The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1878-03-21
Gle Farm.
Poisonous Grasses-And Proven
tiveS.

By PROF. LAW, COR. UNIVERSITY.
Much difference OF opinion eX-
lists as to wholesomeness OF several
Of ON cultivated grasses, this yarl-
ance arising largely from the ap-
parently irreconciliable results OBJ
tanned with the game grass at
different times and places. Some
grasses are universally held in bad
repute, while others habitually con-
sidcred as harmless, at times appear
to be seriously inimical to health
and life. TO the former class be-
longs the Lolium t~emulentum, IN
toxicating Rye-grass, or Darnel,
which is referred to in Matthews
Gospel as a most undesirable add
ton to good seed, and IN the pres
ent day gives a corruption of It's
name, DARN" to az %enzootlc
hamaturia of cattle III North
Britain. Numerous observations
on this plant by Ballet and Fllhol
show that it is poisonous to all
domestic animals, and that It's toxic
qualities reside in a yellowish fat,
which can, be extracted from the
seeds, A similar into1lcatIon has
often been observed to arise from
feeding on the other varieties OF
rye-erass, and notably the peren-
NAL e.. ~perenne), Italian e.. tall
cum), and the l.. Linicola. These
last, however, are not habltually
injurious, and their poisonous
qualities are usually shown only at
il particular stage of development,
namely, when they are partially
ripened but not yet fully matured.
Thus the evil effects are to be c G
in animals f%eeding-on pastures that
have been allowed to run to seed,
and at the period when such seed
is in process of rlpenlng. Ii cut
before the seed has been formed,
or if eaten down SO that the grass
nevercomes into ear, there Is no
danger. The symptoms OF poison
oning are in all cases analogous,
consisting as they do IN general
paralysis and drowsiness. Horses
fall asleep eating or drinking and
drop the heads into the manager or
trough. If suddenly startled they
may drop down. The eyes are
dull, the pupils dilated, and the
lids semi-closed. Standing in the
stall the animal may rest his quar-
ter on the partition, while if led
out he drags his limbs tardily, and
sways uncertainty upon them.
Signs of indigestion, rumbling in
the bowels, bloating, the passage of
hatus and collie pains are occasion
al Accomplishments. Though the
rye-grasses are rather famous for
their poisonous properties, it must
not be supposed that such qualities
are peculiar to rye-grass. Millet,
Hungarian grass, and even yetches.
with seeds fully formed but not yet
completely ripened, produce very
similar symptoms. Even new
oats are always dangerous, though
more likely to produce irritation of
the digestive organs than primary
brain disorder, Some grasses,
like the stipa Siberica, "a variety of
feather-grass, r alleged to poison
horses, while others, like short
armed barley (Hordeu pratense)
and bearded oats, produce serious
OF even fatal digestive disorder, by
simple mechanical irritation. On
the whole, it will be observed that,
with the exception of some few
which act as mechanical ~irritants,
the dangers of the whole class of
graminea and Of such other fodder
plants as yetches, belong exclusively
to the seeds, and at an advanced,
though not quite perfected. stage
of %ripening. Whether used for
pasture or for soiling, safety lies in
utilizing them at an earlier stage of
growth, and before the seeds are
developed. This system of feeding
close and cutting moderately early,
is a further safeguard against the
ever-present danger of ergot, which
develops mainly in the ripening
seeds.