LESS IMPORTANT GRASSES AND LEGUMES. 41 



be made much before the heads appear. The form here cultivated is 

 sometimes referred to as E. rdbustus. 



Elymus virginicus. — The same remarks apply to this species as to 

 E. canadensis, but this grass shows the effect of drought more quickly 

 than that species. 



Elymus virgin Jen* submuticus. — The results with this variety are 

 more satisfactory than with the species. 



Eragrostis tenuis. — This grass has given good results in the plots, 

 and promises well as a ha}^ grass, although the foliage is rather wiry. 

 The grass is a native of sand} T regions of the plains, and it may prove 

 valuable in the Sand Hills. 



Wild timothy (Miihlenbergia racemosa). — A native grass found in 

 moist places through the Northern States west to the Rocky Moun- 

 tains. In Nebraska it is a common constituent of slough -grass hay. 

 The results upon the station plots show that this grass can be culti- 

 vated and a fair quality of hay produced. 



Japanese barnyard millet (Panicum crus-galli).— An annual grass of 

 much nutritive value which gives a luxuriant growth of fodder suit- 

 able for coarse hay. The station plot of this grass, one-fifth acre, 

 sown March 22, yielded on July 26, 1902, 1,100 pounds of hay, or at 

 the rate of 5,500 pounds to the acre. The yield should have been much 

 higher, but the stand was not of the best. There is no doubt that this 

 is a good annual hay grass for portions of Nebraska which are not too 

 dry, but as it has no especial advantage over millet and is inferior to 

 sorghum it probably will not be used extensively. Some seedsmen 

 have sold this under the name of Billion Dollar Grass. 



Svntch-grass {Panicum mrgatvm%). — A bunch grass which is one of 

 the important constituents of prairie hay in Nebraska and is well worth 

 cultivating. The plot at the station was unsatisfactory on account of 

 the poor stand, but the bunches present produced a good qualit} 7 of 

 hay. The grass is quite resistant to drought and produces a quantity 

 of seed which is usually of good quality. 



Peed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea). — A native of marshes and 

 sloughs through the northern tier of States. In the northern por- 

 tion of the Great Plains it forms a large part of the native ha}^, which 

 is generally recognized as of excellent quality. Although a native of 

 wet soil it gives good results on comparatively dry soil. It is to be 

 recommended for cultivation in the States from Minnesota to Wash- 

 ington, and south probably as far as northern Kansas, but in the south- 

 ern portion of the range is adapted only to low meadows. The great 

 disadvantage of this grass at present is the difficulty of obtaining good 

 seed. Ordinarily the seed shatters easily at maturity. The results 

 of the trial at the station were unsatisfactory from the fact that there 

 was a very thin stand, which was probably due to poor seed. The com- 

 mon ribbon grass of gardens is a variety of this species. 



