28 



appearance from seeds wasbed in from adjoining fields or dropped l»y birds, rattle, 

 or passing teams. It is so difficult to eradicate that it is rarely advisable to sow it 

 on clean land, but if it is already established on the land it is often better to encour- 

 age it than to fight it, as a heavy crop of good hay is more profitable than is an 

 ordinary crop of either corn or cotton. 



Little Blue-stem {Andropogon scoparius) (fig. 6). — Stems usually in clumps from 

 strong roots, 2 to 4 feet high, flattened at the base, with numerous long branches, 

 usually tinged with red or purple; lower leaves long and numerous, upper leaves 



short, smooth, or hairy; spikes on 

 long and slender peduncles, single, 

 1 to 2 inches long, with 5 to 10 

 joints. 



Very common in dry fields and 

 easily recognized by its purplish color 

 and its habit of growing in bunches. 

 Next to the Big Blue-stem this is the 

 most abundant and valuable of the 

 group, and furnishes a large part of 

 the natural pasturage. It has a less 

 abundant supply of leaves than the 

 former, and the sterns become hard 

 and woody sooner, so that it is less 

 valuable for hay. 



.Seaside Bkoom-sedge {Andropogon 

 marittmus). — Stems slender, coming 

 from a crown which is often a foot or 

 more below the surface of the sand, 

 1 to 2 feet tall, not branched; leaves 

 3 to 6 inches long, very numerous, 

 and abruptly reflexed, sheaths over- 

 lapping; spikes single, or sometimes 

 in pairs, 1 to 1^ inche.* long, partly 

 inclosed by the sheath of the sub- 

 tending leaf. 



Found only on the sandy coast lands 

 and islands, where it is a valuable 

 species. As its roots are buried deep 

 in the sand, it acts as an excellent 

 sand binder, suffers but little from 

 dry weather, and can not be pulled up 

 by cattle. Stock appear to be very 

 fond of it, as it i.s usually eaten down closely before other broom-sedges or other 

 grasses are touched. 



Bur Grasses {Cenchrns). —A^nu\u\\s, with spreading or decumbent and much- 

 branched stems, 1 to 3 feet high; spikes siugh', with from 5 to 25 spiny burs. 



There are several species of these grasses which are common on the sandy lands 

 of the South, especially near the coast. While young the leaves are tender and are 

 grazed closely, but after the seeds with their spine-like coverings are develojied they 

 are avoided. Sand bur (C. fribttloidca) is the most connnou and a troublesome weedy 

 sjiecies, while the cockspur (C. echinatua) is the largest and is often cut for hay. 



Crowfoot Grass (liactgloctdniKm <rg>iptinm).— Annual; stems several and branch- 

 ing, erect or spreading, 1 to 2 feet high; leaves numerous, long, smooth; si)ikes 2 

 to i"), 1 to 2 inches long, digitate. 



A common grass in cultivated groun<ls from central Alabama and (ieorgia south- 

 ward, coming ui> as a volunteer crop alter oats, melons, and other early field crops have 



riG. 6. — Little Blue-stem (Andropogon scoparius). 



