Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-06-23

perimental purposes
and to get seed. Spe-
c:es hitherto uncultivated will be tried. and.
IL found valuable, will be recommended to
farmers. Foreign varieties will be imported
and before long a picture book describing
all of the grasses Of the United States will
be distributed free for the benefit of agri-
culture. This volume is already in process
Of preparation.
1t seems astonishing to learn that Of
nearly 500 kinds OF grasses that grow in
the United States only six are utilized to
furnish food for man-namely. corn, wheat
rice. barley. oats and rye. These have be-
come what they are now through cultiya-
ton. The wheat and barley of today are
much larger and finer grains than the wheat
and barley which have been found In an
cient Egyptian tombs and in the buried
cities OF Greece. Like methods would de-
velop many Of the wild grasses into accept
able new cereals within half q century. one
that has been suggested for this purpose is
the so-caiied wild rice" which now Is used
only to fatten reedbirds. With the latter
object in view 1t has been planted extern
sively along river banks. 1t spreads very
rapidly. To the Delaware and many other
streams 1t is native. The stems are utilized
Tor binding the slaves OF liquor casks.
Two Seashore Grasses.
There are two seashore grasses which
bear excellent grains, though Of small yield
but the latter could be improved. Not only
for human food but for forage also, there
are numerous species now unrecognized by
the farmer which might be rendered ex-
tremely valuable by cultivation. Within the
last few years new uses have been found
for number Of varieties In the manufac-
lures, In the arts and In medicine. A few
furnish delightful perfumes. while Others
are propagated for ornament. In truth, nc
other order OF plants is SO Indispensable TO
man. II IL were wiped OF the race of the
earth II Il dificult to See how be could sur
vive.
the arid region OF the west are laying out
patches In various kinds OF grasses trying
to find varieties that will thrive in spite OF
drought Experts are hunting all over that
part or the country for promising native
species, with shears to clip of the seed tons
and bags to collect them in. Some have
been found that promise well. The state
authorities In Connecticut intend before long
10 nave a winter propagating garden for
grasses, where the work can be carried on
under glass during the cold months
IL has been found useful to procure grass
sprouts from sods hundreds OF years old
Some such have been got from English peo-
pie. who have brought bits of turf with
them to this country. A pinch of grass
between finger and thumb will hold pertains
score OF little plants, and propagation
IRON them Is simply a matter OF patience
Some grasses are propagated by seed ana
others, like the Texas blue grass by roof
cuttings by the transportation of pieces
OF turf Special strains of superior excel
ience may be peipetuated with certainty.
Prof. Scribner suggests that the establish
ment OF grass nurseries In the vicinity OF
cities. Tor cultivation and selling frst-rate
500, would prove more profitable industry
a nar
being filled with weeds. is dear at any price
the removal OF the weeds being a continual
source of expense.
"A very important use made Of certain
kinds of grasses is to bind drifting sands"
said Prof. Scribner yesterday along the
seashore in many places one finds the beach
actually held in place by such yegeta HE
growtns, which fern such q tough network
that IL can be dug away only with great
difficulty. In Holland marsh grasses are
planted on the banks OF streams and canals
to prevent the soil from blowing or being
washed away. Not long ago the San Fran
cisco authorities desired to employ a sim
liar means OF preservation for the sands
along the bay, and they sent tc Australia
for 'sand-weed' required. This was rather
absurd, inasmuch as the same grass pre-
tic coast.
"A kind Of grass known as Johnson grass
Is used In this country for binding rail-
way entertainments. Bermuda grass is util-
over the south. Where the land is moist
knot grass is made to serve for the same
purpose. johnson grass is valuable for
forage under some conditions, while else
where II is bad weed. Similarly, the Ken
lucky blue grass is regarded as a pest In
New Zealand. The grass called alfalfa
SO highly esteemed for forage, is a very an
noying weed In some parts Of this coun-
try. 1t Is the same way with many other
plants. In the middle states the wild turnip
and wild parsnip cause an immense amount
Of bother. having escaped from the gar
root anywhere"
root anywhere.
Only One Kind Poisonous.
There is only one kind of grass that IS
poisonous, So far az I am aware. 1t is
called the 'darnell." and its fruit is said to
be very dangerous to man and to fesh-eat-
ing animals. though not so to creatures that
eat vegetable food. 1t causes eruptions and
blindness There are some grasses which
acquire deadly properties from fungi that
attack them and invade their tissues. Cat
tie eat them and perish. Some decidedly
mischievous grasses there are which are
not at all poisonous. One of these is the
burr grass. which has sharp spines that
are swallowed by cattle and do injury. An
other bad grass is the "squirrel-tail" the
flowers of which break up into keen points
and hurt the mouths OF horses.
In India certain aromatic grasses are
cultivated for their delicious fragrance.
From one or these called Lemon grass" an
essential oil for havoring purposes "a oh
tained. An extract from another is the
most important ingredient of a cooling
drink, and Is valued as a mild stimulant
like ginger. There are two species of scent
ed grasses native to this country. One OF
them is named holy grass" They are used
by Indians for making baskets, and some
times people put them away with linen FOR
the sake Of their aromatic odor A species
Of grass introduced into Louisiana by early
French settlers Is cultivated In that state
for sweet-scented roots. In the Japanese
village at the Chicago fair fans made out
of these roots were sold. Two grasses ma
tive to this country are SO offensive TO the
grass"
There are giants and pigmies among
grasses. In Greenland there grows a grass
that looks like moss. never attaining
height Of more than half an inch. The
greatest of all the grasses Is the bamboo,
single stems Of which attain a length OF
40 feet and q diameter Of q foot. So rap
tdtv 1oes this pla0f that x..l attain