AND OTHER FORAGE PLANTS* 95 



ed and eaten eagerly by both horses and cattle. It grows thick 

 and very rapidly, one or two months being sufficient to bring it 

 to maturity enough for hay. It should be cut before the seed is 

 fully ripe. It is said that it will yield sometimes two tons to 

 the acre. Here it is generally permitted to grow in the corn 

 fields, where it springs up in June after the corn is laid by. It 

 is of sufficient maturity to be cut from the middle to the last of 

 August. The corn is often gathered, the stalks pulled, and 

 then the grass is cut with a machine. It thrives best on the 

 Colorado bottom lands, yet I have seen it growing on poor up- 

 land soil, but it was dwarfed at least one-hal 



"It spreads very rapidly. Those who have a suitable soil 

 can easily propagate it by scattering a few of its seeds in a corn 

 field. It is an annual, hence I do not think it will be hard for 

 those to eradicate who do not wish to continue its cultivation. 77 



This is no doubt the same grass mentioned in the Tallahassee 

 Floridian as quoted in the Southern Cultivator for 1879 page 

 415, thus: "We have been shown a specimen of the Concho 

 grass, grown by R. C. Long, Esq., of this place, from seed 

 brought by him from Texas, which certainly comes nearer offer- 

 ing* all the desired qualities of pasture and forage plants than 

 any we have ever seen. 77 He adds that on the Colorado bot- 

 toms, many of the farmers "have devoted their farms entirely to 

 its production, finding it more profitable than corn or cotton. * * 

 * We understand that in Texas, this grass is cut twice, and some- 

 times three times a year, yielding about oine and a half tons per 

 acre at a cutting. The stubble is very heavy, and improves land 

 almost equally with clover." 



Further experience will no doubt show that the last statement 

 is erroneous ; and this will the sooner appear on hill or other 

 lands not subject to overflow. 



18. P. AGROSTIS, Agrostis-like Panic Grass, Munro Grass. 



For a few years this grass has been experimented with by a 

 number of planters in most of the southern States. Never hav- 

 ing grown it, I give from the Southern Cultivator for 1879, 

 pages 425, 426, Mr. Geo. C. W. Munro 7 s account of it. 



"The grass I discovered in 1875, has been experimented with 

 more than ever before ; and from every State I receive favora- 

 ble reports of it. G. W. Brown, Mineola, Texas, writes, Sep- 

 tember 1st., that it is seven feet high, still growing luxuriantly. 

 W. F. Rowell, Lodi, Miss., writes, September 16th., that all 

 the seed I sent him germinated, and grew oft finely, but that it 

 was so late he feared he would not be able to save seed, as they 

 had just begun to make their appearance. His grass was six 

 feet high. Himself and neighbors were well pleased with it. 



