12 



paspalum {Paspalum kcve), and slender paspaluni, together with two or 

 three species of vetches, add largely to the grazing. When the lauds 

 have been grazed for a considerable time the species of Panicum, Era- 

 grostin, and Triodia disappear and are replaced by carpet-grass, where 

 the soil is sufficiently sandy, and by Bermuda and redtop on heavier 

 soils. 



In the uplands of the northern pine region of Louisiana and Missis- 

 sippi the sedge-grasses, wire-grasses, and panic grasses form a large 

 j)art of the natural growth. Big blue-stem, little blue-stem, and broom- 

 sedge {Andropogon virginicus), branching triple awn-grass {Aristida 

 dichotoma), prairie triple-awn- grass {A. oligantha), purplish triple-awn- 

 grass {A. purpiirascens), slender paspalum, and prairie-grass {^porobolus 

 asper) are among the more common species on the hills, while along the 

 streams large water-grass, Terrell-grass [Elymus virginicus), cane, and 

 gama are more abundant. Under continued grazing many of these, 

 especially the broom-sedges and wire or needle grasses, disappear and 

 are largely replaced by Bermuda and lespedeza. W hen grazed too 

 closely even these become so weakened that they fail to hold the ground 

 against the worthless and aggressive bitter-weed {Helenium autumnale). 

 Where the soil is rich in lime, as in the black i)rairie region of Missis- 

 sippi and Alabama, sweet clover soon establishes itself and becomes 

 one of the most important of the naturalized species. 



Much the same conditions obtain farther to the eastward, in northern 

 Alabama and Georgia, the wire-grasses (species of Aristida and Sjwro- 

 bolus) forming a large part of the natural growth; while bunch-grass 

 {Andropogon tener) grows thickly on the sandy hills, and prairie-grass, 

 rush-grass {Sporobohis junceus), and southern poverty-grass {S. vaginw- 

 florns) are common on the more clayey soils. 



In the long-leaf pine region along the Gulf coast the number of 

 species, both of the true grasses and of other forage plants, is much 

 larger than farther north, and as the woodlands are mostly open and 

 with very little undergrowth, the natural pastures are better than in 

 some other sections. Panic grasses, water-grasses, and sedge-grasses 

 are abundant, and several species not found in other sections assume 

 considerable importance here. Fringe leafed paspalum {Paspalum cil- 

 iatifolium), large water-grass, smooth jiaspalum, carpet-grass, slender 

 paspalum, Munro-grass, flat-stemmed panic, mutton cane, switch-grass, 

 creeping beard-grass {()2)lismenus setarius), smooth foxtail {CJtaiochloa 

 hvvigata), Elliott's broom-sedge, brook-grass (.1. glomcratus), big blue 

 stem, bunch-grass and broom-sedge, branching triple awn-grass, slender 

 triple-awn-grass {Aristida gracilis), purplish triple-awn-grass, swamp 

 l)Overty-grass, Muhlenberg's hair-grass {Muhlenbergia capillaris), prai- 

 rie-grass, rush grass, and Triodia ambigua are among the more promi- 

 nent species. Branching panic-grass in its several varieties, and here 

 known as "mutton-cane,'' is, perhaps, the most abundant of any single 

 species, continuing its growth throughout the entire year and furnish- 

 ing the bulk of the grazing for thousands of sheep and cattle which 



