11 



on the wild prairie, while on lauds which have been grazed for a con- 

 siderable time carpet-grass occupies a large portion of the ground and 

 makes a vigorous growth. Among other grasses which are abundant in 

 this region are Munro-grass {Fanicnm atjrostoides), narrow-leafed panic- 

 grass (P. angustifoUum)^ barnyard- grass (P. criis-gaUi), mutton-cane (/*. 

 dichotomum), sprouting crab-grass (P. proliferum), Colorado grass (P. 

 texamim), switch-grass (P. virgatum), gama {Tripfiacuni dactyloides), 

 silver-beard [Andropogon argyroius), Elliott's broom sedge [A. elliottii), 

 big blue-stem {A. provin- 

 cialis), little blue-stem {A. 

 scoparius)^ sedge wire-grass 

 {Aristida paJustru), redtop 

 {Agrostis vulgaris), and shin- 

 iuglove-gvi\ss{Eragrostisnit- 

 ida). 



The pastures of this region, 

 unlike those of most other 

 sections, improve under 

 rather heavy grazing on ac- 

 count of the unusual abun- 

 dance of water-grasses. Dr. 

 Knapp, of Lake Charles, La., 

 states that while the wild 

 lands will support one cow 

 on about three acres, old pas- 

 tures will give good grazing 

 for a cow on one acre, and he 

 has kept two cows per acre 

 in good condition during nine 

 months of the year. 



The natural pastures along 

 the alluvial lands of the Red, 

 Mississippi, and other rivers 

 are exceedingly variable, 

 both in quality and in variety 

 of plants. The tree growth 

 is usually so dense that or- 

 dinary grazing plants will 

 not grow excepting in open 

 places, and the cane {Arxndhiaria) is the only true grass which is able 

 to hold its place. In many localities this forms extensive "canebrakes" 

 which furnish, both winter and summer, grazing for thousands of 

 cattle. Too heavy grazing soon kills the cane, and it is seldom renewed. 

 Along the borders of streams and swamps, and wherever the sun can 

 penetrate, Munro-grass, flat-stemmed panic-grass {Panicum anceps), 

 barnyard-grass, switch-grass, many- flowered love-grass {Eragrostis 

 glomerata), fall redtop {Triodia seslerioides), large water-grass, smooth 



Fig. 1.— Characteristic Southern grasses, (a) Elymui 

 virginicus ; (h) I'aspalum ovatum ; {c) Panicum virgatuin ; 

 (d) Panicum agrostoidcs ; (e) Panicum viscidum ; (/) Pha- 

 laris angiista ; (g) Danthunia compressa. 



