oo, 
ae 4 7 
known fields of this grass to be highly productive for thirteen years in 
succession. Farmers should not lose sight of the fact that the roots do 
not extend widely, and that much of its vitality depends on the thick- 
ened bulb-like base of the stem; therefore there is danger that, if mowed 
too late in the season so that the bulbs and roots are left unprotected 
from the weather, they may suffer from the action of frost, being some- 
times lifted out of the ground fro this cause. 
A well-informed farmer, writing in the Prairie Farmer, says that 
Timothy is an exhaustive crop, the roots not penetrating deeply enough - 
to obtain nourishment from the subsoil. Feeding off with stock lays 
the crown of the plants bare, which, being of a bulbous nature, are 
easily injured by exposure. When, however, the aftermath is very 
abundant, Timothy meadows may be pastured sparingly in the fall to 
reduce the heavy growth of rowan that sometimes accumulates so as to 
interfere with the mower; but in nocase should sheep be allowed upon 
it, as they are very apt to nip off the crown of the plant and thus destroy 
it. Inorder to keep up the productiveness ofa Timothy meadow, a good 
top-dressing of s able manure should be applied and evenly spread in 
the fall. This will protect the roots and cause a much thicker and. 
stronger growth. Timothy is often sown with clover in different pro- 
portions, and under some circumstances this is a judicious practice. 
But the more general practice is to have the Timothy meadows free 
from other plants, and to sow about 12 pounds of seed to the acre. 
When this grass is grown for the crop of seed, it should be allowed to 
stand until the heads are ripe; 30 bushels to the acre have been pro- 
duced. Of course the hay left after thrashing out the seed is coarse 
and of inferior value. The clean seed weighs about 45 pounds to the’ 
bushel. (Plate 45.) | 
SPOROBOLUS. 
Spikelets one, rarely two-flowered, in a contracted or open panicle; outer glumes 
unequal, the lower one shorter, often acute, unawned, one to three-nerved, mem- 
branaceous; flowering glume mostly longer, unawned; palet about equaling the 
flowering glume and of the same texture, prominently two-nerved. Seed mostly 
loose in a hyaline or rarely coriaceous pericarp. 7 
Sporobolus cryptandrus. 
This species has an extensive range. Itiscommon in sandy fields in 
the Northern and Southern States, as well as over all the dry plains 
west of the Mississippi, extending from British America to Mexico, fur- 
nishing a considerable share of the wild pasturage of that region. 
(Plate 46.) 
Sporobolus indicus. 
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 become afiected with a black smut. It grows in tufts or loose 
cd 
