THE AGRICULTURAL GRASSES OF THE UNITED STATES 23 



of Hempstead, Waller County, Texas, has recently sent to the Depart- 

 ment samples of several kinds, among which were specimens of the so- 

 called double-headed German millet 4^ feet high, and estimated to 

 yield 3 tons to the acre. 



' Mr. W. H. D. Carrington, of Austin, says that there is but one native 

 grass cultivated for ha^ , and that is what is called Colorado bottom 

 grass ; sometimes called goose grass, and in some places Green River 

 grass {Panicum Texamnn). The method of culture most commonly 

 adopted is the same as that for crab grass. It comes voluntarily after 

 corn is "• laid by." A few farmers have found it so profitable that they 

 plow and harrow their land in winter and cut the grass as soon as it ma- 

 tures. In this way they secure two crops annually. It is preferred by 

 all kinds of stock to Hungarian grass or to oats in the sheaf. It seeds 

 itself freely. The hay sells now (February, 1882), at $25 per ton, while 

 prairie hay sells at from $10 to $12 per ton. This might be intro- 

 duced into the other Southern States without requiring any change in 

 the method of culture generally pursued. It is figured and described 

 in the re])ort for 1879. 



THE SOUTHERN STATES. 



The returns from Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louis- 

 iana are so similar in general character that they are considered to- 

 gether, differences being noted as they occur. 



NATIVE PASTURE GRASSES. 



By an examination of the returns from this section, crab grass {Pani- 

 cum sanguinale) is found to be the most extensively diffused pasture 

 grass for summer and fall grazing:, while crow-foot {Eleiisirie Indica) is 

 quite common in Georgia and Florida. 



The sedge grass also holds a prominent place as a pasture grass in 

 Georgia, Alabama, and Louisiana, being reported from nearly one-half 

 the counties. Several grasses are called sedge and broom sedge. They 

 are for the most part some species of Andropogon or Stipa. 



Bermuda grass {Cyiiodon dactylon) is reported in over one-third of the 

 counties, and is probably- growing in many more, and though an intro- 

 duced grass it has beconu^ so well established that it is generall}' re- 

 ferred to as a native. The wild pea vine is also plentiful and in some 

 places quite popular. In Florida it is said to do well on the poor sandy 

 soil, and to endure the heat and drought of summer. Mexican clover 

 (Ricliardsonia scahra) is spreading over the sandy uplands along the 

 coast. Tick trifoil, or tickseed, two species of Desmodium^ is frequent 

 in rich woods, and is esteemed as a milk-producing plant. Nimblewill 

 {Muhlenbergia Mexicana aiid diffusa) are found in open woods in the 

 northern and central counties. 



In Alabama and ^lississippi, Japan clover (Lcsi)edeza striata) has 

 spread extensively over the roadsides and uncultivated fields. It will 



