488 APPENDIX. 



ing or rotting are brought to the surface by that same cultivation, and 

 they germinate and grow with the crop of wheat or oats. Owing to this 

 fact clover possesses a value and property peculiar to itself, and at once 

 become the cheapest grass we have. 



I have now given you as concisely as I could the perennial grasses 

 grown in this country, the uses and adaptability of each to the various 

 kinds of soil, and nothing remains but to add that fortunately the raising 

 of annuals, such as millet and Hungarian grass for hay has been almost 

 entirely abandoned, both on account of their inferiority as feed and the 

 cost and labor of saving the crop. For the latter reason coupled with the 

 fact that it has suffered terrible ravages from rust during the past few 

 years, the oat crop has also greatly diminished. I hail with delight as 

 foreshadowing greater prosperity and better cultivation with less labor, 

 the seeding of meadows and the sowing of the perennial instead of the 

 annual grasses. In this respect this county is far behind many others, 

 and while I readily concede that for quickness and spontaneity of 

 of growth many lands in the State are better suited for the pasture and 

 meadow grasses than ours ; still when we consider our eminent superiority 

 in a season of drought, or even in the ordinary heat of summer, I feel 

 that old Kobertson can fairly hold her own in the sisterhood of counties 

 "With great respect I am your obedient servant, 



JOSEPH E. WASHINGTON. 



CORN AND ITS CULTURE. 



The grass family (Qraininace) is extensive, and by far the most valu- 

 able to man. Indian corn or maize (zea mays) is the largest of all 

 grasses. It stands foremost in value as food for man and beast, and if 

 properly cultivated, is the surest crop the farmer cau raise. No cereal 

 is grown with less difficulty, nor is there one that pays so well. An ex- 

 amination of the structure of the stalk in ear shows that it is composed 

 of ten divisions, roots, stalk, sheathes, husks, stalks of ears, leaves, 

 silk, tassel, cob and grain. The roots are divided into three classes, the 

 main or primary, the secondary and the brace or aerial. The first of 

 these disappear very soon after the secondary roots begin to perform 

 their office, and the brace roots show themselves soon after the stalk 



