40 



tonninal and at rijrbt angles to the stem, becoming curved when old ; spikelets with 

 awns one-lbnrth of an inch long. 



( 'oinniou on wot pine barrens, and one of the most conspicnons of the native grasses. 

 Tlie rootstoeks, wlien mature, have a pungent, aromatic taste, and chewing tlicni is 

 said to be a remedy for toothache. The whole plant is more or less aromatic, and is 

 rarely eaten by stock 



Velvet-grass ( //o/(»« lanatiis). — Perennial; otten in large clumps; stems erect, 

 not branched, 1 to 2 feet high; leaves very numerous, long, and wide; panicle 2 to 

 3 inches long, erect, compact, often tinged with ])urple; wliole plant clothed with 

 soft white hairs, which give it a very striking a])i)carancc. 



This is one of the European grasses which has boen higlily recommended and 

 extensively planted, but has rarely been successful iu the Gulf States. It sometimes 

 remains (airly permanent on thin soils wliere it is not crowded by other sorts, but is 

 never eaten well by stock. On richer and nioister soil it is often seriously atfected 

 by one of the same rusts which attacks oats. It should be sown only when in mix- 

 tures and (m thin soils. 



Water-grasses { PaspaJums).— The Paspalums rank next to the panic grasses in 

 imiiortancc and in number of species in the native pastures, 3G being found in the 

 South. Like the panic grasses, very few are of much value for hay. The group fur- 

 nishes several of the best past ure grasses, however, and some of these are well worth 

 cultivating. Most of the species ])refer a moist soil, and though they are often found 

 on soils wliich arc (luite sandy, they are rare on dry clay hills. Most of them are 

 perennial, and several bear cold so well that they are of considerable importance in 

 winter pastures. 



Caui'KT-(;rass (Paspalnm covipreifum). — Perennial; stems erect or decumbent, 

 extensively creeping and rooting at the Joints, upright stems (5 to 18 inches; leaves 

 very numerous, short, obtuse, smooth; peduncles long and slender, terminated by 2 

 to 4 very slender spikes 1 to 2 inches long, similar to those of crab-grass. 



Tliis is ai)parently indigenous along the coast, and is slowly spreading northward, 

 being now somewhat conunou iu central Mississippi and Alabama. It is undoubt- 

 edly the best pasture grass we have tor sandy soils, and it will bear more hard tramp- 

 ling and close grazing than will any other species. On heavy soils it is often crowded 

 out by Hirmuda and other s])eeies, but on light soils of oven moderate fertility it 

 will soon cover the ground, to the exclusion of all others. It is a grass which soon 

 comes iu when sandy soils are jtiisturcd closely aud will ch(d<e out the broom-sedge 

 and other less desirable sorts. It is easily destroyed by plowing and never becomes 

 a weed. It rarely grows large ont)ugh to be cut for hay, though on the prairies of 

 southwestern Louisiana, where it is known as "prCit fiazon^' it reaches a height of 

 2 feet or more and covers a large part of the native meadows. The seed is rarely 

 tbnnd in the market, but the jtlant is easily ])roi>agated by mowing when the seed 

 is ripe, and scattering the hay over the liebl where the grass is wanted. Even if but 

 few plants should ai)pear the tirst year, the seeds will soon be spread by stock so as 

 to cover the entire lield. It bears heavy frost without injury, and so affords consid- 

 erable grazing during the entire winter. It is often used as a lawn grass on soils too 

 light and sandy for Bermuda, and is excellent for that purpose, though its rather 

 light color uuikes it less attractive than a grass having a richer green. 



lloNKV Dkw (I'aspdiiitn plicatiihim). — i'erennial, though often growing as an 

 annual ; stems, many from a single root, nnnh branched, spreailing or erect, smooth, 

 2 to 3 feet; leaves nruuerous, rather long. n«'arly smooth; spikes 1 to 10, spreading, 

 2 to 3 inches l<mg. hairy on the axils; spikelets usually in I rows; stems aud leaves 

 usually purple in color. 



Common on moist and heavy .soils, though often found in dry jilaces. In habit of 

 growth it is nuich like crab-grass, couiiug uj) in cnltivati-d tields after other crops 

 havi' bieu laid by, aud making a good yield of hay, which is sweet and well liked by 

 stock, but is slow in curing. This is one of the prominent 8i)ecies in the native 

 meadows of the Louisiana i)rairies, and is one ol the more abundant sorts ea.stward 



