HAY AND PASTURE PLANTS RECOMMENDED. 53 
it was high enough to be mowed, anda heavy crop of hay was secured. 
By July 3 a second crop was secured, the bundles measuring from 20 
to 30 inches in length. A long, dry spell of very hot weather followed 
this second cutting, but the grass continued comparatively green and 
growing through it all, while the upland grass and the other valley 
grasses suffered very much. In November a third crop of hay was cut, 
which averaged about 15 inches in length. In the spring of 1900 the 
same spot was again cultivated with the iron-tooth harrow, together 
with about 2 acres more in the valley. Growing during the early 
spring and summer side by side with a splendid field of wheat on rich 
fallow land, the native perennial growth of wild rye held its own, 
standing very nearly if not quite as thick on the ground as the 
wheat, and growing much taller. Two crops of excellent hay were 
secured, the first after the seeds were fully formed, the second 
just before the second growth of seeds appeared. The grass was 
ricked, readily cured, and haled, and no hay grown in or imported into 
central Texas looked better, or in fact was better, than the wild-rye 
hay. <A bale of the seeded hay and one that was not seeded were sent 
to the Division of Agrostology, Washington City, where it was pro- 
nounced to be of superior quality. Stock are exceptionally fond of 
the green grass as well as the hay. It is about the earliest pasture 
grass of central Texas, and may be relied on to continue green as far, 
if not farther, into the winter months than any of the native grasses 
of the section. 
Witp Timotuy (Muhlenbergia racemosa). 
This is not, in fact, a timothy grass, but in general appearance 
resembles it, and is known locally as wild timothy. It was found 
growing on Indian Creek, in Taylor County, in quantities, and later 
was found, a bunch here and there, in several other sections of cen- 
tral Texas, always in low, moist soils, and always vigorous looking. 
It grew 38 to 54 inches high and produced seeds and fodder abundantly. 
Seeds gathered in 1899 and sown in the grass garden gave satisfac- 
tory results. Enough of the grass as found growing on Indian Creek 
was cut and cured to make a fair-sized bale. This was opened and 
examined several months later (during February, 1901) and was found 
to be in good condition—quite equal to any of the baled grasses 
imported into central Texas. Farmers in Taylor and Eastland coun- 
ties who know it well state that their stock prefer this grass to most 
of the others growing on their places. An acre of fairly rich moist 
land seeded down to wild timothy ought to produce, in a fair season, 
2 to 3 tons of the best quality of hay. 
OTHER CENTRAL TEXAS GRASSES. 
In a general way it may be stated that throughout central Texas 
the variety of native grasses of substantial value is large, and if stock- 
