Tall Meadow Oat Grass. 



J. STECKXER SEED CO., I.TD-, ALMANAC AND 



RESCUE GRASS. 



Ceraiochloa or Broinus Shradcrii. 



It is a very pretty grass in all its stages, aDd especially so when the 

 culms, two or three feet high, are gracefully bending the weight of the 

 diffuse panicle with its many pedicelled flattened spikelets, each an 

 inch or more long and with twelve to sixteen flowers. 



We would not, however, advise sowing this grass on poor land with 

 the expectation of getting a remunerative return. It tillers abundantly 

 under favorable conditions. 



JAPAN CLOVER 



Lespedeza Striata. 



There is now so much inquiry about this plant, so much confusion' 

 lack of knowledge and confounding with or mistaking for it another 

 worthless species, and also the same errors in regard to a small genuine 

 clover, that it is deemed proper to give some correct information on the 

 subject. 



HISTORY. 



To botanists this plant has been known for Hiany generations in its 

 native habit in China and other eastern parts of Asia Finding its way 

 to Japan it encountered congenial climate and soil, and rapidfv spread 

 over the entire country occupying all waste places, which it lias con- 

 tinued to possess and improve f. r much more than a century Here as 

 on the continent it was of dwarfish habit and received a name indica- 

 tive of tbe fact. 



Finally, a few seeds arriving: in the United States, germinated, con- 

 tested a few feet of soil with other native and exotic plants that had 

 long pre-occupied the land. It gained strength and increased in yield 

 of seed till becoming somewhat abundant, it commenced its westward 



invasion, simultaneously extending its conquests northward and 



southward, firmly holding all conquered territory. Since 1870 its 



strides westward have been immense. It now extends from the 



Atlantic seaboard across the Mississippi, and its outposts are pushed 



far towards the western border of Texas. 



On rich soil it doffs the dwarf and dons the tree-style, justifying 



the American name of "bush clover," sending its long tap roots 



deep down into the subsoil and its stem two to three feet up into the 



light and air, with its many branches thickly set with leaves, invit- 

 ing tooth and blade. 



It subdues broom grass and holds equal contest with Bermuda 



grass in some localities one yielding, in other spots both maintain 



equal possession ; or one year one may seem to rule, and the next 



year the other 



VALUE. 



On sands, gravels, or denuded clay hill tops no other plant 

 known to us is so valuable for grazing. Taking a succession of ten 

 years, the same assertion would not be far out of the way for rich 

 lands while few forage plants on these would yield so much or so 

 valuable hay. 



Th^ analysis of red clover gives 16 per cent, albuminoids and 41 

 carbohydrates. The average of two analysis of Japan clover gives 

 15.85 albuminoids and 56 carbohydrates, placing it above red clover 

 in nutritive value. 



PRODUCT OF HAY. 



On medium to grood land it ranges from one to three tons per 

 acre; and this may be obtained after having during the summer har- 

 vested from the same land a good crop of grain and straw. ""'""' UuVU ' 



QUALITY. 



Some of our farmers who have been mowing 'Lespedeza striata for 

 five or ten years, regard it as the soundest, best, most wholesome and 

 palatable hay they ever used. These mowings have ranged from two 

 to three hundred tons on a single farm in one season. Yet no complaint 

 as to qualify, or relish of animals for it, or as to its nutritive value and 

 good effect on the stock has ever reached us. Those who have used it 

 longest and in largest quantities andkeptanimais— cattle, sheep, horses 

 and mules— in best condition, commend it most. 



SEEDING. 

 A measured half bushel of seed per acre may be sown broadcast the 

 first week in March south of parallel 32 degress of latitude, a few days 

 later as we proceed northward for each degree or two. Sown in the 

 fall or winter it springs up, but freezes often throw it out and destroy it. 

 As already stated, it germinates and grows well on land in any condi- 

 tion, if the surface is not so loose as to let the seed sink too deep. When 

 land has been prepared for or sown in grain, the winter rains put it in 

 aoout the best condition for growing this plant for heavy crops of hay. 





w 



English Rye Grass. 



Ornamental Fern Pans Complete for Center Dining Table. 



