70 FARMER'S BOOK OF GRASSES 



TRITTCUM. 



T. VUL.GARE, Wheat. 



This is little used for grazing, or hay. The straw, however, 

 is used for foddering stock and contains 2 per cent albuminoids, 

 30.2 carbohydrates and 1.5 fat. The chaff contains of albumin- 

 oids 4.5, carbohydrates 33.2, fat 1.4. Wheat straw, therefore, 

 contains considerable nourishment ; but less than oat straw. All 

 know the value of wheat bran, shorts etc., as stock feed. For a 

 number of years I sowed wheat for winter pasture with mode- 

 rately remunerative results. For that purpose, I found oats, 

 rye and barley better. Bread grains as such do not come in the 

 plan of this work, and I therefore add in this connection only 

 that the wheats used for human foods are annuals. Many per- 

 sons believe that pigs are killed by grazing on wheat. 



2. T. REPENS, Couch, Quitch, Twitch, Chandler, Dog Grass 

 and many other names. This is perennial with stem two or 

 two and a half feet high, so much like w r heat as to be called al- 

 so wheat grass. Cattle eat it heartily when green ; and cut ear- 

 ly it makes a good hay. But it fills the ground with roots, is 

 as difficult to cultivate amongst and exterminate as coco or nut 

 grass ; and hogs are as fond of, and root up the ground as indus- 

 triously to obtain the roots. Cows and horses also are fond of 

 them. It should be destroyed as soon as found in cultivated 

 grounds, but it is very valuable in permanent pastures. 



3. T. CANINUM, Bearded Wheat Grass, of our northern States 

 is comparatively harmless and not likely to trouble southern 

 farmers. And 



4. T. COMPOSITUM, Egyptian Wheat, is only a cultivated 

 garden curiosity. 



SEC ALE. 



5. CEREALE, Rye. Of the four prominent species of rye, 

 this is the only one cultivated in this country. It occupies a 

 place intermediate between barley and wheat ; and it is not al- 

 ways readily distinguished by the inexperienced from them, es- 

 pecially from wheat. But the barley spikelet has but one per- 

 fect flower, that of rye two, and that of wheat three or more : 

 and there are other differences. Rye has a long, slender stem, 

 bearing a terminal, erect long-bearded spike from two to four 

 inches long. 



Two varieties of rye have been produced by cultivation, win- 

 ter and spring rye. The former may be be planted in fall or 

 spring, indeed in almost any month of the year. It may be 

 planted in late corn and plowed in laying by the corn ; or it may 

 be sown in cotton and plowed in the last working, thus cheaply 



