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Circular No. 27.-(Agros. 74.) (Issued Dec. 4, 1900.) 



United States Department of Agriculture, 



DIVISION OF AGROSTOLOGY. 



[Grass and Forage-Plant Investigations.] 

 F. Lamson-Scribner, Agrostologist. ,. ^"V 



AGROSTOLOGICAL NOTES. ^^^ ttV)^^ 



INTRODUCTION. 



In the present circular, to which the general title "Agrostological Notes " is 

 given, are considered : 



1. Grasses in the Herbarium of Dr. H. Muhlenberg. 



2. Two New Species of Eatonia. 



3. A New Variety of Panicum nashianum. 



4. Nomenclature Notes. 



5. Notes on Melica and Stipa. 

 The circular is scientific in its character and is of interest to the student of 



systematic Agrostology. The examination of Muhlenberg's grasses by Mr. 

 Merrill and myself has helped to clear up some doubtful points in synonymy. 

 The several papers here presented are too short to be issued in bulletin form, but 

 it has been thought that the matter was of sufficient importance to warrant its 

 publication as a circular, thus avoiding needless delay.— F. L.-S. 



1. THE (JKASSES IN THE HERBARIUM OF DR. H, MUHLENBERG. 



By F. Lamson-Scribner and Elmer D. Merrill. 



In 1817 Dr. H. Muhlenberg published his " Descriptio Uberior 

 Graminum et Plantarum Calamarium Americse Septentrionalis. " 

 The collections upon which this work was based are now the prop- 

 erty of the American Philosophical Society, and at present are 

 deposited in the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. 

 Through the courtesy of the Conservator of the Botanical Section 

 of the Academy opportunity was given to make a careful exami- 

 nation of this collection. The specimens are preserved in folios 

 lOi by 15 inches, which are inclosed in wooden byok-like cases, 

 opening by a sHde upon one side. They are well preserved, and 

 although often fragmentary, at least in the case of North American 

 material, they are sufficiently ample for identification. The Grami- 

 I nece, Cyperacece, and Juncacece occupy three boxes and are con- 

 secutively numbered from 1 to 414. The classification is according 

 I to the Linn^an system. No data accompany the specimens in most 

 cases excepting the numbers, which are the same as those of the list 

 of the species contained in the folio, written upon the outside sheet. 

 These names are not always the same as those under which the 



