BLUE JOINT GRASS. 331 



older cultivated grasses. This expectation has heeu real- 

 ized onlv in a slight degree. The only range grasses 

 that are coming into general cultivation to any con- 

 siderable extent at the present time are western rye 

 grass (Agropynim tenerum), in the Xorth and Texas 

 blue grass in the South. Xotrvithstanding the value 

 of these grasses, they cannot be placed in the very front 

 rank. 



Among those not yet tested under cultivation, or only 

 partially tested, are but two varieties, which are pos- 

 sessed of any considerable promise when cultivated. 

 These are Blue Joint (Calamagrostis canadensis) and 

 Blue Grama (Boideloua oUgostacJiya) . It is of course 

 possible that other range grasses may yet be brought 

 to the front, but the hope of this does not seem bright 

 at the present time. 



Blue Joint (CaJamagrostis canadensis). — This grass 

 is perennial. It gTows to the height of 3 to 6 feet and 

 is surmounted by a panicle, rather narrow and purplish 

 in color. It bears considerable resemblance to that 

 of redtop, but it gi-ows much higher and larger. The 

 leaves are laro^e and verv abtmdant. The roots are 

 creeping and the root system is very heavy. 



Unlike other grasses, known as blue joint, on the 

 range it grows only in moist situations and produces 

 much more abimdantly than these. 



Blue Joint grows with great rapidity in May and 

 Jime, and is a great yielder, giving generally from 2 to 

 4 tons per acre of excellent hay, that is much relished by 

 live stock. 



It is distributed over nearly all the northern states, 

 Grasses — 22. 



