PREFACE 



The forage grasses are of great interest to the farmer, 

 and the grass crop is in the aggregate one of the most- 

 important grown upon the farm. The grasses and the 

 clovers, including alfalfa, are the basis of the stock 

 industry. The call for authentic information upon the 

 forage grasses has been extended and insistent. In the 

 present volume an attempt has been made to supply to 

 the farmer, ranchman, and stockman, and also to the 

 agriculturist and experiment station worker, a com- 

 pendium of information on the grasses used for forage. 

 The book is intended primarily to give information by 

 which the cultivated grasses may be identified, and by 

 which one may determine their range, adaptibility, and 

 uses. Secondary to this is information on the culture of 

 the grasses. 



To aid in the identification of the grasses the descrip- 

 tions are supplemented by drawings from nature by Mrs. 

 Mary Wright Gill, the well-known agrostological artist. 



In addition to the information on the forage grasses 

 there has been added a brief account of grasses used for 

 other purposes, such as lawns and ornamentals. 



A. S. Hitchcock 

 1867 Park Road, 

 Washington, D. C, 

 October i, 1920 



