THE CEREALS IN AMERICA 



8. Grasses. — The area devoted to pasture, hay and forage 

 crops in the United States is greater than that devoted to any 

 other single crop, and the product is of greater value than any 

 other. This, however, includes some of tne legumes which are 

 used for pasture, hay or forage. 



There are about 3500 known species of true grasses, divided 

 into about 300 genera. In the United States there are now 

 known to be about 1380 species (1275 native and 105 intro- 

 duced), divided among 165 genera (140 native and 25 intro- 

 duced). W. J. Beal has described 809 native species and J03 

 exotic species.^ 



Lamson-Scribner gives the number of the best known and 

 most valuable grasses for different purposes as follows : thirty- 

 eight hay grasses, thirty-five pasture grasses, fourteen lawn 

 grasses, twenty-four grasses for wet lands, twenty grasses for 

 embankments, nineteen grasses for holding shifting sands. In 

 a number of instances the same grass occurs in two or more 

 different classes. 



The principal cultivated grasses for hay are timothy and red 

 top, the latter being especially adapted to wet lands, whilt 

 Kentucky blue grass in the northern and Bermuda grass in 

 the southern portions of the United States are the principal 

 ones used for pastures and lawns. 



9. Legumes for Hay and Pasture. — There are in the legumi- 

 nous or pea family about 310 genera and about 5000 species. 



* Grasses of North America Vol II, 1896. 



