224 



This subject has excited attention in Europe, as will be seen by the 

 following extracts from an article on "The Caspian willow and buffalo- 

 grass as a means of fixing blowing sand," recently published in Che 

 '■'■LandwirthsclmftUclies Centralblatt far DeutsGhland^ 



The Caspian willow has been recommeiifled lately for fixing bio win ji; (san<I. Thi« 

 species, however, does not come from the Caspian Sea, as one mi^ht conclude from the 

 name, for we have never seen it there, at least on the western side ; but it grows with- 

 out doubt all over the Empire of Russia, and even to the interior of Siberia. Possibly 

 its hom'e is the sandy wastes of Southern Siberia, and from thence it came to us by 

 way of Astrachan. At any rate we have received it through Poland. The introduc- 

 tion of home plants from foreiga countries on account of their utility is not a now 

 thing. The meadow-grass (Phlciim prafense) was taken from England to North America, 

 and there discovered to be a good fodder-plant. Englishmeu found it cultivated, and 

 took the seed back to Europe, where ever since it has been highly esteemed under its 

 North American name. The Caspian -willow is probably a small-leaved variety of 

 another species, which has been found in Pomerania by Wildenow, and received the 

 nanje of Salix pommeranica, but which is not different from the Liunoan Salix daph- 

 noides. Many, however — among them Wildenow — consider it as a distinctive species 

 under the name of acutifolia. Besides the smaller leaves, green on the under surface, 

 it grows more rapidly on sandy ground, does not soon become a tree, and has slender 

 hanging branches. As a binding plant, ^S.^cMfi/oZia has the preference over the ordi- 

 nary S. daphvoidcs. S. acutifolia also has the merit of having its branches covered with 

 a purplish bloom, and thus giving a charm to the landscape when seen against a dark 

 background of evergreens. It also unites well with the red twigs of Corn us alba of 

 Siberia. We can also recommend S. longifoUa, Host., (commonly catalogued as S. dasy- 

 clados, Winuu,) to protect sandy shores. We saw it grow luxuriantly on a sandy field 

 belonging to the Flottbecker school of forests. The shoots attained a length of six 

 to eight feet, and made good withes in winter, which were used in place of those that 

 previously had to be purchased at a high price. 



A grass has recently been brought into notice for the purpose of fixing sandy soil, 

 which is widely distributed through North America, from Canada to Texas, and fur- 

 nishes food for the buffaloes or bisons. From this fact it has acquired the name of 

 buffalo-grass, but is known scientifically as BucMoe dadnloidcs. This grass makes 

 long runners, and consequently covers the ground rapidly. It is very nutritious, 

 which adds to its value, and if it will grow as well with us as it appears to in New 

 Holland, we shall have a fodder-plant of more value than lupines ; just the thing for 

 the barren sands of the Mark and other northern districts. 



In our own country several native species of willow will undoubtedly 

 be found adapted to the same purpose — for instance, Salix tristis, 8. 

 petiolaris, 8. cordata, and particularly tlje 8aUx adenophylla, Hook., re- 

 cently detected on the sandy shores of Lake Michigan, where it flour- 

 ishes on the ridges of pure sand thrown up by the waves. There is prob- 

 ably a mistake with reference to the buffiilo-grass named in the quota 

 tion. If it really be the Buchloe dactyloides the statement is of much 

 interest. It would be singular if this grass, which has been entirely 

 neglected here, should be tested and found valuable abroad, and then 

 come back to us as a claimant npon our gratitude and favor. It pos- 

 sesses an important advantage over the coarse CalamagrostU in its val- 

 uable grazing properties. In California the giantlymegrass, Mymus 

 condensatus, is said to do excellent service in fixing the soil on the banks 

 of rivei^s and creeks. 



In connection with this subject, we may notice that attention is 

 being directed to the grasses best adapted for cultivation in the South 

 and Southwest, particularly on sandy lands. Mr. F. W. Bobbins, Mata- 

 gorda, Texas, in acknowledging the receipt erf a package of rye-grass 

 seed, inclosed a. stalk of grass, which he says is not found on the fresh 

 laud, but is taking the place of other grass on sandy laud where the 

 sheep have pastured and manured. He wishes to know whether it is 

 a good grass or not. The specimen sent is a species of Agrostis, {A. ver^ 

 ticilMta, Vill.,) a grass which is found in Texas, New Mexico, and Cali- 

 fornia, as well as in some parts of the Old World. It is perennial, and 



