HAY AND PASTURE PLANTS RECOMMENDED. 45 
Sipe Oats Grama (Bouteloua curtipendula). 
This is justly regarded by the well informed as one of the best of 
the native grasses of central Texas. It grows equally well in the 
uplands and lowlands, in pastures and in fallow lands. It produces a 
great many seeds that do not shatter badly, grows tall enough to be 
eut, and makes much fodder, which when cured is soft and much 
relished by stock, and it may be fairly classed with the recommended 
hay grasses. Its special value, however, is for grazing or pasture. 
It is a perennial, and is easily propagated from the seeds. Several 
tests were made of this variety in the grass garden. Some seeds were 
gathered on the range in the autumn of 1898 and were sown April 18, 
1899. An excellent stand was secured, and the grass: stood the 
drought of 1899 satisfactorily, and in 1900 made a splendid showing. 
In the spring of 1900 some seeds grown in the State of Washington 
and received from the Agrostologist were broadcasted on a high, 
rather dry level in the grass garden. A very good stand was secured, 
the grass grew vigorously, seeded well, and altogether gave satisfac- 
tory results. The same grass is known as “‘tall grama” and as 
‘* prairie oats” in some sections, in and out of Texas, but everywhere 
it is regarded as a valuable grass. 
JoHnson Grass (Andropogon halepensis). 
If Johnson grass happens to be mentioned in any crowd of stockmen 
and farmers in Texas, it is safe to conclude in advance that there will 
be much disputing in regard to it. There are farmers in central Texas, 
known to be successful, practical, sensible men, who insist that it is a 
very valuable grass and does not deserve the great amount of abuse 
heaped on it. On the other hand, many who are equally as favorably 
known declare it to be an unmitigated nuisance. Among stockmen 
there is about as much difference of opinion. Those who do no regu- 
lar farming, but confine their farming operations to growing stock 
feed, say it is the very best all-around stuff they can grow. On the 
other hand, of those who are farmers as well as stockmen, many are 
pronounced in their opposition to it. None of the seeds were sown in 
the grass garden, but in the farms in the neighborhood are many fields 
seeded to it. Under ordinary circumstances it is a vigorous grass, 
growing 38 to 5 and often 6 feet high in the rich, moist valley land. 
Because of its rapid growth it frequently gives two to four cuttings 
yearly, the yield being from 3 to 5 and sometimes as much as 7 to 8 
tons of hay, which, if cut when in full bloom, is rich, soft, and much 
relished by stock. Johnson grass is not recommended for cultivation 
by farmers, and is only recommended to stockmen who do not care to 
do farming further than to grow such stuffs as will make good rough 
stock feed. 
