66 I^AKAI ..EU'S BOOK OF 



The quantity of sugar and oil it contains, as shown by the fol- 

 lowing analysis of Mr. Collier, specially commends it" for win- 

 ter feeding. 



Oil, 2.99 Amylaceous cellulose, 23.74 



Wax, .24 Alkali extract, 13.13 



Sugars, 14.36 Albuminoids, 12.45 



Gum and dextrin, 1.00 Ash, 7 78 



Cellulose, 24.31 



100.00 

 ANALYSIS OF ASH. 



Potassium, 16.38 Sulphuric acid, 5.61 



Potassium oxide, 37.20 Phosphoric acid, 8.79 



Sodium, 1.27 Silicic acid, 4.84 



Sodium oxide, Chlorine, 16.84 



Calcium oxide, 4.43 



Magnesium oxide, 4.64 100.00 



The large quantity of Potassium and its oxide and chlorine 

 in the ash is very remarkable. 



A writer in the Rural Carolinian, (vol. I. p. 604 C ), says Mr. 

 Iverson introduced this grass into Georgia many years ago, ad- 

 ding: "I sowed it on a peach orchard, contiguous to my barn- 

 yard, a pretty rich clay soil and kept in good heart by the drop- 

 pings of animals. Here for many years, it has furnished fine 

 grazing in winter, for hogs, horses, calves etc. In the spring 

 the stock has been taken off, and the grass allowed to drop its 

 seed. Occasionally I have plowed it up, and I believe the bet- 

 ter plan would be to plow it up every spring after the seeds 

 drop, and sow down in peas. It might be made to answer a 

 valuable purpose/' 



In the Department of Agriculture, Report for 1878, p. 170, 

 Mr. Williams of Texas writes : "Inasmuch as western Texas is 

 the great stock producing section of the South-west, and consid- 

 ering the fact that pasturage is scanty, particularly in Februa- 

 ry, stunting the growth of young cattle, this seems wonderfully 

 adapted to supply just what is greatly wanted, both for milch 

 cows, calves, colts, and ewes just dropping lambs ; and besides, 

 this grass grows well on the thinnest soil and crowds out weeds, 

 maturing in March and early April, while not interfering with 

 the native mesquite. I therefore regard this grass as a wonder- 

 ful and most important discovery." 



For the reasons named by Mr. Williams this grass is valua- 

 ble in portions of Louisana, Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia. 

 It is specially valuable for fall colts and their dams. 



I have seen it bloom as early as November when the season 

 has favored and no grazing or cutting permitted. Oftener it 

 makes little start till January. But whether late or early start- 

 ing, it may be grazed or mowed frequently, until April. It 



