 

 properly some kind of a case is necessary in which to store the seeds. 

 The following description of a seed case from Department Bulletin 527 

 prepared by the author for the United States Department of Agricul- 



