29 



seven-nerved upper one. The lower glume of the sterile flower i 

 long as tbe upper empty glume, and much like it in texture, while the 

 palet is thin, obtuse, and much shorter. The perfect flower is one third 

 shorter than the upper empty glume, oblong; the flowering glume and 

 its palet, as in most species of Panicum, is thick and of hard texture. 

 This can not be considered a valuable grass, but it frequently occurs 

 in neglected and poor land in sufficient quantity to afford considerable 

 grazing for stock. It makes its growth late iu the season, usually 

 icaching the flowering state in August. Dr. Mohr, of Mobile, remarks 

 that it is not mucfh relished by stock, being rather harsh and dry. 

 Professor Phares says : 



It forms strongly rooted spreading clumps, often completely carpeting the ground 

 with pretty, glossy, light-green foliage. 



(Plate 18.) 



SETARIA. 



In this genus the flowers are constructed as in the Panicums, but they are arranged 

 in narrow, more or less cylindrical spikes. Below the spikelets are several bristles, 

 grin-rally longer than the spikelets, which remain on the spike after the fall of the 

 flowers. 



Setaria Italica (Hungarian Grass-; German Millet). 



This grass is supposed to be a native of the East Indies, but it has 

 been extensively introduced into most civilized countries. It has long 

 been cultivated as a fodder grass both in Europe and in this country. 

 It is nn annual grass of strong, rank growth, the culms erect. 2 to 3 feet 

 high, with numerous long and broad leaves, and a terminal, spike-like, 

 nodding panicle, 4 to 6 inches long, and often an inch or more in diam- 

 eter. The varieties and forms of this grass differ greatly, so much so 

 that some of them have been considered different species; but the gen- 

 eral opinion of botanists is that they are all varying forms of the same 

 species, dependent upon the character of the soil, thickness of seeding, 

 moisture or dryness, and time of sowing. It owes its value as a fodder 

 plant to the abundance of its foliage, and to the large quantity of seed 

 produced. In some instances objection has been made to this grass on 

 account of the bristles which surround the seed, and which have been said 

 to penetrate the stomachs of cattle so as to cause inflammation and death. 

 But it is plain that this opinion is not generally held, as the cultivation 

 of the grass is widely extended and everywhere recommended. 



For forage it should be cut as soon as it blooms, when, of course, it is 

 worth nothing for seed ; but it is most valuable for forage and exhausts 

 the land much less. If left for the seeds to mature they are very abun- 

 dant and rich feed, but the stems are worthless, while the soil is more 

 damaged, 



Professor Phares says : 



The matured stems are very hard, indigestible, and injurious, and the ripe seeds 

 will founder more promptly than corn, and sometimes produce diabetes if moldy and 

 too freely used. If cut at* the right stage the whole plant is safe and very valuable 



