Grasses

GRASSES. The great order of plants in cluded in the Graminete, or true grasses, are described botanically as having mostly hollow stems (calms) which are cylindrical and jointed, closed at the joints (nodes), leaves alternate, two-ranked, parallel-nerved, the dilated petiole (sheath) surrounding the culm and split open on the side opposite to the blade, and furnished at the junction of the blade with a more or less mani fest scarious appendage (ligule). Flowers per fect, polygamous or moncecious (rarely dicecious), imbricated with two-ranked glumes or bracts, the outer pair (glumes), substituting a spikelet of one or several flowers, the inner pair (palms), enclosing each particular flower which is desti tute of a proper perianth. Stamens one to six, usually three anthers, versatile. Ovary one celled, one-ovuled, usually with two or three scales (sguamulce) at base. Styles mostly two or two-parted ; stigmas plumose or hairy. Fruit a seed-like grain (ca •opsia); embryo small at the base and on the outside composed of copious farinaceous albumen. Annuals or perennials, with fibrous roots, often mespitose. Spikelets paniculate or spiked, upper (inner) palea two nerved or two keeled. This vast order-com prises some two hundred and thirty genera, and perhaps not less than three thousand species, says Dr. Darlington, and is probably the most gener ally diffused and the most important to man, of all the families of plants. The seeds, and herb age, furnish a principal portion of the food of the human race, and of the more valuable do mestic animals. A great number of the grasses, however, are little better than weeds, on a farm, and some of . them exceedingly annoying. Those which the American agriculturist is more immediately interested in knowing, are here given. Those specimens with which the farmer and planter are most intimate may be composed in the Poa Sub-family, the Phalaris Sub-family and the Panicum Sub-family, and are as follows: I.-Poa Sub-Family contains 1. Leersia. 2. Oryza. 3. Zizania. 4. Alopecurus. 5. Phleum. 6. Agrostis. 7. Muhlenbergia. 8. Calamagrostis. 9. Cynodon. 10. Eleusine. 11. Dactylis. 12. Glyceria. 13. Poa.

Festuca. 15. Bromus. 16. Phragmites. 17. Arundinaria. 18. Lolium. 19. Triticum. 20. Secale. 21. Hordeum. 22. Avena. 23. Arrhena therum. 24. Holcus. II.-Phalaris Sub-Tribe con tains 1. Anthoxanthum. 2. Phalaris. III.-The Panicum Sub-Tribe: 1. Paspalum. 2. Panicum. 3. Setaria. 4. Cenchrus. 5. Tripsacum. 6. Zea. 7. Saccharum. 8. Andropogon. 9.' Sorghum. Of the last Sub-family we shall only notice those adapted to cutting green for forage, and those adapted to the pasture and mea dow. Grass is the prime integer in all farming. The hay crops of the United States are the most valuable single crops culti vated, and grass for summer pasture ranks higher than any. It makes pasture in summer, and forage in winter, and all farm stock in any country are dependent upon it almost exclusively for food, for even in fattening with grain-corn, oats, barley, etc.,-we depend upon the seeds of this beneficent family of plants. The Crucifers which includes cabbage, rape, mustard, turnips, etc., are valuable in England. The Cucurbitacete, which includes pumpkins, squashes, etc., find a large place in feeding stock in many portions of the United States. The composite family, the largest of the natural families, furnish arti chokes and a few others seldom used; but it is remarkable in its lack of useful species although wonderful in ornamental ones. The night-shade family gives us the potato. The parsley family gives us the carrot, the parsnip and some others of value, and the goosefoot family furnishes the sugar beet and mangelwurzel, valuable for feeding in the West. Nevertheless, all placed together are of but little account in comparison with the great grass family, which includes our cereal grains. In fact, grass is of more value to man, than all other plants combined. Vastly more than half of all vegetation-as to its value to man-is contained in this family. In 1870, the hay crop along of New York, exceeded sev enty-seven millions of dollars; in Pennsylvania, over thirty-five millions; in Ohio, over twenty one millions, and in Illinois, more than twenty millions of dollars. The truth of the text, All flesh is grass, will thus readily be understood, and also the statement that Grass is King among the crops of the earth. Prof. W. J. Beal, of the Michigan Agricultural College, one of the most accomplished botanists in the United States, describes the botany of grasses, in the following simple and common-sense language: The term grass, as used in common every day life by many people, is applied to all those plants which are used for pastures and meadows. This is a classification founded upon use alone, disregarding all the other features of the plants. It is like calling every thing a fish, because it lives'in the water, or birds and insects because they can fly. These are superficial or artificial classifications, and have no scientific value whatever. In like manner a great variety of grasses and other plants are known by the same name in different parts of the country, or one plant is known by half a dozen or more names; so such names often are very puzzling, and afford very little guide as to what is meant. If one asks about drop seed, or blue grass, or fox-tail, or fowl meadow grass, or wire grass, or red top, we must first know the Latin name of the grass, or we are by no means sure that we understand each other. The trouble is greatest among plants like grasses, where the resemblance is often very close to inexperienced eyes. I believe there is little or no prospect that people will ever agree on the common names of many of our grasses. Our first lesson in botany will be to learn how to distinguish true grasses when we see them. Take in your hand a straight stalk of Indian corn —for this is a true grass—the leaves are on the alternate sides of the stem, one at each solid joint, making two ranks or rows from top to bottom. As you look at a straight stem of grass, the leaves may appear to you right and left, or they may appear on the side of the stem next to you and away from you. The leaves have no teeth or notches along their edges. They can be stripped into many fibrous threads, e., the veins are nearly parallel with each other. Observe further that the lower part of each leaf forms a sheath which surrounds the stem. This sheath may overlap, but never grows fast to the stem, except at the joint, nor does it close opposite the main part of the leaf so as to form a tight tube. It is naturally split down to the joint, and may be unrolled like a scroll without tearing away part of it. In bot any, it does not generally do to put very much stress upon the structure of the leaves, but in this case it is of much importance. If you un derstand me so far, and can apply the knowl edge, you can never he deceived as to what is a grass, and what is not grass, among all our na tive or cultivated plants. This point gained is well worth an hour of study. All grasses, in their healthy condition hear flowers at some time of their life. The plan of the flowers is well illus trated by a head of chess, or rye, or wheat, or June grass. Usually two or more flowers (some times one) are included within two short leaf like bodies called glumes. Each perfect flower has from one to six (usually three) stamens, with anthers attaehed by a point (versatile). Outside the stamens are usually two small green leaf-like bodies called palets, one of which has two ribs, with a thin strip uniting them. In the center of the flower is never more than one pistil, making a fruit which is called a grain. The embryo or germ of the plant is just at one end, on the side, and is the part first eateu out by mice and squir rels in Indian corn. This is by no means all that applies to the botany of grasses, but enough for our present purpose. The grasses are much alike, and few botanists know them, as they are thought to be too hard, and the flowers too small, to master without much hard study. In Indian corn the flowers are of two kinds, each incomplete in itself. On top of the stalk the branching tassel produces an abundance of fine dust called pollen. On the side of the stalk are one or more short branches, covered with a cluster of leaves, from the tip of which extend a large number of slender threads. The branches become the ears, the leaves about them the husks; the threads are often called silk. One of these long, delicate threads runs down to each one of the embryo kernels of corn. That each may become a kernel it is first necessary that a grain of pollen from the tassel should fall upon the silk. Hence it grows or thrusts out (the pollen does) a very delicate prolongation all the way down to the young kernel. If the pollen from one variety of corn fall on the' silk of another variety, we get a mixture, so our seed will not be pure. In wheat, red top, oats and timothy, the flowers are perfect, having the stamens pistils, the tassels and silk growing from the same flowers. Our new varieties of wheat and oats, doubtless, are produced in a manner similar to the mixing of Indian corn. As the pollen of corn is known to exert a marked influence on the kernels of corn, it probably, also, has something to do with their size and vigor. The pollen should come from large, healthy plants, as well as the ears. Every breeder of animals knows the importance of selecting good males as well as females. The pollen is the male flower, or part of the male flower. To get the best seed it it not enough to select the best ears of a field, but a small patch should be planted, from which the farmer ought to remove, before flowering, all the tassels of the stalks which are not fully developed, or such as are not likely to produce good ears. A similar plan is worth trying to remove wheat, rye, oats and barley, i. e., cut out from a small plat all the feeble heads, to prevent the bad influence of poor pollen. A great deal has been written, first and last, of the value of chemical analysis as a, means of determining the value of a soil for cer tain crops, and also as determining the value of various foods, including the grasses in feeding and fattening animals. This has never been found of special practical value, except in a general way, and our best chemists now acknowledge this fact. It bas been contended by theorists that certain grasses, and the hay, could be made available in feeding for growth, while other varieties could be used as a means of fattening the mature animals. In fact this is nonsense. The best success in feeding for the dairy is in those regions adapted to the growth of a great variety of grasses, which will stand year after year as permanent pasture, and become thicker and thicker, the object being not only to get a succession that will continue from week to week during the whole season, but also grasses that are rich, succulent and sweet, and that may be pastured close and that will again spring up quickly. In growing for beef this is not so essential, particularly in the West, where grain food is so abundant and cheap. The object in this case is flush pastures, of nutritious grass where cattle may quickly fill themselves and thus be kept quiet. For the growing ani mals old, short pastures supplemented with other food, so that the animals may be fully fed for the night, will be indicated, and feeders in each sec tion of country must experiment with varieties fur themselves. This is necessary from the fact that iu the United States but few experiments have been made in this direction, by the States, or the general government, or by our agricul tural colleges, and it is a matter that can only be accomplished in the best manner at public institutions, and for obvious reasons. In Eng land the most careful experiments have been carried on in relation to the value of the vari ous grasses for different soils and situations, and also in relation to their value as to season Thus the feeder for flesh may select: 1, Red clover, ( Tgraldium pratense); 2, White or Dutch Clover ( Repens); 3, Timothy, (Phleum pratense) a better name for which would be Cats-tail grass, and, for the reason that in some sections of the country it is called Timothy, as in Pennsyl vania, and Herd's grass in New England and New York. Neither of these names give an indication of its characteristic flower-head, while the former names do; 4, Blue grass, (Poa pra tends); 5 Wire grass, (Poa oemprassa); 6, Red Top, (Agrostis vulgairie). (Here again confusion of names comes in. In Pennsylvania Blue grass is called Green grass, and Red Top is called Herd's-grass.) 7, Orchard grass, (Daotglis glomerata); 8, Fowl Meadow grass, (Poa aerotina); 9, Meadow Fescue, (Peatuca pratensis) For feeding during droughts, Indian corn, sown at the rate of two bushels per acre, in drills two feet apart, cultivated thoroughly once or twice, and cut when in blossom will make a good reliance, as also will German millet (Panicum Germanioum),and common ,millet (P. millaceum). Here we have nine varieties of grass that do well generally. One, two, three, four, five, and six, constitute the bulk of the grasses cultivated for pasture; and one and three that for hay. Number seven is one of the most valuable in the whole list, and should be tried everywhere, on land not wet. Eight and nine are also well worthy of trial. Fowl meadow grass especially has been found to take the place of blue grass, in those sections of the Northwest where blue grass does not succeed. Especially has this been the case in Wisconsin. It is hoped it may be found so in the Southwest, where blue grass is not natural to the soil. Mr. Frank E. Hoyt, a careful farmer of Wisconsin, in relation to this grass, says he knows of no grass in the Northwest that will compare with it, either for pasturage or the pro duction of hay. It has never been winter or sum mer killed. and he has found oue acre of marsh well set in fowl meadow equal for pasturage to three acres of upland, set in hlue grass, and the hay produced the second year after seeding has never failed to pay the entire expense of cultivat ing and seeding the land. Fowl meadow hay is especially valuable for horses having all the advantages of wild hay, being free from dust, that infests timothy and clover, while it possesses all the nutriment of the best tame hay; and those dairymen who are acquainted with it, pronounce it valuable hay for milch cows. In all new countries the dependence must, of course, be first upon the wild grasses. As a rule these have not been sufficiently appreciated. Many of them are of exceeding value, but, unfortunately are, as a rule, sparse seeders, and hence are apt to be neglected. The trouble is that farmers, as a class, do not investigate and experiment enough for themselves. Thus they are content with the most meagre list of grasses, and as a result, for a good part of the season their stock find insuffi cient food of proper succulence, and oftentimes are really distressed for subsistence. There are many native and indigenous grasses in the West. A very considerable list of those will ultimately be found valuable. Prof. Beal gives a list of sixty-five true grasses, excluding cereal grains and clovers, found on the Michigan Agricultural Farm, the most of them indigenous. In Illinois, says Prof. L A. Lapham, there have been 105 native grasses, (none peculiar to the State), eleven introduced, and twelve that arc known as they are cultivated; a larger number, in proportion to the whole number of flowering plants in the States, than is usual in the same climate. This is owing to the extent and shape of Illinois, stretching from Lake Michigan to Kentucky. It has all soils, woods, prairie, and borders of lake and river. But it is not to any one species of grass that we should look for the support of our stock. On the native prairies we find many spicies intermingled, each doing its part, some preferring low, wet situations, others grow only on dry ground; some prefer the shade of forest trees, while others flourish best on the most exposed parts of the broad prairies; some grow only in the water, others along the margins of lakes and streams; some attain their maturity early in the season, others late in autumn. Of the grasses examined by Prof. Bea], we append

the following concise and interesting descrip tions, with their botanical and common names. It will be found valuable for the notes on perni cious, as well as on valuable species: Phleum pratense, called Timothy or Herd's grass in New England and Michigan, but in Pennsylvania they mean Agroatia vulgaris when they say Herd's grass. One name is said to have been given to this grass after Timothy Hanson, of Md., who raised it many years ago. Another name comes from Mr. Herd, who is reported to have found it growing wild in New Hampshire, over 100 years ago. In England it goes by the name of cats-tail grass. This grass in many places has become very popular. There is reason for this. It is a good grass, and will thrive under a great variety of circumstances. It is easily recognized. Another reason still, which I think is not least, the seeds are quite large, pretty, and easily known, so men know what they are buying. It is fashionable and popular. It thrives on soil dry or moist, light or heavy, particularly the latter—not on sand. It is often sown with red clover for meadows, but flowers considerably later. On account of a bulb or thickening of the stem at the base it should not be cut very near the ground. The second growth after mowing does not start very readily. For pasture it is too coarse, and should not be sown alone. The bulbs are eaten off by sheep. It is not so popular in Europe as here. .Agroatie vulgarla is known as Herd's grass in Pennsylvania, but in most parts of the country as red top. In Rhode Island it is called Burdin's grass and in other places Red bent grass or Summer-dew grass; sometimes Fowl Meadow grass or small . red top; one variety is called Fine-top in Massachussetts. Here you see the absolute necessity of the one double Latin name, Agroatis milgaris, not used for any other plant. It is a valuable grass thriving on moist soils, flowering rather late, with timothy, or later. It makes good pasture, good hay, though rather light for its bulk. It is not very rich in starch, gum, sugar or silex. It is a native peren niaL not well adapted to sow for one crop, fol lowed by plowing. Very variable in appearance —not much esteemed in England. Arabs elba, White bent grass, or Fiorin thrives on moist and fertile soil, and varies much in its appearance. The stem bends down and roots at the joints. It is valuable for pasture early and late. Second crop small in meadows; quality good, used for making hats in Europe; a native of Europe, Asia and America; the same as red top. Agroatia Stolon ifera is a variety of the above, about the same quality ; thriving on drier land; a foreigner iiigh/y praised in Europe. It is hard to kill on account of underground stems which some what like those of June grass. Agrostts peren nans, Thin grass, grows wild in woods and shaded places. It is rather feeble, yet of good quality, and of some value for seeding in the shade. It is quite pretty. Agrostis scabra, Hair grass, has very long branches on the top; leaves shorter than the above; the top more slen der and longer; quality much as the last. The long slender tops, when ripe, break off, and are driven to long distances by the wind, rolling them over and over. I have seen them twenty feet high, in the tops of trees, and next to the woods I have been able to gather up my arms full of such tops at a single effort. In this manner the seeds are widely sown. Pea pratensis, June grass, Green grass, Meadow grass, Blue grass, Spear grass, Kentucky Blue grass. This grass is widely dis tributed, both in the old world and in the new. It flowers early in June, thriving on high or low land, but does not seem adapted to thin, poor soil. It is very highly prized in England; also in Kentucky and in many parts of other States; yet in some places it is regarded as a troublesome weed, runnifig and spreading after the manner of Quack grass. It makes excellent rich pasture, and is our best grass for lawns; but for meadows it is rather short. It should not be jullged, however, by its short, early flower stalks, but by its long leaves pro duced in abundance throughout the sea son. These leaves are frequently two feet in length, when allowed to grow for a time. It is not well adapted to alternate husbandry, as it requires more than one summer to get well estab lished. It is nearly always abundant in all pastures, working, or winning its way where a persistent effort is not made to keep it out. The straw is used for leghorn hats. It is our best grass for pasture, all things considered, mulch cows fed on it making excellent butter and cheese; prominent in European pastures and those of the Northern States. Pea compressa, Blue grass, Wire grass. Its habit is much like June grass, though it prefers dry soil. The stems are hard, dark green, and easily known by being flat or compressed, remaining green and sweet for a long time after the seeds have ripened. It shrinks the least in drying of any of our grasses. For pasture it is exceedingly rich, and much liked by all kinds of stock. Cows fed on it make excellent butter and cheese. For meadows it is small and wiry ; hard to cut, soon gumming the scythe, or knives of the reaper. It is valuable for dairy regions, creep ing in old pastures like Poa pratensis and white clover, though much less abundant. It does not make much show. Pea serotina, False Red Top, Late Poa, Swamp Wire grass was first called Fowl Meadow grass, because it was thought that the seeds were introduced into a meadow by ducks (wild fowl) in Dedham, Mass. The stem is evergreen, like that of Blue grass. It is tall, thriving on low wet land; good for meadow or pasture. The hay is soft and nutri tious. A very valuable grass—common on low land. Pea annua, Dwarf or Early Meadow i grass, found everywhere in old pastures and about dwellings, making much trouble by con stantly springing up in paths and drives. It is pale green, sweet, short, and early, fit for pasture only also common in Europe. Pea &swabs is highly prized in Scotland and England; not much esteemed in this country. Cakomokrostis Canadensis, Blue Joint, Reed grass. This is a large native, thriving in wet places, giving a big yield of rather coarse hay. Cattle eat it greedily, if cut in the proper season, early. It thrives with Fowl Meadow grass. Bouteloua curtipendula, Musquit or Mesquit grass. This is considerably cultivated in the Southern States, and is a favorite grass with many. B. oligos. tachya or Buffalo grass, is said to cover the best portion of Salt Lake Valley and the valleys of the Rocky mountains. It has not succeeded in Pennsylvania It is thin and too short for hay. Dactyl& glomerata, Orchard grass or Rough Cocksfoot, is a native of Europe, where it has been grown over a hundred years, meeting with great favor as pasture and meadow. It ripens early, about with red clover. It starts very soon after .being mowed. It is very nutritious; stock like it; should be sown thickly and cut early. In many places of England it stands highest of all grasses in value. Its growing in tufts, is one objection to it It thrives very well in shady places. Alopecurus pratensis, Meadow Foxtail, is something like Timothy in appear ance. It is softer, shorter, earlier, light, sweet, and highly prized in old pastures of England and Scotland. It requires three or four years to get well established. It is not large enough for meadows. At Michigan Agricultural College it ran out on new land, when sowed for pasture with orchard grass, June grass and White clo ver. It starts well as a second growth; thrives in some parts of Massachusetts; requires a soil of clayey loam. Cinna cerundinacece, Wood Reed grass, Indian Reed grass—Reedy Cinna—thrives in moist woods and swamps, often four feet high. It looks well, though has gained no rep utation. Muhlenbevia glomerata, Drop seed, though not the one mostly known by the name of Drop seed; thrives in bogs and marshes. It has a hard stem at the base, and a stout rhizome. Cattle like it, but it has not had a fair trial. M. Mexican,, thrives in smaller places with the last; is taller and more branching; rootstalks similar. It flowers late; of some value. M. sykatica is found in rocky woods; slender; looks well; stock like it; stout rhizome; worth a trial. Brachyelytrum aristatum, Dry, rocky woods; scarce; looks well ; is eaten greedily 13y stock. Eatonia Pennsylvanica thrives in moist woods and meadows. It is soft, thin, looks well; cows are voraciously fond of it. It does not seem very hardy. Estonia obtusa grows oe dry soil, with qualities much like the last Glyceria Canadensis, Rattlesnake grass, is large, grows in wet bogs, and is of some value. Glycerza eiongata, grows in the same places and of similar value as last Glyeeria Iternat4, Meadow spear grass—nerved manna grass: (some call it Fowl Meadow grass, and others Drop seed), it does best in low places; is com mon, nutritive, and valuable in some places, but of less value than Red top. Festuca ovina, Sheep's Fescue, is small, almost insignificant, early, sweet, pretty, and grows in tufts. In the Scotch Highlands, at the altitude of 4,000 feet, it constitutes the greater part of sheep pastures. It does very well in the shade and stands dry weather well; there are several varieties, none of which seem to have much merit for this coun try. l'estuca clatter, taller Meadow Fescue, sheep's fescue. It thrives in stiff soils, doing very well in shady places. It is nutritious and early, ering in June or July. Cattle arc very fond of it. It produces well in many places. There are several varieties which run into each other. It has been extensively tried in the old country, and much liked by some farmers. Be sure to cut for hay as soon as in flower. Bromus aeco2inus, Cheat or chess, Willard's bromus, in England called too well known in this country as a pernicious weed in wheat fields. A few years ago the seeds were sold as producing fine meadow grass. A jury of cows did not agree with the great puffs it received in the papers. There are two other species, also of foreign birth, of no value. We have two species that are wild, Bromus Satnii, and B. Ciliatus, which may be worth trying in dry soils. Phrag mites communis, reed grass. This grows in both hemispheres; twelve feet high in swamps; the tallest grass as far south as Michigan. Lolium perenne, Ray or rye grass, common darnel. Introduced from England, where it is one of the most universal grasses in cultivation. It has often been mistaken for Quack grass, but may be distinguished by its single glume, no rhizomes, and spikelet turned edgewise to the axis which supports it. It has a very high reputation for pasture, lawn or meadow. It needs high culture and a moist climate. After' 'a thorough test in some parts of Pennsylvania, it is much liked. It is early, starts quickly after mowing; the leaves are very glossy; excellent for lawns. Lolium halicum, Italian rye grass. This grass needs rich land. Many people have doubtless failed in its culture by not understanding that it is a bien nial. For a single season, no doubt, it is one of the best grasses, and is much used in the old country. Cattle like it; it grows fast, is nutri tious, early, and fitted for alternate husbandry. Triticum repens, Couch grass, Witchgrass, Quitch grass, Twitch grass, Chandler grass, Quack grass. This is productive and nutritious, and would be a valuable grass in many soils were it not so difficult to eradicate when it once gets in. It multiplies rapidly by creeping underground stems. A pernicious weed. It is very nearly related to common wheat. Eiymus Virginicus, Lyme grass, wild rye. It is coarse and not promising unless in dry soils. Elymus Canad.ensi-9, Canadian lyme grass. Found on lake shores and river banks. Large ' and showy. We can not tell what it might do with good culture for a series of years. It is worth trying, as well as many others. Danthonen spicata, Wild oat grass, White top, Old fog. It grows on dry, sterile soil, is early but poor feed. Avena, Oats. There are two wild, and some foreign species. They are worthy of attention. Aria fleccuoea, Hair grass. Slender; found in woods. Sheep are very fond of it, but it is too delicate. There are three other species quite similar. Trisetum. There are two natives and several in Europe. The for mer have not been tried; the foreign prove to be of some value. Arrhenatherum avenaceum, Tall oat grass ; ray grass of France. It has been tried and extensively recommended in some parts of Pennsylvania. It is early; cattle and sheep will eat it when they are forced to. It is said to be the most abundant of any grass cultivated in France. Starts quickly after mowing, used for soiling. Holcus lamatus, Velvet grass, or soft Meadow grass. It stands droughts well, and has given favorable results after a few trials in this country; some praise it, others call it worthless. Anthozanthum odorattlm, Sweet-scented vernal grass. Owing to an abundance of benzoic acid, it is very fragrant, and a general favorite with people about haying time. It is small; it is the earliest grass we have, and also grows till very late in the season. Some think that it adds to the quality of butter, but the late Sanford How. and met this assertion by saying, then we should have the best butter in the New England States, where it is the plentiest. This is not the case; cattle do not like it. Good in lawns, will grow on poor land. Phalarie arundinacea, Reed can ary grass, is the original. of the ribbon grass which is cultivated for ornament. It is large and coarse. Grows on wet land; cattle are moderately fond of it. Some think it promising. Produces a large crop, something like Blue Joint. Panicum is a very large genus, containing thirty-three species in North America, and four hundred in all the world. Panicum crus-galli, Barnyard grass, is an annual, a coarse, large, sprawling, juicy grass from Europe; it has sometimes been cultivated. Varies much; stock eat it. At best a weed, though called ornamental in some parts of Europe. Pant cum geniculatum, Hungarian grass, which has had a great reputation in some places. A valu able annual grass if cut when in flower. &taria eiridis, Bottle grass, green Fox-tail, wild Timo thy. A weed in fields and gardens, from Europe, looking like small Millet. &farm glauca, Fox tail grass, much like the last. If allowed to ripen, it is good to spread under a shed for fowls, which like the seed. Setaria italiru, Bengal grass or Millet. It runs wild where sown, like a weed; does not equal oats as a forage plant. Of the far western grasses, the United States Agricul tural Report some years ago gave a list of one hundred and forty-three species, including fifty seven genera of grasses, found native in the region of country lying west of the Missouri river, known as the high plain region of the United States, between the parallels of 35° and 45° north lati tude and embracing the eastern water shed of the Rocky mountains between these parallels, includ ing the States and Territories of Nebraska, Kan sas, Colorado, New Mexico and the Indian Ter. ritory. Of the species given, ninety-one extend across the Missouri river, leaving fifty-two species belonging to the plain and mountain region pro per. The remaining- eighty-four species could not be considered as belonging more to this region than to the States east. The relative value of these various species as forage grasses differs very widely, a few of them being entirely worthless, and many of them almost valueless as compared with others. The list of these varieties will be interesting, now that this region is so fast settling up. The largest number of the species could be dispensed with, without manifest disadvantage to the grazing interests of the country. As a rule farmers are slow to try new species of grass, notwithstanding the fact that, among the greater part of our farmers, clover and timothy form not only the bulk of their meadows, but also their pasture as well. Our agricultural colleges would do a good work if they would try new varieties with a view to their introduction if they proved valuable. The relative value of the twelve most important species is exhibited in the following table of per centum estimates, one hundred representing the aggregate value of the twelve-.