33 



panicles loose and spreading, rather large, and on long peduncles in the spring, bnt 

 small and almost sessile later in the season. 



One of the most abundant native species, usually o<furring on lands which have 

 not been in cultivation. It is exceedingly variable in its habit of growth, assuming 

 very dilferent forms at different seasons, but making an almost continuous growth 

 and forming the best part of the pastures on the pine-woods soils. During the win- 

 ter its growth is confined to a tuft of very broad leaves at the surl'ace of the grouml, 

 but in early spring stems are formed which continue to branch aud produce seed 

 until late iu the fall. Sheep are especially fond of this grass, and many flocks live 

 upon it almost wholly during the winter. Although so valuable in the native pas- 

 tures, it is soon crowded out by other species when the land is pastured too closely 

 or is brought into cultivation. 



Paua Grass {Fanicum molle).- Perennial; stems decumbent aud often 10 to 20 feet 

 in length, with a few feet at the extreme end becoming erect; leaves very abundant, 

 long aud broad; panicle loose and spreading, 9 to 12 inches long. 



This has been introduced from the West Indies or South America, and, where the cli- 

 mate is not too cold in winter, will produce an immense amount of forage. It does not 

 mature seed iu this country, but the roots live through the winter, the new growth 

 being ready to cut by June 1, and it will furnish good cuttings every six weeks from 

 that time until the end of the season, although it should not be cut after October 1, 

 in order that it may have time to produce a crop of leaves to serve as a winter ])ro- 

 tection to the roots. It is of considerable value near tlie coast, but is too tender for 

 regions subject to severe frosts. 



Smooth Crab-grass (I'anioim lineare). — Perennial by creeping stems; stems 

 prostrate, rooting at the joints; leaves very numerous, short, hairy, light colored; 

 spikes digitate like those of crab-grass, but shorter and more slender. 



Common on cultivated ground, especially on sandy soils, where it frequently forms 

 a thick mat similar to carpet-grass. It remains green and continues to grow during 

 the winter, and is grazed to some extent, but cau not be regarded as valuable. 

 When cattle are grazed on fields containing a large proportion of this grass they 

 often become "sanded" from the accumulation of sand in the stomach, and losses 

 from this cause are not uncommon. 



Sprouting Panic {Panicum proliftruvi). — Annual ; stems many and diffusely 

 branched, succulent, smooth, 2 to 4 feet long; leaves very numerous, large and 

 smooth; panicles many, diffusely branched. 



This grows naturally on rich, moist soil by roadsides and ditches, but is often 

 abundant in cultivated fields with crab-grass. It is rather difficult to cure for hay, 

 but cattle and mules are very fond of its sweet and juicy stems, aud as it makes its 

 best growth late in the season after many of the early grasses have been killed by 

 drought it is of considerable value, although hardly worth special cultivation. 



Poverty Grasses (Aristida). — The species iu this group are easily recognized by 

 the 3-parted beard at the upper end of each spikelet. They are widely distributed, 

 growing in every variety of soil, but are not usually regarded as valuable any- 

 where. They are among the first grasses to take possession of worn-out and 

 abandoned fields, roadsides, and other barren spots, aud their jjresence is usually 

 regarded as an indication of a thin aud unproductive soil. A few of the species are 

 common on good soils, and in the dry pine barrens they form no small part of the 

 grazing for spring and early summer, but are never grazed after the culms begin to 

 grow. A. stricta is one of the numerous perennial "wire grasses" of the pine 

 woods, growing in clumps 2 to 3 feet tall. This giv^es more grazing than any other 

 of the group, but is a pest to sheep, as the sharp, bearded "seeds" catch in the 

 wool and often work their way into the skin. A. paliistris is a common swamp spe- 

 cies, growing 3 to 4 feet tall, but is coarse and harsh, even when young. A. gradVis 

 is a small and slender species, seldom more than a foot in height, which is occasion- 

 ally found in cultivated lands and is one of the first to appear when cultivation 

 5729— No. 15 3 



