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



Tall Meadow Oat Grass. 



TAI,I, MEADOW OAT GRASS. 



Arrhenatherum Avenaceum. 



Evergreen grass in Virginia and other Southern States. 



and it is the Tall Oat (Avena elatior) of Linseus. It is closely 



related to the common oat, and has a beautiful open panicle 



leaning slightly to one side. 



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, there- 

 fore, less affected by drought or cold, and enabled to yield a 

 large quantity of foliage, winter and summer. These advan- 

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

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

 cut twice a year. It is probably the best winter grass that can 

 be obtained. 



It will make twice as much hay as Timothy, and contain- 

 ing a greater quantity of albuminoids and less of heat-produe- 

 ing 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 mowing. 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 qual- 

 ity 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 pinacle 

 ripen sufficiently to begin to drop, the heads should be cut off and dried, when the seeds 

 will all thresh out readily and be matured. After the seeds are ripe and taken off, the long 

 abundant leaves and stems are still green, and being mowed make good hay. 



It may be sown in March or April, and mowed the same season; but for heavier yield 

 it is better to sow in September or October. Along the more Southern belt, from the 31 ° 

 parallel southward, it may be sown in November and onward till the middle of December. 

 Whenever sown it is one of the most certain grasses to have a good catch. Not less than 

 two bushels (28 pounds) per acre should be sown. Like Timothy on inhospitable soils, the 

 roots may sometimes become bulbous. The average annual nutrition yielded by this grass 

 in the Southern belt is probably twice as great as in Pennsylvania and other Northern 

 States. 



BERMUDA GRASS. 

 Cynodon dactylon. 

 Almost everybody living in this section of the country knows this grass; it is planted 

 as a Lawn grass, and nothing will stand the sun better, or will make a prettier carpet, 

 when kept short, than this grass. It is also very valuable as a pasture and hay grass. It 

 is only lately that we have been able to obtain the seed of this grass, which heretofore had 

 to be propagated by the roots. Six pounds will sow an acre. Should be planted in the 

 spring, but can also be sown later. Under the most favorable circumstances it takes from 

 60 to 90 days to sprout; requires damp weather and hot sun; but when once up ii grows 

 very rapidly. 



RESCUE GRASS. 

 Ceratochloa australis or Bromus Shraderii. 



It is an annual winter grass. It varies in the time of 

 starting growth. We have seen it ready for mowing the 

 first of October, and furnish frequent cuttings till April. 

 Again, it may not start before January, nor be ready to cut 

 till February. This depends upon the moisture and de- 

 pression of temperature. When once started, its growth, 

 after successive cuttings or grazings. is very rapid. It is 

 tender, very sweet, and stock eat it greedily. It makes 

 also a good hay. It produces an immense quantity of 

 leaves. On loose soil some of it may be pulled out by ani- 

 mals grazing it. We have seen it bloom as early as Novem- 

 ber when the season has favored it, and no grazing or cut- 

 ting were permitted. Oftener it makes little start before 

 January. But whether late or early starting, it may be 



Rescue Grass. 



