303 NEW GRASSES FOR OLD STATIONS. 



for 18T0, with regard to the plant required, says: " It must be 

 Olio that will do for the coarse, open, and airy soil of the plains, 

 which is often dry for a long time, what Poa j)rafenf<is, Lin., 

 has dono and is doing for the States east of the Missouri River 

 within the samo parallels; one that will not only maintain its 

 footing, but will extend its area, and overcome competitors. 



"A strong-growing, coarse perennial, Avith rliizomas, or under- 

 ground root-stocks, would suggest itself as a suitable species for 

 trial ; or a perennial producing an abundancio of radical leaves, 

 and of early growth, that would cover the soil and prevent the 

 growth of annuals.' 01 thi J class he suggests: Ely mas Cana- 

 doisis, L., EhjimisVirginicus, L., Elymus Sihirirus, Ehjmusmol' 

 lis, Trin., Sporoholus Jieferolepis, Gray, Ceratocliloa grandijlora. 

 Hook.'' 



Of foreign species he thinks the mosu promising is Fcstuca 

 pratentii><, Iluds. 



Soon after beginning to give special attention to the agricul- 

 tural grasses, the writer in a lecture to the Northwestern Dairy- 

 men's Association in 18T^, advised hunting up new grasses in 

 Mexico, Euro2)e, South America and Australia, ,)apan and Cali- 

 fornia. Depend upon it there are treasures yet undiscovered in 

 some of those distant lands. I suggested that, likely, grasses 

 from a dry climate will thrive better than those from England 

 or other moist climates. Truly we may say that very little prog- 

 ress has been made in this subject in forty years. 



In the extensive unwooded regions west of the Mississippi the 

 native grasses afford much pastures; but many of them start 

 very late in spring, and stoj) growing early in autumn. They do 

 not completely occupy the ground; they are easily stamped out 

 by the lioofs of cattle and sheep. Some of the tame grasses will 

 thrive better, and afford much more pasture. Especially is there 

 great need of some forage i)lauts better adapted to the Southern 

 States, and the dryer portions of all the United States. 



