Wild Grasses of Alabama 

 and their cultivation 



It is an interesting fact that a large proportion of the species of 

 grasses growing wild in the United States east of the Mississippi 

 River, are to be found within the borders of Alabama. Most of 

 these, however, have been considered by the farmers as very trou- 

 blesome; and only within the past few years has the subject of grass 

 cultivation received even a limited attention from the farmers of the 

 south. In the northern states it is a rare thing to find a thrifty 

 farmer without his fields of grass for pasture and hay; while the 

 question of paramount consideration, among many southern tillers 

 of the soil, seems to be: what shall be done to destroy the grass o* 

 the fields? During the past few years some agriculturists have 

 found from observation and experiment that this plant, when w T ell 

 cultivated, adds a large item to the value of the farm; and the 

 question is now being asked: how can this valuable stock food be 

 •ultivated and adapted to the ttses tor which it was intended 

 by nature, and what varieties are best suited for hay? 



It i- also well known that Alabama, like many other Southern 

 State-, requires more wheat, corn and bay than sin produces. 1 1 i< 

 a fact also that large sum- ofmoney go outoftheState each yearto 

 purcha-e food for men and blasts; and that a considerable item in 

 this expense is m cover the demand for wheat and bay. A quantity 

 of hay is .-hipped to Alabama each year from Western markets and 

 yet the farmer, of* this State, has on his Lands the means for giving 

 his stock excellent pasturage in a green, succulent state almost 



