The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1895-06-14
FARM AND GARDEN.
MATTERS OF INTEREST TO
AGRICULTURISTS
Some Up to Date Hints About Cultiva-
tion of the Soil and Yields Thereof
HORTICULTURE, viticulture and Flori-
culture,
Reed Canary Grass.

The scientific name of this grass is
Phalaris Arundmacea. Stems stout,
erect, two to five feet high, smooth,
from strong, creeping root stalks,
leafy; leaves large (six to ten inches
long by about half an inch wide) fiat
roughish or smooth, sheaths smooth;
panicle narrow, its branches short and
oppressed or somewhat spreading at
Towering time, three to five inches
long; spikelets numerous, crowded,
about one-sixth of an inch long, more
or less tinged with purple; empty
glumes equal, spreading at Towering,
much longer than the Towering glume,
rough on the back, but not wing
keeled: towering glum smooth and
shining, with two minute fairy scales
at the base, in fruit closely enclosing
the smooth grain. The South Dakota
bulletin says of it that it is widely dis
tributed over that state, growing ma
turally on wet ground. 1t is one Of the
most important of our native species,
as it promises to do well under cult1-
walton. In low meadows it often con-
stitutes large part Of the hay. Stock
eat it readily. On the station ground
it has done we'll for three years, with
standing severe drouth, even on high
ground. 1t produces a coarse quality
of hay and seeds plentifully. The
leaves remain green until after the
seeds are ripe so that after cutting with
a header a good yield of hay OF fair
quality may be obtained. A specimen
analysed gave (air dry substance)
water, S.37; ash, SAP; ether extract,
2.12; crude fibre, 30.85; crude protein,
7.59; nitrogen-free extract, 1855; total
nitrogen 1.21; albuminoid nitrogen, SO.
1t is found in other states beside
the Dakotas. One variety is known TO
nearly all our readers under the name
of ribbon or striped grass, and is Gull
tivated for ornament in our gardens.
1t will bear cutting two or three times
during the season, but II not cut early
the foliage Is coarse. Cattle are not
fond of it at any time of its growth,
but will eat it when they can get moth
ing better. The grass is common on
low, rich soils where the water is
either standing or sluggish, and is
sometimes propagated by transplant
ing the roots of the striped grass into
suitable soils.
Another writer on this grass says:
"The panicles Of this grass, II allowed
to stand after the time of Towering,
come filled with ergot, or long black
spurs, issuing from between the
glumes, and occupying the place of
grain. This. If there were no other
reason, would be sufficient to deter
mine that it should be cut at or be-
fore the time Of Towering. l have
never seen rye worse affected
than my specimens of this grass are.
The effects of this mysterious disease
are well known. The noxious power
that it exerts on the system of animals
that receive even a small portion Of it,
is ofttimes dreadful, producing most
horrible gangrenes, rotting off the ex-
tremities, producing internal fortunes
and agonizing death; it has been
known to slough and kill not a few
human beings who have accidentally
or inadvertently eaten grain or flour
infected by it,
The above paragraph refers of course
to ergcS and not to Reed Canary Grass.
The latter Is merely a host to the
former, and the above is the exper-
fence of only one man. We do not
know that this plant is subject to err
got If readers of the Farmers Re-
view have had experience in this line
we would be pleased to hear from
them