20 

 American Canary Grass, Plialaris intermedia, PI. YL 



Also called Eeed Canary Grass, Stewart's Canary Grass, Gilbert's Re- 

 lief Grass, and California Timothy. 



This species resembles the foreign Canary Grass {Plialaris Canariensis) 

 which produces the seed commonly sold for canary birds. It is, how- 

 ever, taller and more robust, growing 2 or 3 feet high, with a stout erect 

 stalk, and broad leaves from 4 to 10 inches long. The spike or head 

 is oblong and compact, 1 to 2 inches long. There is a variety called 

 angusta which is larger and more valuable, and in which the spike is 

 more narrow and 3 to 4 inches long. 



This grass grows native from South Carolina through the Gulf States, 

 and across into California and Oregon. On the Pacific coast it is not 

 considered of much value. From the South it has frequently been sent 

 to the Department as a valuable winter grass. 



It is comparatively little known in cultivation, and the evidence on 

 some points in regard to it is somewhat conflicting, but there is much 

 testimony as to its value for winter and spring grazing and for hay. 

 It is worthy of extended trial, and by cultivation aud selection it will 

 no doubt prove of permanent value in some localities. 



Thomas W. Beaty, of Conway, S. C. : 



The inclosed specimen is from seed planted last September, and was cut on the 9tli 

 of the following March. You will notice that it is heading out, and is just now 

 in the right condition for mowing. It is wholly a winter grass, dying down in the 

 latter part of April or early in May. It seems to me that it would be a valuable thing 

 for the South if properly introduced and cultivated, or rather the ground properly 

 prepared and the seed sown at the right time. It would afford the best of green 

 pasturage for sheep or cattle all winter. We call it Gilbert's relief grass. 



A. B. Langlois, Poiute a la Hache, La. : 



It is killed nearly to the ground by the first frost. Only the variety angusta grows 

 here to any extent. It is found in damp swampy places, growing with great vigor. 

 The typical species I have seen sparingly on drier poorer lands, but it is far from 

 being as vigorous as the variety. 



S. B. Wallis, Wallisville, Southeastern Texas : 



I consider it our most valuable grass for winter pastures and for an early crop of hay. 

 It grows all through the winter, is not affected by cold, and makes a heavy crop of 

 seed very valuable for poultry. 



Dr. G. Lincecum, of Texas, in an article on Southern Grasses in the 

 Patent Office Eeport of 1860, p. 235, says : 



The Phalaris is an indigenous biennial grass, superior for hay. It comes up during 

 the autumnal rains, and in its odor, taste, habits, and mode of throwing off radical 

 branches it so much resembles wheat, that it requires considerable familiarity with 

 both to distinguish them during the winter and spring months. It matures towards 

 the first of May. A few years ago I prepared the ground and sowed 2 acres of it. It 

 rose 3 feet to 40 inches in height, and was mowed on tlie 28th of April. It produced 

 a fine lot of hay, and, coming at the time it did, it seemed to be more acceptable to 

 my horses than anything else that I had of the fodder kind. I have seen bunches of 

 this grass in favorable situations 7 feet high with 54 stems bearing heads on the same 

 stock. The seeds are about the size and very much like flaxseed. It flourishes well 

 on all our good timbered lands, but much the best on our black prairie soil. 



