SWEET-SCENTED VERNAL GRASS. — PAMPAS GRASS. 201 



was 7,827 pounds, which lost 5,723 pounds in drying, and 

 yielded only 122 pounds of nutritive matter. But when 

 the seeds were ripe the produce per acre was 6,125 pounds, 

 which lost, in drying, 4,287 pounds, and yielded 311 pounds 

 of nutritive matter. The produce of the aftermath was 

 6,806 pounds per acre, which yielded, of nutritive matter, 

 239 pounds. The experiments of Sinclair and the analysis 

 given by Way show very different results. The reader 

 should constantly bear in mind that these analyses and ex- 

 periments are not conclusive, and they should be repeated 

 ' many times to command implicit confidence. The best 

 test of all grasses is their effects upon animals. If animals 

 thrive and fatten upon any grass, and that grass is peren- 

 nial, hardy and durable, it is a good pasture grass; other- 

 wise not, whatever individual experiments in the laboratory 

 may indicate. We know that stock of all kinds eat blue grass 

 voraciously and thrive upon it; we know, also, that they do 

 not like the anthoxanthum. Both are alike hardy and 

 durable. Therefore the blue grass, upon suitable soils, is to 

 be preferred, whatever chemical research may determine. 



PAMPAS GT&A88.--(Gynerium argenteum.) 



Tall, reed-like grass, with large tuft of rigid linear and tapering, re- 

 curved, spreading leaves, several feet in length ; the flowering stem 6 

 to 12 feet high, flowers in antunm, silky, downy, silvery panicle.— Gray. 



This is the grass of the historic plains or pampas of South 

 America, and is only cultivated for ornament here. Its 

 beautiful, feathery panicles make a fine ornament for vases. 

 It must be protected to survive our winters, by brush or 

 Straw thrown over its roots. It is not included in the list 

 of grasses given on page 70, and is really to us only 

 a curiosity, and not of any value in a commercial point of 

 view. 



