THE GRASSES, MEADOWS, ETC. 105 



out success. Its proper pabulum is probably a rich carbona- 

 ceous soil, such as is found in an alluvial swamp or peat 

 bed. 



GAMA GRASS (Tripsacum dactyloides) is found growing 

 spontaneously on a naked sand beach, in Stratford, Ct., and 

 in other places on our eastern coasts. It has occasionally 

 been much lauded at the North, where it is a coarse, rough 

 grass ; and it seems generally, to be little prized at the South. 

 But we have recently, the opinion of some intelligent men 

 in that section, that it is much relished by stock ; as they 

 'frequently eat it so close to the ground, as soon to extirpate 

 it. We should conclude, therefore, that it is a valuable grass 

 for some sections of the United States, whore the soil and 

 locality are suited to it. 



THE EGYPTIAN, SYRIAN OR GUINEA GRASS (Sorghum, 

 halpense, Fig. 24), known by various 

 other names, is a native of our 

 southern States, in many of its va- 

 rieties, although it has been import- 

 ed from abroad. I have seen it 

 growing in profusion on Long 

 Island, Charleston, S. C., and in 

 southern Mississippi. It grows 

 like a very slender, miniature corn- 

 stalk, from four to six feet high, 

 with a strong stem, a large grassy 

 FIG. 24. leaf, and bears a stately seed-stalk, 



tufted with flowrets, which, however, so far as they have 

 come within my knowledge, do not bear a fully-ripened seed 

 in this country. That imported from the Mediterranean, 

 grows with great vigor. Its roots are tuberous, large and 

 prolific ; and equally with the rich, succulent leaves and 

 stalks, when the latter are young, they are at all times 

 greedily devoured by stock. Dr. Bachman, of South Caro- 

 lina, considers it a stock-sustaining plant, far superior to any 

 other grown at the South. It is difficult to remove when 

 once embedded in the soil, and the cotton planters look upon 

 its introduction into their cultivated fields, with unmingled 

 apprehension. 



BERMUDA GRASS (Cynodon dactylon, Lin. Paspalum 

 dactylon, Deccan., Fig. 17). This is considered by Mr. 

 Spalding, an experienced planter in Georgia, who examined 

 them both critically, from specimens which he raised to- 

 gether, as the Doub grass of India, so much commended 

 5* 



