100 THE GRASSES OF TENNESSEE. 



felish. It withstands the hottest suns of summer as well 

 as the frosts of the severest winter. It must be sown alone, 

 as it will quickly choke and destroy clover or other grasses. 

 Its yield per acre, according to received authority, is some- 

 thing immense. Mr. Dickens, of England, sowed it on a 

 stiff, clay soil, well-manured, cut it ten times during one 

 year ; the first time, ten inches in March; April 13th again ; 

 and May 4th a third time; May 25th a fourth time; June 

 14th again ; July 22d a sixth time, with ripe seed and 

 three loads hay to the acre. Immediately after each cut- 

 ting it was manured with liquid manure, the produce of 

 each crop increasing with the temperature of the atmos- 

 phere, from three-quarters of a load, the first cutting, to 

 three loads the last. He discontinued manuring now, 

 thinking its growth would be terminated in bearing seed, but 

 he afterwards cut four crops from it. On the 26th January 

 following, it measured sixteen inches in height. The last 

 cutting was October 30th ; and on the 8th April a crop of 

 twenty-two inches high was cut from it. " I was desirous 

 to know the exact amount taken per acre for the year, and 

 it amounted, on a careful' measuring and weighing of green 

 hay, thirteen tons and eighteen hundred and twenty-seven 

 pounds per acre ! " (Coleman's European Agriculture.) 



It presents a most cfcarming view, with its broad, dark- 

 green foliage, and especially in a dry year, when vegetation 

 is parched up all around, it does not show any signs of los- 

 ing its fresh, living, luxuriant growth. Although an annuaj, 

 a meadow of this grass may be made perennial by 

 scattering fresh seed over the ground every second year, 

 and scratching it with a harrow with sharp teeth. Its un- 

 usual ability to withstand the vicissitudes of heat and cold 

 would make it a desirable grass in any thirsty soil, as well 

 as in moist ones, and might possibly be a valuable addition 

 to the soils of the western portion of our State. At least 

 it is worthy of a trial. 



