41 



to Florida, often covering entire fields from which oats, melons, or other early crops 

 have been harvested. 



KNOT-(iRAS.S (Pasjuihim disticlium). — Perennial; stems creeping extensively and 

 rooting at the joints, with ascending or erect branches 6 to 12 inches tall; leaves 

 very numerous, short, small; spikes usually 2, divergent, 1 to 2 inches long. 



A grass having much the same habit of growth as carpet-grass and Bermuda, but 

 confined to very moist soils on the borders of ponds or streams and similar locations. 

 It is very common in ditch l)ottonis, where it is sometimes quite troublesome, as it 

 catches the sediment from the running water and soon fills the ditch. Both stems 



and leaves are ipiite succulent 

 and tender, and aie grazed close- 

 ly during the late summer, but 

 as it is killed down by moderate 

 frosts it is of but little value for 

 winter pastures. 



Largk Water-grass (Pas- 

 imluw dUatatum) (fig. 13). — Per- 

 ennial; stems in clumps, erect, 

 seldom branched, smooth, 3 to 4 

 feet; leaves very numerous near 

 the ground, fewer on the stems, 

 a foot or more in length ; spikes 

 4 to 7, erect or spreading, 2 to 4 

 inches long, with a small cluster 

 of white hairs on the axils; 

 spikelets pubescent. 



A rather coarse grass, which 

 grows best on rich and rather 

 damp soils. It spreads slowly 

 from the roots, but seeds freely, 

 and when once started will soon 

 cover a field where the soil is 

 suited to its growth. The stems 

 are rather coarse for hay unless 

 cut early, but it produces a very 

 large amount of long and broad 

 leaves, which remain fresh and 

 green during the entire winter. 

 It withstands the longest 

 droughts without injury, bears 

 grazing well, starts its new 

 growth early in the spring, and 

 is one of the best pasture grasses. 

 Its habit of growing in clumps 

 is an objection to its use for 

 hay, but it is an excellent vari- 

 ety for mixing with redtop, as it grows best on the same character of soil and largely 

 increases the yield. 



Wild Barley ( Horde mn nodosum). — Annual ; stems single or in small clumps, gen- 

 iculate at the base and becoming erect, smooth, 9 to 12 inches high ; leaves abundant, 

 short and narrow; spikes slender, 2 to 3 inches long; spikelets bearded, soon falling 

 apart. 



This is often abundant in early spring on hard clay soils which are heavily tramped. 



It gives a little good grazing in March, but is not eaten after the heads begin to 



show, and by May the stems are dead and dry. Little more than a worthless weed. 



"Wild Rye {Ehjmus). — There are three species of wild rye which are rather com- 



FlG. 13. — Large Water-grasa ( ' as^iahim dilatatum). 



