AND OTHER FORAGE PLANTS, 111 



in any language, oral or written ; for each of its components 

 contains a false notion, as the plant does not belong to either 

 th'e broom or the sedge family. It is a true grass. 'Bfoom- 

 tjraftft' is pretty widely used, but a number of other plants have 

 the same name ; hence this is not entirely satisfactory. Besom- 

 grass would be open to none of the objections, but contains an ex- 

 pressive truth. 



The andropbgom have long rough leaves and solid woody 

 stems. Few of them are of sufficient agricultural value to re- 

 quire notice. The A. Virginicus, however, contains a large 

 quantity of nutritive matters as will be. seen by Mr. Collier's 

 analysis, which follows : 



t 



Oil, 1.24 Amylaceous cellulose, 26.32 



Wax, .47 Alkali extract, 5.80 



Sugars, 7.98 Albuminoids, 13.00 



Gum and dextrin, 5.02 Ash, 6.44 



Cellulose, 33.72 



100.00 



ANASYSIS OF ASH. 



Potassium, 7.01 Phosphoric acid, 2.97 



Potassium oxide, 13.93 Silicic acid, 58.33 



Calcium oxide, 6.76 Chlorine, 6.37 



Magnesium oxide, 1.83 



Sulphuric acid, 2.80 100.00 



When this grass dries, it may be burned off in the fall; and 

 in the spring the perennial roots send up a new crop of nutri- 

 tious and tender herbage which cattle, horses, etc. relish and eat 

 with much benefit. As soon as the seed stems start, stock eat 

 no more of it. It becomes worthless for grazing or hay. If cut 

 before the stalks start up, it is very easily cured and makes a 

 valuable hay. It is easily damaged by moisture and therefore 

 should not be allowed to take rain or dew after wilting. A few 

 hours' sunshine will cure it and make a better hay than large 

 quantities of some other^dnds sold annually in all our southern 

 markets. 



It is one of the best materials for the use of nurserymen in 

 packing their trees and plants. Excellent, durable, handsome 

 baskets are made of it also bee-hives. Horse collars and oth- 

 er things are stuffed with it ; and the dried culms, having the 

 leaves and seeds hackled out, are formed into besoms, that are 

 light, pleasant to use and sweep cleaner than the proverbial new 

 broom from the store. 



The practice of burning off annually the broom grass, wheth- 

 er in fields or forests is very reprehensible. It dissipates the val- 

 uable organic fertilizers which the plant contains and gives op- 

 portunity for the rains to wash away the rich mineral plant food 



