65 



native of Australia, found througliout all the colonies of that country, growing 

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

 It is prodiictive, and much prized by cattlemen. The name "sugar-graes" is 

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

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

 districts, and he speaks of it as being a good grass to plant on the banks 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 as a variety of Pollinia cumminyii Nees, bj^ 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. RedQeldiaflexuosa(Thiirb.) 



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

 A stout, native perennial, 18 inches to 

 4 feet high, with long, narrow 

 leaves and difl'usely spreading pan- 

 icles, growing in the sandy districts 

 of Nebraska, 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, showy pani- 

 cles of silky-hairy flowers. Used 

 in the manufacture of mattins:, 

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

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

 in making chairs and C(>uche.s. The leaves are sometimes used for fodder, 

 and when young the grass is grazed by cattle. 



No. 215. Saccharum officinarum L. Sugar Cane. 



A stout grass with many-jointed stems, 8 to 15 feet high, broad leaves, 3 to 4 feet 

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

 but .sparingly spontaneous in the South Sea Islands, Avhere it blo,ssoms freely. 

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

 stems. There are many varieties, 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. Fnder 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 practicallv limited to the States of Loui- 



^393— ]S"o. 14 5 



Fig. 77 — Redfielfl's-grass {Redfieldia flexuosa). 



