80 Richard Frotscher’s Almanac and Garden Manual 
hogs are fond of and thrive on them in winter. The roots literally fill 
the ground near the surface and every joint is capable of developing 
a bud. Hence the grass is readily propagated from root cuttings. It 
is also propagated from the seed, but not always so certainly; for in 
some localities many faulty seeds are produced, and in other places 
no seed are matured. Before sowing the seed, therefore, they should 
be tested, as should all grass seeds indeed, in order to know what pro¬ 
portion will germinate, and thus what quantity per acre to sow. One 
bushel of a good sample of this seed is sufficient for one acre of land. 
The leaf, stalk and panicle of this grass resemble those of other 
sorghums. It grows on any land where corn will grow; and like the 
latter, the better the land the heavier the crop. On rich land the 
culms attain a size of over half an inch in diameter and a height of 
seven feet. It should be cut while tender, and then all live stock are 
fond of it; fora few weeks are sufficient to render it so coarse and 
hard that animals refuse it, or eat sparingly. 
A few testimonials are here quoted to give an idea of the produc¬ 
tiveness and value of this plant. In a letter published in the Rural 
Carolinian for 1874, Mr N. B. Moore, who had for more than forty 
years grown crops, speaks of this grass under the name of Guinea 
grass: 
“My meadow consists of one hundred acres of alluvial land, near 
Augusta. .* * * In winter I employ but four men, who are 
enough to work my packing-press; in summer when harvesting, 
double that number. In autumn I usually scarify both ways with 
sharp, steel-toothed harrows, and sow over the stubble a peck of red 
clover per acre, which, with volunteer vetches, comes off about the 
middle of May. The second yield of clover is uniformly eaten up by 
grasshoppers. The tap root remains to fertilize the then coming 
Guinea grass, which should be cut from two to three feet high. * * * 
On such land as mine, it will afford three or four cuttings if the season 
is propitious. I use an average of five tons of gypsum soon after the 
first cutting, and about the same quantity of the best commercial fer¬ 
tilizers in March and April. * * * The grass, which is cut before 
noon, is put up with horse sulky rakes, in cocks, before sun-down.” 
Mr. Moore’s income from this field was from seven thousand to ten 
thousand dollars a year. 
Mr. Goelsel, of Mobile, says: “It is undoubtedly the most profitable 
soiling plant yet introduced, and also promises to be the plant for our 
Southern hay stacks, provided it can be cut every three or four weeks.” 
Note.--Recognizing all the above, I would say, that great care must 
be taken not to sow this grass near cultivated lands. If done, it should 
not be allowed to go to seed, as the wind will blow them off from the 
stalks, and when it gets amongst cane or other crops, it causes a great 
deal of trouble. It is almost impossible to get it out of the land. 
RESCUE GRASS. 
(Ceratochloa australis or Bromus Schraderi .). 
It is an annual winter grass. It varies in the time of starting growth. 
I have seen it ready for mowing the first of October and furnish fre¬ 
quent cuttings till April. Again, it may not start before January, nor 
