71 
If the conditions are favorable, three cullings may be obtained in a year. From a moist, sandy, Yield. 
humous soil, De Gasparin obtained per acre 12,140 Ibs, of hay containing 1,516 °/o of nitrogen, From 
a black, sandy loam, with a clayey subsoil, Sinclair obtained 12,251 Ibs. of hay, and from a strong tenacious 
clay, 17,016 Ibs., per acre, 
If cul young, the hay is readily eaten by catlle. The amount of albumin is very small as shown Nutritive 
by the following analysis. 400 Ibs. of hay, cut before flowering, contain 78.8 °/o of organic matter, value. 
composed of: — 
Nitrogenous matter (N < 6.25). ; - 4.2 Yo 
Mihices © ee Ne es) Ue og 8 RE 
Non-nitrogenous extractives . : . 43.6 °%/o 
Baws, ; . ; ; ; epee fh 
(Albuminoid nitrogen 0.38 °/o, non-albuminoid nitrogen 0.304 °/o) 
According to Ritthausen and Scheven, the nutritive matter is composed of 5.3 °/o nitrogenous matter, 
37.4 °/o fibre, 35.0 non-nitrogenous extractives and 1.1 °%/o fat. According to Arendt. the dry leaves 
contain 2,27 °/o nitrogen; the culms only 0.58 °/o. It is thus much more nutritive than straw. Its 
chemical composition closely approaches that of Maize fodder: — the amount of albumin is slightly less, 
and the fat is only one-half as much as in Maize. When young the presence of sugar gives the grass 
a sweet taste. Il has often been advantageously used as fodder for horses. When the culms have be- 
come hard, they should be cut into chaff. For pasture, this plant is quite unsuitable, as the grass wants 
compactness, and the stubble is hard. 
Harvesting, Impurities and Adulteration of seed. On dry ground, the seed is ripe about Harvesting 
the beginning of July ; on wet ground, rarely before August. When ripe, the panicle assumes _ the seed. 
a yellow colour, the sheaths of the upper leaves lose their green colour, and the seed can 
readily be rubbed out by hand. The panicles are then cut off, and the seed threshed out. 
According to Hannemann, about 180 Ibs. of seed are obtained from an acre. Yield of Seed. 
Commercial seed is usually tolerably pure. Adulterations are rarely attempted and Impurities 
are easily detected. ee ae 
Seed and Amounts to be sown. Good seed should have 95 %/o purity and 60 °/o germi- Seed quality. 
nation. 1 Jb. of pure seed contains on an average 660,000 grains; the weight per bushel 
varies from 44 to 48 lbs. One acre of ground requires 21 Ibs. of seed containing 57 °/o Amount to be 
pure and germinating = nearly 12 lbs. of pure and germinating seed. The average price S°¥™ per acre. 
is ls. 4d. per lb. 
This grass can be reproduced, not only from seed, but also from cuttings of the Reproduction 
stolons (rhizome). The cuttings are laid down at intervals of one foot, and slightly cove- from cuttings. 
red. They soon strike root, begin to grow, and cover the ground in all directions. 
Reproduction from seed is simpler, and more certain. Sowing. 
Perhaps the best plan is to grow it by itself, or if the soil is wet, it might be mixed Mixtures. 
with a little Fiorin. For forming irrigated grass-lands it is mixed at times with other 
species of grass and clover. It ought not to be used in alternate husbandry, because its 
underground stolons are very difficult to eradicate. Its mode of growth makes it suitable Other Uses. 
for binding loose banks near running water; also by its growth soft, marshy ground may 
be rendered firm and compact. The dense shade which it casts on the ground beneath it, 
makes it also useful for destroying Horse-tails, Coltsfoot, and other weeds which cannot 
orow in shade, 
