65 



=v— 



native of Australia, foi\ii(l throughout all the colonies of that couniry, growing 

 chiefly on the richest soils and on deep alluvial Hats bordering rivers and creeks. 

 It is productive, and much prized hy cattlemen. The name "sugar-grass'' is 

 applied to this species on account of the sweetness of its stems and foliage. Mr. 

 Fred Turner recommends it for cultivation on good laud, especially in grazing 

 districts, and he speaks of it as being a good grass to plant on the banlcs of 

 rivers, creeks, and dams, as its strong, penetrating roots would help to bind the 

 soil and prevent its being washed away by heavy rains or floods. This grass is 

 classed :is a variety of I'oUinia cummin<jii Nees, by Hackel. 



No. 212. Puccinellia maritima (Huds.) Pari. .Sea Spear-grass. 



A slender grass, 12 to 18 inches high, with creeping rhizomes. It occurs in the 

 marshes along the seacoasts of New England and the Middle States, and forms a 

 valuable element of the hay of tide- 

 water marshes. 



No. 213. Redfieldiaflexuosa(Thurb.) 

 Vasey. Redfield's-grass. (Fig. 77.) 



A stout, native perennial, 18 inches to 

 4 feet high, with long, narrow 

 leaves and diffusely spreading p;in- 

 icles, growing in the sandy districts 

 of Xebrask-i, Colorado, and Kan- 

 sas. It has deeply penetrating 

 and widely spreading underground 

 stems or rhizomes, making it a val- 

 uable species for binding drifting 

 sands. It is a characteristic grass 

 of the sand hills of central Nebras- 

 ka, growing in the drifting sands 

 and "blow-outs," and is a conspic- 

 uous and almost the only grass 

 found on the sand dunes south of 

 the Arkansas River, near Garden 

 City, Kans. 



No. 214. Saccharuni ciliare Anderss. 

 A tall, handsome grass of India, with 



smooth stems, 8 to 10 feet high, 



long leaves, and large, showj' ]iaiii- 



cles of silky-hairy flowers. Used 



in the manufacture of matting, 



rope, and paper, and for thatching. The stems are made into sieves, screens, 



and baskets. The thicker portion of the .stems is used for lining wells, and 



in making chairs and couches. The leaves are sometimes used for fodder, 



and when young the grass is grazed by cat'le. 



No. 215. Saccharum officinarum L. Sugar Cane. 



A stout grass with many-jointed stems, 8 to 1.5 feet high, broad leaves, 3 to 4 feet 

 long, and long (16 to 32 inches), pyramidal iianicles. Native country unknown, 

 but sparingly spontaneous in the South Sea Islands, where it blossoms freely. 

 Cultivated in all tropical countries. Projiagated chiefly by cuttings of the 

 stems. There are many \arieties, distinguished chiefly by the color and height 

 of stem. The leaves arc sometimes used for fodder, and, to a limited extent, also 

 in paper making. The cane is cultivated, however, for its sweet juice, which 

 yields from 12 to 20 per cent sugar. Untler favorable circumstances an acre of 

 ground will produce about 20 tons of cane. In this country the production 

 of cane sugar on a commercial scale is practically limited to the States of Loui- 

 4393— No. U 5 



Fifi. 77. — Redfielcfs-sr.ass (RednehJiri tTcx^mga). 



