THE AGRICULTURAL GRASSES OF THE UNITED STATES. Ill 



In some localities this is Gommou iu low meadows, and is cut with 

 other native grasses for hay. It* left until maturity it becomes too 

 coarse to he of much value. In some portions of the Southern States 

 this grass is known as Terrell grass from having been prominently 

 'brought to notice by Dr. Terrell, of Sparta, Ga. Mr. C. W. Howard 

 writes concerning it, as follows: 



This grass will live ou thin laud, but the soil, to make it valuable, must be rich— 

 the richer the better. It lasts for years. I have known it to occupy aud flourish ou 

 the same spot for twenty years. Horses, sheep, aud cattle are very fond of it duriug 

 the winter aud spring ; hogs reject it. Orchard, blue, or meadow-oat grass are either 

 of them preferable to it where they thrive. Whatever doubt there may be of their 

 thriving iu a given locality, there can be no doubt of the thrift of the Terrell grass iu 

 -any part of the South, however hot it may be, if the soil be made rich. The planter 

 living iu the flat and somewhat saudy portions of the South who says he cannot get 

 n good winter pasture, has certainly never tried the Terrell grass on rich laud. 



(Plate 117.) 



Elymus Virginicus. (Wild Eye grass. Smooth Rye grass, Terrell 



grass.) 



A coarse perennial grass, growing ou alluvial river banks or in rich 

 low grounds. The culm is rather stout, 2 to 3 feet high, leafy ; the lower 

 leaves are 10 to 15 in-ches long, broad and rough. The sheath of the 

 upper leaf usually incloses the stock, and sometimes the base of the 

 flower spike. This spike is erect, dense, and rigid, 2 to 4 or 5 inches long 

 and one-half inch thick. The spikelets are two or three together at each 

 joint, all alike and fertile, sessile, two to five flowered, and each with 

 a pair of empty glumes. These glumes are very thick and coarse 

 strongly nerved, lanceolate, and bristle-pointed, about 1 inch long. The 

 flowering glumes are of firm texture, lance-oblong, five-nerved, hairy 

 •on back, and terminatingfn a stiff, straight awn, half an inch to nearly 

 an inch long. The lowest one in the spikelet having the longest awn, 

 the others gradually shorter. The palet is oblong, obtuse, and as long- 

 as the fiowering glume, excluding the awn. 



This grass frequently forms a considerable portion of native meadow 

 lands and makes a coarse hay. It starts growth early in. the spring, 

 -and thus affords a good pasturage. Professor Killebrew, of Tennessee, 

 ^ays it is very valuable and ought to be tried in cultivation. 



Professor Phares, of Mississippi, says : 



This perennial grass is a native of the Southern States, As all farm stock except 

 hogs are foud of it, and it is greeii through the winter aud spring, it has be«n de- 

 stroyed when grazing animals have access to it at all times. It is, however, found 

 iu many of our States along the banks of wooded streams, of ditches, aud iu fence- 

 •corners among briers and thickets. It will grow on tliin clay, gravelly, or saudy soil, 

 but much better ou rich lauds, dry or rather moist, and will thrive ten, twenty, or 

 .more years ou the same .laud. 



(Plate 118.,) 



