38 FARMER'S BOOK OF GRASSES 



ANALYSIS OF ASH. 



Potassium, 12.16 Sulphuric acid, 4.60 



Potassium oxide, 33.53 Phosphoric acid, 6.02 



Sodium, vSilicic acid, 27.36 



Sodium oxide, Chlorine, 11.03 



Calcium oxide, 2.64 



Magnesium oxide, 2.66 100.00 



Its generic name is founded on the fact that it sheds its seeds 

 so easily ; and hence it has been called also Indian drop-seeds. 



Of several other species found in the southern States, none 

 need special mention. 



MUHLENBERGIA. 



M. DIFFUSA, Wire Grass, Nimble Will, Drop-seed Grass. 

 This and Bermuda grass are often mistaken for each other. But 

 the stems of this are not so much covered by the sheaths as in 

 the Bermuda ; the leaves are shorter and broader in proportion 

 to length, rougher and lighter tinted than in Bermuda ; it has 

 but one leaf to each node and joint, while Bermuda has two or 

 three and even four ; and the culms of the latter are crowned 

 with usually three to five digitate spikes, while the former has 

 an appressed rather long panicle. Both are perennial. Wire 

 grass affects the open woodlands; Bermuda, open sun-exposed 

 fields. Bu- the latter is often found in open woodlands also ; 

 and sometimes we see its possession of the open field contested 

 by the former with pretty equal success for years. The wire 

 grass is more wiry, grows taller and is less nutritious, less di- 

 gestible and 1 ess relished by stock than the Bermuda. 



Yet it has a very good percentage of nutritive matter as shown 

 by Mr. Collier's 



ANALYSIS OF MUHLENBERGIA DIFFUSA. 



Oil, 1.39 Amylaceous cellulose, 19.81 



Wax, .43 Alkali extract, 23.89 



Sugars, 8.96 -Albuminoids, 10.06 



Gum and dextrin, 4.48 Ash, 7.61 



Cellulose, 23.37 



100.00 



