192 FORAGE PLANTS AND THEIR CULTURE 



the new shoots being produced intravaginally and grow- 

 ing perfectly erect. The lowermost joint may, however, 

 be elbowed, due to resistance encountered by the young 

 shoot when developing through the old tuft. The stems 

 grow to a height of about 4 feet, rarely 6 feet. The 

 panicle is pyramidal, loose and pale green, more nearly 

 resembling that of the oat than any other cultivated per- 

 ennial grass. The spikelets bear two florets, the lower 

 bearing a long, twisted and elbowed awn from its base. 



In mixtures where tall oat is not shaded by other grasses, 

 it maintains itself well for five years or even more. The 

 hay is somewhat bitter in taste and on this and other 

 accounts it is better grown in mixtures. At Arlington 

 Farm, Virginia, however, horses ate pure hay of tall oat- 

 grass readily, and most American experiment stations 

 have reported that animals eat it well. Its supposed un- 

 palatability is probably exaggerated and, as in similar cases, 

 it is presumably easy to accustom animals to its taste. 



204. Seeding. Tall oat-grass, whether sown alone 

 or in mixtures, is best sown in the spring in the North, 

 but in the South early fall seeding is preferable. In Ten- 

 nessee the best time is the latter half of September or else 

 March and April. A well-prepared firm seed bed is most 

 desirable. The seed is rather large and deep seeding is 

 important, about 1 inch in moist soil and 1J inches when 

 dry. 



European authorities recommend for one acre, if sown 

 alone, 80 pounds of seed germinating 50 per cent ; that is, 

 about 40 pounds of viable seed. 



205. Hay. Tall oat-grass should be cut for hay 

 promptly when it blooms, as thereafter the stems rapidly 

 become more woody. It cures into hay more readily 

 than most other grasses. 



