GRASSES OF IOWA. 

 NATURAL CONDITION. 



419 



WATER FREE SUBSTANCE. 



(l)Iowa 4.38 110.13 



(2) South Dakota 1 41 | 9.25 



(8.58) 34.16 8.33 43.00 

 (7.69) 38.59 7 26 43.50 



It has been tried in an experiment il way here at Ames and 

 did admirably on high ground. 



Grasses of Low Meadows. Reed Canary grass {Phal- 

 aris arundinacea L.) is a tall, leafy perennial, produces a 

 strong creeping root- stock and is native to low marshy ground 

 throughout Iowa, but is most abundant in the glacial drift 

 region of central and northern Iowa and in the low wet mead- 

 ows along the Missouri. It makes a fair coarse hay. It suc- 

 ceeds admirably under cultivation even in dry soils. This 

 grass when grown on the College farm was as thrifty as that 

 growing in low bottoms. It resisted drouth a^ well as any grass 

 under cultivation. Several other grasses of low marshy 

 meadows should be mentioned. Manna grass {Glyceria jiuitans 

 R. Br.) which is abundant in some sections of the state. It is 

 an excellent grass. The leaves and stems are succulent and 

 relished by all kinds of stock. Reed meadow grass {G. grandis 

 Watson) grows in low marshy places and is most abundant in 

 northern Iowa. It is an excellent grass and forms a good por- 

 tion of the grass of some meadows. It is relished by stock 

 and makes fine hay. Wild Rice {Zizania aquatica L.) is abund- 

 ant along the Mississippi and is an important ingredient of 

 the vegetation of our northern lakes. Here it often forms 

 floating islaods. In such places it is nearly inaccessible for 

 stock but along the Mississippi it grows in drie .' places and 

 frequently is utilized by stock, and in drier years some is cut 

 for hay. 



1. BuU. la. Agrl. Exo. Sta. 11:462. 



2. BuU. S. D. Agrl. Exp. Sta, 40:86. 

 * Not In bloom. 



+ In condition for hay or air-dry substance. 



27 



