210 THE GRASSES OF TENNESSEE. 



apply to any other. plant we have ever grown in this lati- 

 tude, 



1. It grows on poor land with more luxuriance than any 

 other grass or weed I have ever seen; and as it has a small 

 leaf, rather contravenes the general idea of vegetable physi- 

 ologists, that large leaved plants feed mostly on the atmos- 

 phere.' I suppose, however, that this deficiency is counter- 

 acted to a large extent by the number of leaves, for they 

 are legion. 



2. It has great powers of endurance, so far as the roots 

 are concerned ; but the brandies and leaves will parch and 

 die out under a burning sun very soon, especially where it 

 grows sparsely. During a wet summer it luxuriates where- 

 ever propagated on poor hill-sides as well as meadow lands. 

 It loves, however, rainy seasons on thirsty lands, and I fear 

 will not prove to be all we desire in such localities. It, 

 however, reminds us of an anecdote of Mr. Dickson, when 

 he was showing some gentlemen his farm during the pre- 

 valence of a severe drought. As they passed through a 

 cornfield in which some of the .stalks were actually dying 

 for lack of moisture, one of them called his attention to 

 several in that condition. "Yes," said he, "I perceive the 

 fact — but it dies game." And so of the Japan Clover, it 

 dies from severe drought, but rallies again as soon as the 

 rain sets in. 



3. It is good pasturage for stock, and I think would make 

 good hay, if cut and cured. This I intend to test the pres- 

 ent season. But I do not believe that our stock like it as 

 well as the native grasses, and I doubt whether it is as nu- 

 tritious as the Bermuda. As cattle love variety, however, 

 this may subserve a good purpose in that way. My opinion, 

 however, is, from not a very close observation in the matter, 

 that they would soon tire out on it exclusively. 



4. It furnishes a large supply of vegetable matter to the 

 soil, and I believe will prove to be the best humus making 

 plant we have at the South, where so much is needed from 



