A Curious Grass.

Manawatu Herald, 16 February 1895, Page 2

A Curious Grass.

A carious grass is reported w.having been discovered in Lincoln County, New Mexico, and it is not known to exist anywhere else. Its'. identity has not been botanioally determined and it is only known by its popular name, sleepy grass. The property from which the name is derived is that of patting to sleep animals that graze on it. It 1 grow* in amongst other grasses* and if eaten readily by all kinds of stook. Horses that eat it go to sleep on their feet, while cattle And sheep usually lie down. Its effects bon*>> tinue for an hour or more and then ; pass off leaving no injurious effeeti. ai - Tearas turned out to graze b^ s travellers staying for the noon hours.:: often fell aaleep while being hitched up and the whip is necessary 16 •< arouse them. They will then start off at a good pace, but this gradually slackens, their heads droop, and presently they come to a f aU stbp\ sound asleep. If th& animals are allowed to sleep until they awaken. > naturally they are much refreshed, » but if urged forward in the petiods ■•.: of drowsiness they appear very , weary, even after the desire to sleep, : passes off. As has been said the plant has not been identified by botanists, and it is therefore not known what the sleep inducing principle that the plant contains.