HABITS OF THE LARGE AND THE SMALL CANE. 103 



forest on the low plains which rise above the water courses and are 

 subject to overflow onh^ at the time of high freshets. So conspicuous 

 was this formation in the western part of the plain that it is called 

 emphatically the '"'canebrake region." At present a comparatively 

 small representation of the smaller cane remains. It occupied the 

 most fertile lands, and these were claimed for the plow b}'' the earliest 

 settlers. Although the growth was so dense as to be almost impene- 

 trable, it was easily eradicated, being susceptible to the efl:'ects of fire. 

 The strips of the large cane which lined the banks of the larger 

 streams subject to frequent overflow have for the most part remained 

 intact. These two species, which resemble each other so closely in 

 habit, differ greatl}^ in their modes of reproduction, a subject of much 

 interest of which but little is as yet known and one which invites the 

 attention of the investigator of the ecological relations of plants, and 

 no less that of the agriculturist, on account of the value of the canes 

 as pasture plants. Anindmaria tecta rarely exceeds the height of 12 

 to 15 feet, and the slender culm branched from the base is seldom half 

 an inch in thickness. Early in spring, apparentl}" every three or four 

 years, the paniculate flowers are produced on naked radical shoots 

 scarcely exceeding 18 inches in height, while the tall flowerless canes 

 are sent up every season from the long creeping rhizomes. Arutidi- 

 naria riiacrospenna^ from 15 to 30 feet high and frequently an inch 

 and over in diameter, produces the panicles of its flowers in the axils 

 of the branches at long and indefinite intervals of time. It is evident, 

 therefore, that generations may pass by l)efore the spectacle of such a 

 canebrake in bloom i.s evei" witnessed. For example, in the beginning 

 of the summer of 1890 the inhabitants of Russell County were aston- 

 ished suddenly to find the large canebrakes bending under the burden 

 of their heavy, nutritious grains, which attracted large numbers of 

 birds and beasts. The farmers regarded this as an entirely new plant, 

 and, finding their stock grew fat upon the seed, stored away quanti- 

 ties of it, not onl}' for future feeding, but under the delusion that if 

 sown it would constitute a crop of small grain equal in value to any 

 previously grown. But in the light of experience it is to be presumed 

 that a period of not less than forty to fifty j^ears has to pass before the 

 propagation of this plant by sexual reproduction takes place. With 

 the maturity of the seed the vitality of the plant is exhausted and the 

 cane decays. In the succeeding season, from the spontaneous stocking 

 of the ground with an abundance of seed, a new crop springs up. 

 The seedlings produce no branches during the first 3"ear. These 

 simple sprouts, which are known as "'mutton cane," are tender and 

 sweet and afford the best of pasturage. They are particularly sought 

 after by bears, which find in the impenetrable deusit}" of the canebrake 

 their securest retreats. 



