94 FAKMEK'S BOOK OF GRASSES 



ANALYSIS OF ASH. 



\ 



Potassium, 4.54 Sulphuric acid, 4.63 



Potassium oxide, 27.95 Phosphoric acid, 8.48 



Sodium, 1.58 Silicic acid, 34.31 



Calcium oxide, 7.39 Chlorine, 6.55 



Magnesium oxide, 4.57 



100.00 



In the same report, Mr. Pryor Lea of Goliad, Texas, is quoted: 

 "I consider it far superior to any grass that I ever saw for hay. 

 It is a much more certain crop than millet, and cultivated with 

 less labor, and all kinds of stock prefer it. I expect to report 

 a good second crop on the same ground this year. In this re- 

 gion this gras^'j in the condition of well-cultured hay, is regard- 

 ed as more nutritious than any other grass. It grows only in 

 cultivated land ; it prospers best in the warmest fourth of the 

 year; its luxurious growth subdues other grasses and some weeds, 

 with the result of leaving the ground in an ameliorated condi- 

 tion." 



The experiments of the present writer and others in Missis- 

 sippi confirm the above statements substantially of Mr. Lea, ex- 

 cept* that it is subdued by some other grasses. Our hardy crab 

 grass (Panicum sanguinale) especially resists successfully the 

 permanent establishment of its Texan relative. Where the 

 seeds are sown on well prepared ground free from other grass 

 seeds, the plant comes well up to Mr. Lea's statement. But we, 

 with others, have had to abandon it, reluctantly it is true, where 

 other grasses overpower it, in districts noted for fine forage in 

 great variety and perfection of growth. In some of our prairie 

 country, however, and some other portions free from other gras- 

 ses, it must be a very valuable crop. 



Since the foregoing was written, I find that Prof. S. B. Buck- 

 ley first published a description of this grass in his Preliminary 

 Report of the Geographical and Agricultural Survey of Texas 

 in 1866. I think this grass so important that I quote his de- 

 scription : "Culms erect or subdecumbent, terete, smooth ; 

 sheaths shorter than the internodes, subpubescent, and at their 

 mouths hairy ; upper portion of the internodes and joints pubes- 

 cent ; leaves six to ten inches long and eight to ten lines broad, 

 long acuminate, under surface subpubescent; panicle compress- 

 ed, five to eight inches long and five to seven Cinches broad; 

 rays alternate, erect, lower glume ovate, acute, one-half shorter 

 than the floret, five nerved ; upper one seven nerved, acute, hy- 

 aline, between the nerves subpubescent, longer than and cover- 

 ing the floret. Several stems often grow from the same root, 

 steins sparingly branched, seed numerous and aggregated. 



"Common in the vjcinitv of Austin, Texas, where it is often 

 cut for hay, for which it is highly esteemed, because it is relish- 



