88 Bichard Frot.^chey-'s Almanac and Garden Mannal 



known and eultivated than any other grass, became adapted to a 

 great variety of soils and conditions, and a vast number (seventy or 

 more) of varieties produced, some of which were greatly improved , while 

 others were inferior and became annuals. Introduced into the United 

 States in the first quarter of the carrent century, it has never become 

 very popular, although shown by the subjoined analysis of Way not to 

 be deficient in nutritive matter. In 100 parts of the dried grass cut in 

 bloom were albuminoids 11.85, fatty' matters 3.17, heat-producing 

 principles 42. 24, woody fibre 35.20, a^h 7.51. The more recent analysis 

 of Wolff and Knopp, allowing for water, gives rather more nutritive 

 matter than this. 



It grows rapidly, and yields heavy crops of seed ; makes good graz- 

 ing, and good hay. But, as with all the Eye grasses, to make good hay, 

 it must be cut before passing the blossom stage, as after that it deteri- 

 orates rapidly. The roots being short, it does not bear drought well, 

 and exhausts the soil, dying out in a few years. In these respects it 

 is liable to the same objections as Timothy. The stem, one to two 

 feet high, has four to six purplish joints and as many dark green 

 leaves ; the flexions spiked panicle, bearing the distant spikelets, one 

 in each bejid. 



It should be sown in August or September, at the rate of twenty- 

 five or thirty pounds, or one bushel seed per acre. 



TALL MEADOWY OAT GRASS, 



I Arrhenatheriim Avenaceum.j 



Evergreen grass in Virginia, and other Southern States, and it is 

 the Tall Oat (Arena elatior) of Lin£Eus. It is closely related to the 

 common pat, and has a beautiful open panicle, leaning slightly to one 

 side. "Spikelets two flowered, and a rudiment of a third, open ; lowest 

 flower staminate or sterile, with a long bent awn below the middle of 

 the back."— (Flint.) 



It is widely naturalized and well adapted to a great variety of soils. 

 On sandy, or gravelly soils, it succeeds admirably, growing two or 

 three feet high. On rich, dry upland it grows from five to seven feet 

 high. It has an abundance of perennial, long fibrous roots, penetrating 

 deeply in the soil, being, therefore, less affected by drought or cold, and 

 enabled to yield a large quantity of foliage, winter and summer. These 

 advantages render it one of the very best grasses for the South, both 

 for grazing (being evergreen) and for hay, admitting of being cuttwicQ 

 a year. It is probably the best winter grass that can be "obtained. 



It will make twice as much hay as Timothy, and, containing a 

 greater quantity of albuminoids and less of heat-producing principles, 

 it is better adapted to the uses of the Southern farmer, while it exhausts 

 the surface soil less, and may be grazed indefinitely, except after mow- 

 ing. To make good hay it must be cut the instant it blooms, and, after 

 being cut, must not get wet by dew or rain, which damages it greatly 

 in quality and appearance. 



For green soiling, it may be cut four or five times with favorable 

 seasons. In from six to ten days after blooming, the seeds begin to 

 ripen and fall, the upper ones first. It is, therefore, a little troublesome 

 to save the seed. As soon as those at the top of the panicle ripen suffi- 



