ECONOMIC GRASSES. 



DESCRIPTIONS. 



No. 1. Agropyron caninum (L.) R. & S. Bearded Wheat-grass. 

 A fibrous-rooted, rather slender, upright perennial, 2 to 3 feet high, with bearded, 

 nodding heads or spikes resembling slender heads of wheat. This grass is more 

 or less frequent in the northern parts of the United vStates, ranging from Maine 

 westward to the Dakotas. Bearded Wheat-grass is closely related to the more 

 common and better known Couch-grass (A. rejiois), but differs markedly from 

 that species in having no creeping rootstocks, and in the longer beards or awns 

 to the spikelets. No attempts have been made to introduce this grass into gen- 

 eral cultivation, but its habit of growth and other characters indicate that it 

 may possess considerable agricultural value. It is readily propagated by seeds, 

 which may be easily gathered. 

 No. 2. Agropyron divergens Nees. Wire Bunch-grass. 



A slender, usually densely tufted perennial, 1 to 2 feet high or more, with very nar- 

 row, spreading leaves, and bearded or beardless spikes. The beards or awns, 

 when present, are widely spreading or divergent. This grass is common in the 

 Rocky Mountain and Paciiic Slope regious, extending westward to the coast. On 

 rich lands it often grows to the height of 3 feet, but upon the dry bench lands it 

 rarely exceeds a foot or 18 inches in height. On dry lands the stems become 

 wiry with age, and are avoided by stock; but the grass is considered valuable 

 by the ranchmen for winter grazing. Samples of this grass received from some 

 points in the West, particularly from Washington, indicate that it possesses 

 much agricultural value when grown upon good soil, and as it will thrive in 

 the semiarid regions of the Northwest, its cultivation may prove desirable. 

 Propagated readily by seed, which can be easily gathered. 

 No. 3. Agropyron pseudorepens Scribn. & Smith. Western Couch-grass. 

 A perennial, with creeping rootstocks, abundant in the northern prairie States, pro- 

 ducing tall and leafy stems, which resemble those of Couch-grass, but are less 

 wiry. This is less plentiful in the semiarid belt than the Western Wheat-grass 

 or Colorado Blue-stem, but is better adapted for cultivation as a hay grass 

 because of its softer stems and leaves. It is one of the most promising native 

 species. 

 No. 4. Agropyron repens (L.) Beauv. Couch-grass. (Fig. 1.) 

 A grass abundant everywhere in the Eastern and Middle States, growing in the open 

 iields, and in many places it has become one of the worst of weeds. Often the 

 chief labor in managing hoed crops consists in subduing this pest. When once 

 established, it is hardly less difficult to eradicate than the well-known Johnson- 

 grass of the Southern States. It is, however, a valuable hay grass, and for two 

 or three years the yield is large, but, like the Western Blue-stem, it "binds 

 itself out," and the sod requires breaking in order to restore the yield. It is an 



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