98 



FARMER'S BOOK OF G 



in length, with or without abundant stiff hairs ; the sheaths may 

 be smooth or covered with hairs ; and the palets with long awns, 

 or with none. The panicle too varies much in color. The 

 plant is annual with many stems, arising from a common base, 

 each bearing a long panicle with a large quantity of seed which 

 readily fall off even before fully matured. It luxuriates in rich, 

 moist soils. 



In Louisiana, Mississippi, and some other States it is mowed 

 annually. Some farmers assure me that they harvest four or 

 fi ve tons of hay per acre. It may be cut twice each season by 

 making the first mowing as soon as it begins to bloom. I know 

 no one who plants it; but it annually reseeds the ground and 

 requires no cultivation, or other care, save protection from live 

 stock and the labor of harvesting. 



Being a coarse grass, with long leaves and large succulent 

 stems, it requires care to cure well. In one county in Missis- 

 sippi, hundreds of acres are annually mowed on single farms. 

 Cows and horses are very fond of it whether green or dry. 

 Farmers who have tested it most thoroughly for many years, 

 prefer it to the best corn-fodder. I have been assured by some 

 that on substituting this hay for corn-fodder, their work ani- 

 mals immediately show decided improvement and require less 

 corn. To make the best hay, it must be cut when in bloom. 

 Cut later the awns and woody fibre become unpalatable and 

 less digestible ; and much of the nutritive matter is lost by shat- 

 tering off the seeds. The Ag. Dept. Report for 1878 gives Mr. 

 Collier's analysis of the plant and ash. 



ANALYSIS OF PLANT. 



Oil, 



Wax, 



Sugars, 



Gum and dextrin, 



Cellulose, 



Potassium, 

 Potassium oxide, 

 Sodium, 

 Sodium oxide, 

 Calcium oxide, 

 Magnesium oxide, 



1.54 



.57 



13.87 



5.07 



32.27 



Amylaceous cellulose, 

 Alkali extracts, 

 Albuminoids, 

 Ash, 



21.37 



11.03 



4.14 



10.14 



ASH ANALYSIS. 



Sulphuric acid, 

 Phosphoric acid, 

 Silicic acid, 

 Chlorine, 



100.00 



3.69 

 4.27 



42.18 

 11.48 



100.00 



Cultivation and well prepared land would greatly improve 

 this grass. 



20. P. JUMENTOEUM, Guinea Grass. 



