128 FIELD AND GARDEN PRODUCTS 



areas to the exclusion of other grasses. It thrives even in ground 

 heavily crusted with alkali and other salts sufficient to destroy almost 

 any other kind of vegetable growth. Prospectors and miners con- 

 sider its presence a sure sign of water near the surface, and when 

 crossing a desert select spots where it grows to dig for water. In 

 farming lands it is deemed a nuisance. Velvet-grass (Holcus lanatus 

 Linn). A perennial, with a creeping rootstock, and stems and 

 leaves clothed all over with a soft, whitish pubescence. This grass has 

 been introduced into this country from Europe, and has become nat- 

 uralized in many places. It possesses little nutritive value, and is not 

 well liked by stock, particularly horses. It possesses some value, 

 however, on peaty or sandy soils where the better grasses will not 

 grow. Reed Meadow-grass (Panicularia americana) . A stout, erect, 

 leafy perennial, 3 to 4 feet high, with long, rather broad leaves, and a 

 large, nodding panicle. It is common in the northern Middle States 

 and southward along the mountains to Tennessee and North Caro- 

 lina, extending westward to the Rocky Mountain region. Floating 

 Manna-grass (Panicularia fluitans) . This grass grows to the height 

 of from 3 to 5 feet, and has a narrow panicle composed of rather few 

 long and narrow or cylindrical spikelets. It is a cosmopolitan 

 species, found in all temperate regions of the world, and is regarded 

 as one of the best fodder grasses for swampy meadows. Fowl 

 Meadow-grass (Panicularia nervata) . A leafy perennial, 1 to 3 feet 

 high, with expanded nodding panicles of small spikelets. This is a 

 common species in low meadows and moist grounds, extending from 

 New England southward to the Gulf States and westward to the 

 Pacific coast. It is a good fodder plant for moist meadows. Knot- 

 grass (Paspalum distichum). A low creeping species, resembling 

 Bermuda-grass. It is common in the Southern States along the sea- 

 coast and in the interior, extending southward from Virginia to the 

 Gulf, and westward to Texas, Arizona, southern California, and 

 northward to Oregon. False Red-top (Poa flava). A native of 

 northern Europe and the northern portions of this country,, growing 

 naturally in wet meadows and along the low banks of streams. It 

 attains the height of 2 to 3 feet, or even 4 feet in rich, moist soils, and 

 has an expanded, nodding panicle of rather small, purplish, or 

 "bronzed" spikelets. It is found in nearly all parts of New England, 

 and often forms a very considerable and valued portion of the native 

 hay of the low meadows. Wild Rice (Zizania aquatica) . A tall, 

 erect annual, 3 to 10 feet high, growing in shallow water along rivers 

 and lakes from Canada southward to Florida and westward to Texas. 

 The grain is a favorite food of the reed bird, and the grass is culti- 

 vated to some extent by sportsmen with a view to attracting these and 

 aquatic fowl. It grows very rapidly in 1 to 8 feet of water, and 

 matures its seeds in August or early in September. It succeeds best 

 when sown in the fall broadcast in 2 or 3 feet of water having a 

 muddy bottom, but it can be sown in the spring in water from 6 

 inches to 5 feet deep. Before sowing soak the seeds in water twenty- 

 four hours. This grass is the Manorrin of the Chippewa Indians, 

 who gather the grain for food. Also: Redtop, seacoast bent, creep- 



