CHAPTER IX. 



HISTORY OF GRASSES, GRAINS, AND PLANTS. 



IT could hardly4>e expected that, in a work of this character, 

 anything like a detailed description of the many varieties of 

 grasses and grains could be given ; but a synopsis of this great 

 branch of agriculture may be both interesting and profitable. 



Dr. George Vasey, Botanist in the Department of Agriculture, 

 makes the following report : 



Every thoughtful farmer realizes the importance of the pro- 

 duction on his land of a good supply of grass for pasturage and 

 hay. He who can produce the greatest yield on a given number 

 of acres will be the most successful man ; yet this is a subject 

 which has been, and still is, greatly neglected. 



In the United States we have many climates, many kinds of 

 soil, many geological formations, many degrees of aridity and 

 moisture. It must be apparent that one species of grass cannot 

 be equally well adapted to growth in all parts of this extensive 

 territory ; yet hardly a dozen species of grasses have been suc- 

 cessfully introduced into our agriculture. True it is that this 

 number answers with a tolerable degree of satisfaction the wants 

 of quite an extensive portion of the country, chiefly the northern 

 and cooler regions. But it is well known that in other localities 

 the same kinds of grasses do not succeed equally well, and one 

 of the most important problems for those regions is to obtain 

 such kinds as shall be thoroughly adapted to their peculiarities 

 of climate and soil. This is particularly the case in the South- 

 ern and Southwestern States, the arid districts of the West, and 

 in California. . 



The solution of this question is largely a matter of experiment 

 and observation. 



The grasses which we have in cultivation were once wild 

 grasses, and are still such in their native homes. 



The question then arises : Can we not select from our wild or 

 native species some kinds which will be adapted to cultivation 



