366 



GRASSES OF IOWA. 



for a quarter of a century, but has not been diffused as a pas- 

 ture or meadow grass. It matures early and two crops may 

 be cut ia a single season. 



Grama Grasses — Three Grama grasses occur in Iowa. Bou- 

 teloua hirsuta, Lag., common in dry, sterile and sandy ground, 

 scarcely worthy of attention, except on sandy, light soils as on 

 Muscatine island. 



Fig. 169. Black grama, (Bouteloua hirsuta.) Common on Musoatlne Island and 

 in gravelly drift soils. (F. Lamson-Scribner, Dlv. Agrost. U. S. Dept. Agrl.) 



The Black Grama or Tall Grama, is common only in sandy 

 soil in the eastern portion of the state and gravelly drift soils 

 in northern Iowa. In many respects it resembles the Blue 

 Grama, growing in bunches; it is, however, less valuable. 



The Side-oats or Tall Grama {B. racemosa, Lag ), is common 

 throughout the state on dry, sterile hills, forming a large part 

 of the natural herbage. Under cultivation it has succeeded 

 admirably the first season, having made a growth of eighteen 



