566 AGRICULTURE. 



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 an annual grass of strong, rank growth, 

 the culms erect, two to three feet high, with numerous long and 

 broad leaves, and a terminal, spike-like, nodding panicle, four to 

 six inches long, and often an inch or more in diameter. The 

 varieties and forms of this grass differ greatly, so much so that 

 some of them have been considered different species ; but the 

 general 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 abundant and rich feed, but the stems are 

 worthless, while the soil is more damaged. 



Panicum Sanguinale (Crab-Grass). This is an annual grass, 

 which, although a native of the Old World, has become spread 

 over most parts of this country, and indeed over all tropical 

 countries. It is the most common crab-grass of the Southern 

 States. It occurs in cultivated and waste grounds, and grows 

 very rapidly during the hot summer months. The culms usually 

 rise to the height of two or three feet, and at the summit have 

 from three to six slender flower-spikes, each from four to six 

 inches long. The culms are bent at the lower joints, where 

 they frequently take root. At the New Orleans Exposition 

 there were specimens of this grass five feet ten inches long. 



Sorghum Halepense (Johnson Grass ; Mean's Grass). This 

 grass is a native of Northern Africa and the country about the 

 Mediterranean Sea. 



It was introduced into cultivation in this country more than 



