No. 133. j ^ 279 



of the valley of the Mississippi, there is some fine native grasses. 

 The secretary, in his extracts, has given a favorable account of 

 tiome of these. In the southwest, western and northwestern 

 States, there are no doubt many valuable native grasses that have 

 not been much spoken of or written about, for the want, proba- 

 bly, of persons on the spot or travelers to investigate or analise 

 these, and give a good history of their qualities, according to such 

 analyses. There is a species of white clover common in most of 

 the northern and middle States, considereda native, and no doubt 

 Is ; it grows low and thick on the ground, comes up naturally on 

 most untilled soils, especially where clay predominates j its blos- 

 soms are white and fragrant ; it is excellent for milch cows, and 

 gives a fine flavor to their milk and butter. Smooth stalked 

 meadow grass, floating fescue grass, fowl meadow grass : our 

 secretary, I believe, has noticed these, which makes it unneces- 

 sary to repeat their merits or qualities. 



RIBBOND GRASS. 



This grass if it possesses the fine qualities which it is said to do, 

 Is likely to bec-ome of great value in our husbandry ; it is no 

 doubt American. The late judge Buel had such an opinion of 

 it, that he said it bid fair to become the gama grass of the north. 

 The value ot the gra^s was discovered incidentalJy, and is thus 

 told by Mr. Robinson of New Hampshire. A neighbor wishing 

 to get rid of some of the roots which incumbered his gaiden, 

 pulled them up and threw them intd an adjoining bog, where 

 they took root and spread over a large space, excluding every 

 other plant. The water flowed through the roots at all seasons 

 yet the turf had become so solid as to bear a cart and oxen. It 

 makes the best of hay and pasture — produces a great burden and 

 springs up immediately after the scythe, slock of all kinds devour 

 it greedily as hay or grass. It is perennial, spreads rapidly and 

 may be easily transplanted — whether this remarkable grass main- 

 tained its character as described, has spread and increased much 

 in its use by our farmers we are not informed 



John B. Wlckersham of 312 Broadway New York, laid on the 

 table for examination hia plan and drawingi* of iron fences, gates, 



