14 



a wide range, extendiug over the United States east of the Rocky Mountains, 

 and in the West and Northwest, particularly in the Missouri region, it is very 

 abundant, and is highly valued for hay. It grows in a great variety of soils, 

 and under extremely varying conditions of climate, and enters largely into the 

 composition of the hay of the prairies. The early growth consists of a great 

 adundance of long leaves, and if cut in early bloom the hay is readily eaten by 

 horses and cattle, but if allowed to fully mature the stems become hard and 

 woody and the hay produced is of inferior quality. Investigations of the seed 

 production of this Andropofjon indicate that it matures seed rarely. It is stated 

 that a very favorable season of moisture is required to make it fruit abun- 

 dantly. This lack of fertility, if really true, will be a serious obstacle to the 

 general propagation of the grass by the usual and convenient method of seeding. 



No. 25. Andropogon saccharoides Swz. Feather Sedge-grass. 



A variable grass, growing to the height of 1 to 3 feet, with nar- 

 row, silvery-bearded panicles. Some forms of this species 

 have been introduced into cultivation for ornament. It is a 

 native of our Southwestern States and Temtories, in some 

 of its varieties extending southward to Chile, where it is re- 

 garded as one of the best pasture grasses of the Cordilleras. 



No. 26. Andropogon scoparius Michx. Little Blue-stem. 

 (Fig. 9.) 



A rather slender perennial, 1 to 3 feet high, more or less branched 

 above; the slender racemes are single and terminate the 

 culm or its branches. This grass has a similar range to the 

 Big Blue-stem, extending over nearly all of the United States 

 east of the Rocky Mountains, and in the prairie regions it is 

 nearly always found associated more or less abundantly 

 with the Big Blue-stem and Bushy Blue stem. It is common 

 in the mountain districts of the South, and is valued there 

 for grazing. In the West it is cut for hay, but is not so 

 much thought of as the Big Blue-stem. In South Dakota 

 this is one of the most common grasses in the basins of the 

 Bad Lands. 



No. 27. Andropogon sorghum sativus Hack. Includes the 



cultivated varieties of sorghum. 

 Andropogon sorghum includes many varieties, a number of 

 which have been recognized by some authors as distinct 

 botanical species under the genus Sornhum; others, includ- 

 ing Hackel, have referred them all to the genus Andropogon. 

 Ilackel has elaborately worked out the botanical characters 

 of the species and characterized the known varieties, giving 

 to each a technical name. It is not necessary here to follow 

 out his classification, which is apparently good. In the works of others there 

 is much confusion in the botanical classification, and still more in the applica- 

 tion of the common or English names. The same name has been applied to 

 different varieties and the same variety has often been designated under various 

 names. All the forms are of Eastern origin, and have arisen pri)I»ably from a 

 comniun stock tinough ages of cultivation. From varieties of this species are 

 obtained grain, which furnishes nutritious food for man and domestic animals, 

 l)aiticularly poultry. Sirup and sugar in commercial quantities are obtained 

 from the saccharine varieties. The variety xacvharainx, or Chinese sugar-grass, 

 yields about 13 per cent of sugar. Hrooms and brashes, tised in all civilized 

 countries, are made from the indorcscence of the variety known as broom corn, 

 and all furnish fodder of more or less value for farm stock. In Africa alcoholic 



I 



V 



Fia. 9.— Little Blue, 

 stem (Andropogon 

 scoparius) . 



