TALL OAT GRASS. 209 



as April or even earlier. It is ready for being cut 

 for hay at least as early as orchard grass, that is to say 

 in June in the northern states and considerably earlier 

 in the southern states. After being cut for hay it 

 springs up vigorously and makes an abundant aftermath. 

 It seeds freely, but ripens the seeds unevenly, and sheds 

 them very quickly when ripe. In the North even it will 

 make two crops of hay under quite favorable conditions 

 and in the South three are frequently obtained. In the 

 North from two to three cuttings of greed food may 

 readily be obtained from this grass in one season and 

 in the South even a larger number are sometimes made. 



When sown in the spring it may frequently be cut for 

 hay the same season. In the autumn it again grows 

 freely and in the South it keeps green all winter and 

 furnishes, according to some authorities, more pasture 

 at that season than any other grass. Since the roots go 

 down deeply into the soil it stands drought well, and is 

 possessed of considerable power to gather plant food, 

 even in poor soils. Moreover it is easier to secure a 

 stand of tall oat grass than of almost any other variety 

 of cultivated grass. 



The testimony regarding the palatability of the hay 

 and pasture furnished by tall oat grass is by no means 

 uniform. Some claim that both pasture and hay are 

 much relished by farm animals. Others claim that 

 they do not take to it readily. Amid this conflict of 

 statement it would probably be correct to say that the 

 palatability of the pasture or hay does not rank high, 

 owing in part to the coarseness of both leaves and stems, 

 Grasses — 14. 



