VOL. I.) - Naturalized Plants. 185 
it very painful for the animal to eat. They also get into the eyes, 
often, it is said, destroying the sight. If fed off before it heads out 
it affords a considerable amount of pasturage, but of an inferior 
quality. 
The wild oat (Avena fatua), although also possessing an objec- 
tionable awned seed that is capable of boring into the flesh and 
causing much annoyance and damage, yet has sufficient value to 
overbalance its evil qualities. In places it covers hundreds of 
acres with self-sown grain. It forms a luxuriant and nutritious 
pasture, starting up with the first rains and requiring less moisture 
than the cultivated grains for perfecting its growth. Cut early, it 
makes a hay that is much relished by horses and mules. Although 
present to a greater or less extent in all Californian grain fields it is 
not often injurious to them, unless very foul seed has been used. 
In what are called ‘‘volunteer’’ crops—that is, self-sown ones—it 
is frequently so abundant that they must be cut for hay. Although 
_ so valued by us it has acquired a bad reputation in some of the old- 
er States where it has found its way. Thus, having been accident- 
ally introduced some years ago in a certain part of Wisconsin, it is 
said* to have soon taken possession of the land, effectually running 
out any other crop, and becoming the worst pest of the region. 
Panicum sanguinale, commonly known as crab grass, is abundant 
here in cultivated districts, as it has become in most of the warmer 
regions of the world. It is especially prevalent in orchards, corn- 
fields and gardens. P. Crus-gaili, a species of equally cosmopolitan 
distribution, has been thought by some to be possibly indigenous in 
some parts of the country, but here it is obviously an intruder, and — 
grows in similar situation with the last species, but more especially 
along the edge of ditches. In like places also is found Cynodon 
dactylum, “ Bermuda grass,” another widely distributed native of Eu- 
rope. This species is rapidly increasing in abundance, and is now 
often to be seen in damp soil in the foothills, quite remote from any 
settlement. In some of the Southern States it is considered a val- 
uable pasture grass, but it has not been found so here. In conjunc- 
tion with Paspalum distichum “ Devil grass,” a native species of 
similar habit, but of more robust growth, it often overruns alfalfa 
fields, entirely superseding the original crop. : 
*Vasey, Agr. Grasses of the U. S., Ist Ed., p. 76. 
