GRASSES. | 225° 
and that a persistent antagonism is not profitable to any people; and 
being without a successful precedent under similar climatic and soil con- 
ditions in this country, original experiments must form the basis of 
operations. The test of species by sowing their seeds in plowed land, 
and leaving them without further assistance to establish and defend 
themselves against the encroachments of native and naturalized foreign 
worthless weeds and grasses, should be the plan of experiment; for, 
however well a species might succeed with careful cultivation, unless it 
is capacitated to maintain its existence in a strong contest with com- 
petitors, it cannct be profitable as a cultivated grass. From the pecu- 
liar character of American climate and soil, or the very unequal powers 
of our grasses for territorial conquest, we expect to find but one, or at 
most but few species adapted to any locality or situation. We are told 
that twenty-two species have been counted on a square foot in a rich 
old pasture in England. Such a result in this country is utterly im- 
possible. Monopoly is the law of our species, and only local conditions 
arrest the domination of the strong. It is natural that we should expect 
to find in some native species of the plains or mountains the successful 
piant or plants already adapted to the peculiar climatic conditions of 
the country; but we must remember that soil conditions have also very 
much to do with the growth of plants, and that settlement and cultiva- 
tion greatly change the conditions of the soils of any country. With 
these facts before us, our experimental operations may be more intelli- 
gently pursued. The plant required is one that will do for the coarse, 
open, and airy soil of the plains, which is often dry for a long time, 
what Poa pratensis, Lin., has done and is doing for the States east of the 
Missouri River within the same parallels; one that will not only main- 
tain its footing, but will extend its area, and overcome competitors, as 
Poa pratensis has done in several of the States east, and which now 
forms the best pasture lands in the Union, monopolizing the entire soil 
product on thousands of acres. This species, however, being adapted 
only to finely comminuted soils, moist during the period of its growth, 
does not succeed satisfactorily, though in some localities on the eastern 
confines of the district it maintains a feeble existence. A strong-grow- 
ing, coarse perennial, with rhizomas, or underground root-stalks, would 
suggest itself as a suitable species for trial; or a perennial producing 
an abundance of radical leaves, and of early growth, that would cover 
the soil and prevent the growth of annuals, Of this class we suggest 
the following for experiment: 
Elymus Canadensis, Lin.—A native over a large area of North America; 
has been cultivated in Europe, but was soon discarded on account of 
its coarse character as compared with the pasture and hay grasses of 
that country. 
Elymus Virginicus, Lin.—A hardy species of early growth, producing 
an abundance of large, succulent leaves when young; a widely distrib- 
uted speciesin America. Cultivation greatly accelerates its growth. It 
is a promising species. 
Llymus Sibiricus, Lin.—Native of Europe and America in the colder 
latitudes; would probably succeed well in the northern districts, where 
it is native. 
Elymus moilis, Trin.—Grows early and spreads rapidly by its running 
root-stalks; foliage, when young, tender and juicy. It thrives well in 
situations very different from its habitats, (sandy shores;) probably 
not adapted to a dry soil, but well worthy of trial; leaves broad, rather 
short, with a beautiful glaucous hue and strong Triticum flavor. 
Sporobolus heterolepis, Gray.—A most valuable native species; should 
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