_two to four times a year, according to latitude, season, and treatment, yielding from 
62 a 
and involute, sharp-pointed, varying greatly in length on different specimens, The 
plants are diecious, some being entirely male and some female. The panicle is 
generally short and spike-like, sometimes, especially in the males, rather loose, with 
longer, erect branches, and sometimes reduced to a few spikelets. The spikelets are 
from 4 to 6 inches long and five to ten-flowered, the flowers being usually much 
compressed. The outer glumes are smooth, narrow, and keeled; the flowering ones 
are broader, keeled, acute, rather rigid, and faintly many-nerved. The palets have 
an infolded margin, the keels prominent or narrowly winged. The pistillate spike- 
lets are more condensed and more rigid than the staminate. : 
This is described in most botanical works as Bryzopyrum spicatum, but 
recently the name givenby Rafinesque has been accepted and restored 
to it by Mr. Bentham. It is a perennial grass, growing in marshes 
near the sea-coast on both sides of the continent and also abundantly 
in alkaline soil throughout the arid districts of the Rocky Mountains. 
Although this can not be considered a first-rate grass for agricultural 
purposes, it is freely cut with other marsh grasses, and on the alkaline 
plains of the Rocky Mountains it affords an inferior pasturage. (Plate 
T1 5) ) 
DACTYLIS. 
Dactylis glomerata (Orchard Grass). 
The culm and leaves roughish, the leaves broadly linear, light green, and five to 
six on the culm. The panicle is generally but 2 or 3 inches long, the upper 
part dense from the shortness of the branches; the lower branches are longer and | 
spreading, but with the spikelets glomerated or closely tufted. The spikelets are 
usually three to four-flowered, one-sided, and on short, rough pedicels. The glumes 
are pointed and somewhat unequal, the upper one being smaller and thinner than the 
lower. The flowering glumes are ovate-lanceolate, roughish, and ending in a sharp 
point or short awn, and are rather longer than the outer glumes. 
ee eS oe wr 
PS as 
This is one of the most popular meadow grasses of Europe, and is 
well known to most farmers in the Northern and Eastern States. It isa 
perennial of strong, rank growth, about 3 feet high. 
EE a ee 
Professor Phares, of Mississippi, says: 
Of all grasses this is one of the most widely diffused, growing in Africa, Asia, every 
country of Europe, and all our States. 
It is more highly esteemed and commended than any other grass, by a large num- 
ber of farmers in most countries, a most decided proof of its great value and wonder- 
ful adaption to many soils, climates, and treatments. Yet, strange to say, though 
growing in England for many centuries, it was not appreciated in that country till 
carried there from Virginia in 1764. But, as in the case of Timothy grass, soon after 
its introduction from America, it came into high favor among farmers, and still re- 
tains its hold on their estimation as a grazing and hay crop. It will grow well on 
any soil containing sufficient clay and not holding toe much water. Ifthe land be 
too tenacious, drainage will remedy the soil; if worn ont, a top dressing of stable 
manure will give it a good send-off, and it will furnish several mowings the first year. 
It grows well between 29 degrees and 48 degrees latitude. It may be mowed from 
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1 to 3 tons of excellent hay per acre on poor to medium land. It is easily cured 
and handled. It is readily seeded and catches withcertainty. It grows wellin open 
lands-and in forests of large trees, the underbrush being all cleared off. I know but 
one objection to it. Like tall oat grass it is disposed to grow in clumps and leave 
