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Daniel Griswold, Westminster, Los Angeles County, California: 



It is a native grass, growing in very wet places, and not much thought of. Lb loses 

 its seeds very quickly, aud makes poor hay. 



Smut Grass, Sporobolus Indicus, PL VII. 



This grass is a native of India, but has spread over most tropical and 

 warm climates. It occurs more or less abundantly in all the Southern 

 States, and is called Smut Grass from the fact that after flowering the 

 heads frequently become affected with a black smut. 



Some have supposed this smut to be poisonous, from its somewhat 

 resembling the ergot of rye, but it is caused by an entirely different 

 fungus, aud there is no evidence that it is of a poisonous nature. The 

 names Carpet grass and Drop seed are sometimes given to this grass, 

 but there are other grasses to which these names are applied more prop- 

 erly. 



Smut Grass is a perennial, inclined to grow in tufts or loose patches, 

 growing erect, usually from 1J to 3 feet high, with an abundance of 

 long, flat, pointed leaves near the base, and a very narrow terminal 

 panicle, frequently a foot high. It has never been cultivated, as far as 

 I know, but forms very good natural pasture in some localities. It 

 should be kept fed down, as if allowed to throw up its seed stalks, stock, 

 especially cattle, do not eat it readily, the stems being hard and woody. 

 For the same reason it is not considered very valuable for hay. If sown 

 thickly, and kept closely grazed, it may prove worthy of cultivation for 

 a summer pasture. 



«T. N. Brashear, jr., Port Gibson, Miss.: 



It is common all over our pasture lands and is very hardy, standing any sort of 

 weather. It grows well on almost any kind of land, but does best on rich, moist 

 bottoms. It is not used to any considerable extent for hay, but it makes splendid 

 feed if cut while young. It will yield about 1£ tons per acre. It can be easily kept 

 down by cultivation, but as soon as we quit cultivating the land, it comes up again. 

 It makes a splendid pasture plant, and that is what we generally use it for. Stock 

 are generally fond of it until it goes to seed, and they sometimes eat it when dry in 

 winter. It never needs reseeding when once started. 



Dr. Charles Mohr, Mobile, Ala. : 



Frequently found spontaneous around habitations, and is perfectly hardy against 

 cold and drought. In dry, light, loamy soil it grows in tussocks. It does well in the 

 shade, and takes possession of the grass-plots around farm buildings. It is a coarse 

 grass, and seems but little relished by horned cattle, but is generally eaten by horses 

 and mules. 



Prof. J. M. McBryde, State Agricultural and Mechanical College, 

 Columbia, S. C. : 



It is widely established, aud is a pest in lawns on account of its bunchy habit. It 

 grows in tufts, very coarse and tough, and when old is refused by stock, but when 

 young affords good pasturage. It is not cut for hay. It is earlier than Bermuda, and 

 ■withstands drought well. 



