Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1905-11-23
FORAGE PLANTS
Wonderful Variety Of Grasses
Native and Foreign, IN
South Dakota.

From The Piefre Rustierl
Prof j III Shepherds director Of the
United States experimental station, at
BgooRings, y. D., states al during the
winters connection with the station it
has been his privilege to make q most
thorough investigation of the native
aud introduced forage plants of the
state. Upwards Of two hundred and
fifty varieties of forage plants have
beer. Investigated and the results given
in bulletins which have been issued
from the station at various times. One
thing which has impressed me most is
the wonderful variety of forage plants
at the command of the agriculturist.
There are upwards of 100 varieties of
grasses native to the state, while nearly
an equal number have been introduced
and found to be hardy here. In pre-
pairing an article for the perusal of the
public it would seem best to consider
the subject under two divisions. First
trasses Native 10 the State, and second,
t use which have been introduced.
First-rhe entire area OF South Da-
kota east Of the Missouri river was
formerly one vast meadow. In this
natural meadow We're growing seldom
eqaaed variety Of grasses. Here was
the natural grazing ground for buffalo,
deer, and elk. With the advent of the
white man this great meadow soon be-
came dotted with homes, the prairie
sod was broken, and to certain extent
the character of the vegetation has
changed. There are, however, millions
of acres which have not yet been dis
turbed by t!le plow. These still fur
Inish vast quantities of hay and pastur-
age even in the eastern and southern
parts where the country is more thickly
settled. Nearly every farmer has some
unbroken prairie sod devoted to forage
purposes
An inspection of the native prairie
grasses reveals the presence Of a huge
number of very valuable forage plants.
| Among these are the different blue
ste1ns, OF which no less than Snree
varieties occur. They make good shay
and readily eaten by stock. Next co.0e
the panic grasses, which are common
throughout the eastern part of the
state and are especially rich in protein
giving as high as 10 per cent. in the
cured hay. Switch grass also is one OF
! the most valuable OF our native grasses
/ growing on all kinds of soil and fur
nishing a large amount of our native
! duced, ard although partakingl OF the
mature of weeds to a certain extent
nevertheless furnish vast amount o.
forage for sheep and stock on stubhlC
/ fields after harvest. These, whel
grown upon prairie soil, afford from II
to Is per cent protein in the cured hay
Along the edges of ponds and in ths
i s'oughs we find the reed canary grass
co d grass, and the coarse but nutritious
I'D grass. These grasses furnish
| la 'ge amount of pasturage. On Thu
higher upland grows the prairie grass
wire grass, sand grass, grama grass, ant
far-famed buffalo grass. The buffal,
grass was once plentiful over the entir
state, but owing to severe grazing AM
wild shy nature it is gradually retreat
ing to the west, while it's place is beln'
taken by the blue joint and the hardie
western wheat grass. The western
wheat grass is one of the most vaiuabi
of forage plants. Not only is it high il
protein, but it is also vigorous grower
iiourishing under the most difficult cor
ditionS When fields are ploWed up an
abandoned it takes possession and 500
covers them with close, dense soc
furnishing valuable hay and pasturage
The fescues, although not SO large a
4 some OF the preceding, nevertheless
furnish a large amount of pasturag,
Again the small but nutritious sedge
{grown between the larger varieties Q
grasses, thus covering tie ground wit
"a compact, velvety surface. Thes
7sedges, though small, furnish an e,
ceedingly nutritious forage.
This survey OF the native foraa
fplants is by no means compleie. Thel
are many others which, with these mel
toned, form the well-known dens
4! prairie sod. One peculiar fact is I'll