108 FAKMEK'S BOOK OF 



2. S. SETOSA, Texas Millet, Pigeon grass, Bristle grass. 

 Some years ago I received seeds of this grass from Texas 



and at first it was mistaken for 8. Italica, which it resembles ii 

 general appearance, though much larger. It has broad, long 

 light leaves and a stem from six to twelve feet or more high 

 bearing cylindrical racemose spikes from eight to thirty inche 

 long, tapering to each end, gracefully nodding, and altogethe 

 making a fine, display. The spike is extremely bristly, am 

 produces a very large quantity of seed, which maturing fro n 

 the top of the spike downward, are constantly dropping fo 

 many days. It is much disposed to'branch at every joint, an< 

 sometimes the branches also send up other branches; an< 

 all these terminate in seed bearing spikes. The whole plant i 

 very light. Mr. Collier's analysis of it gives : oil 1 .05, wax .4i 

 sugars 9.25, gum and dextrin 5.15, cellulose 32.76, amylaceou 

 cellulose 26.41, alkali extract 9.60, albuminoids 8.61, ash 6.71 

 His analysis of the ash gives: potassium oxide 39.33, sodiun 

 2.47, sodium oxide 1.18, calcium oxide 2.31, magnesium oxid 

 1,56, sulphuric acid 3.51, phosphoric acid 3.24, silicic acid 42.5! 

 chlorine 3.81. 



Although containing so much nutritive matter, none of ixn 

 animals ean be induced to eat it. So that its utility is in th< 

 way of ornament. 



3. S. VERTICILLATA, Bristly Foxtail. 



This foreigner seems at home with us. The stems arc tw< 

 feet high sparingly branched and topped with cylindrical pah 

 green spikes two or three inches long with bristles short, sin 

 gle or in pairs, roughened downwards. All the. following hav< 

 bristles roughened upward. 



4. S. GLATJCA, Fox-tail Grass. 



Stems one to three feet high, branched ; tawny-yellow, o 

 purplish spikes two or three inches long; bristles six to ten ii 

 two clusters, common. 



5. S. VIRIDIS, Green Fox-tail, Bottle Grass. 



Stems one or two feet high ; spike one or two inches long 

 gr,fien; bristles one to thjee to each spikelet. 



6. S. CORRUGATA, Wrinkled Fox-tail. 



Stems two or three feet high ; purple spikes three to six inch 

 es long, compound, dense ; bristles one to each spikelet. 



7. S. COMPOSITA, Large Fox-tail Grass. 



Stems two to four feet long; spikes six to twelve inches long 

 bristles single or in pairs, long. 



These grasses are widely diifused in fields, commons, alone 

 and in roads and open forests. Some of them afford grazing 

 none are of much value for that purpose. Poultry are fond o 

 the seeds, and they probably serve a similar purpose as those o 

 the German and common millets in increasing the egg crop, foi 

 which the latter are so much esteemed. 



