HAY AND PASTURE PLANTS 139 
in lowlands; and several of the milk-vetches that thrive on 
the drier prairies. In some sections these and a few other 
native legumes make up a good proportion of the wild hay 
taken from the prairie. 
QUESTIONS AND PROJECTS 
1. Hay plants. — (a) What are the leading grasses that are raised in 
your vicinity for hay purposes? What advantages are claimed for 
each? Have other varieties been tried? With what success? 
(b) If wild hay is cut in-your neighborhood, try to find out the prin- 
cipal species of plants in it. 
(c) What clovers are raised? With what success? Is alfalfa raised? 
What difficulties are met in growing it? How many crops are cut during 
the season? Has alfalfa proved satisfactory? 
2. Pastures. — Distinguish between a pasture and a field in which 
cattle are allowed to graze only for a time, as they often do in hay 
meadows during spring and fall. 
(a) Are the pastures in your district made by seeding cultivated land 
or has the original sod never been broken? 
(b) What plants can you identify in the wild land pastures? Has 
June grass or white clover been introduced? How? 
(c) In pastures made from cultivated land, what plants are used? 
What is the advantage of mixing several varieties ? 
3. A collection. — Collect specimens of pasture and hay plants, 
press them and mount them on heavy paper; label each with its proper 
name. In case of the grasses, each specimen must show the “head” or 
panicle, because we rely upon that to distinguish one species from another. 
A careful study of this chapter and comparison of your specimens with 
the pictures should enable you to name most of the commoner species. 
In cases in which you cannot find out the name yourself, show your 
specimens to people who are informed upon such matters and learn 
the names from them. Making such a collection is very helpful as a 
means of extending your acquaintance with plants. The collection 
would be valuable for your school.. 
4. Make drawings of the heads of common grasses found in your 
vicinity — as June grass, red top, brome grass, timothy, slender wheat 
