90 FARMER'S BOOK OF GRASSES 



much hay as the earlier one, but it was of the choicest quality. 

 The medick seemed to replace the elements removed by the hay 

 crop, the last year yielding as much hay as any preceding. The 

 medick was never mowed, but grazed from December till April ; 

 after which it covered the ground very densely > maturing seed 

 promptly, which after removing the hay in the fall sprang up 

 for winter pasture. This process was continued till the land 

 was required for another purpose. See pages 3 and 4 for a fuller 

 account. 



Crab grass is excellent for summer pasture also; and with 

 many bad managers it comes as a God-spnd to eke out a short 

 corn supply for work animals, saving their lives from May to 

 August and thus saving the growing crop. 



2. P. VIRGATTJM, Tall smooth Panic grass. 



This is called also switch grass; and in August and Septem- 

 ber the stem attains a height of two to seven feet, being crowned 

 with a large, diffuse, open panicle. On sandy, moist soil it 

 thrives well, yields considerable forage and is nutritious if cut 

 young. A number of stems rise from each clump. Its proxi- 

 mate principles vary considerably in different localities as is 

 manifest from the following analyses made by Mr. Collier of 

 samples from Texas and Alabama : 



Texas. Alabama. 



Oil, 1.25 1.75 



Wax, .45 .17 



Sugars, 7.05 9.61 



Gum and dextrin, 3.37 3.02 



Cellulose, 37.38 28.87 



Amylaceous cellulose 27.59 25.94 



Alkali extract, 13.06 22.50 



Albuminoids, 5.01 4.58 



Ash, 4.84 3.56 



100.00 100.00 



ASH ANALYSIS. 



Potassium, 3.36 1.54 



Potassium oxide, 18.76 22.53 



Sodium, 1.22 1.74 



Calcium oxide, 7.87 7.39 



Magnesium oxide, 3.63 7.98 



Sulphuric acid, 3.56 5.29 



Phosphoric acid, 5.50 4.37 



Silicic acid, 51.17 45.10 



Chlorine, 4.93 4.06 



100.00 100.00 



