NEW GRASSES FOR OLD STATIONS. 303 



The sedges (Cyperacece) are mostly found on marsnes, but a 

 few grow on rather dry ground. Although extensively past- 

 ured, cut and cured for hay in new countries, they have been 

 quite uniformly condemned as utterly unworthy of cultivation. 

 They are nearly always much past their prime when cut for hay. 

 They are better when cured early. The writer thinks it not un- 

 likely that some of these sedges may prove valuable in certain 

 localities. The majority of sedges appear in limited quantity 

 often mixed with others which grow abundantly. Some experi- 

 ments might very profitably be made on the sedges with refer- 

 ence to their value for pasture or hay. 



On this topic I glean the following from the Country Gentle- 

 man of January, 1886, contributed by my colleague, Prof. L. II. 

 Bailey : f 'At present there are only three species, so far as 

 known, which possess any decided merits. One is a native of 

 Thibet, affording fair grazing when grasses fail. Another is the 

 sand carex of Europe (Carex arenaria) which is largely grown 

 along exposed sea shores to hold the sand. The third spocies 

 occurs along the Columbia River, where it furnishes a valuable 

 hay and pasture, and is known as the hay carex. It has been 

 received from several reliable sources. It grows rapidly in the 

 early spring, and matures its fruit or seeds just before the annual 

 rise of the rivers cover it. As soon as the water recedes it springs 

 up again, but does not fruit, this time yielding an excellent hay. 

 Hundreds of tons are cut from this species alone. 



" Specialists have studied this plant quite carefully, and it has 

 been referred to no less than five distinct species. It is probably 

 the same as a Scandinavian species (Carex acuta var. prolixa) 

 although that plant is not known to possess any economic value." 



The following is from Dr. 0. E. Bessey, of Nebraska: "For 

 many years it has been a favorite subject of investigation with 

 me to attempt to determine whether any of our native grasses 

 were worthy of being brought under cultivation. In this inves- 



