GRASS AND HAY 131 



has no agricultural value, but from time immemorial its utility in 

 binding together the loose sands of the beach, and restraining the 

 inroads of the ocean, has been recognized and provided for in some 

 places by law. Blady-grass (Imperata arundi). A sand and soil 

 binder common throughout the warmer temperate and tropical 

 regions of both hemispheres. It is a stout, erect, leafy grass. The 

 rootstocks form a perfect network of strong fibers, and in warm coun- 

 tries the grass is recommended for binding river banks, the sides of 

 dams, and the loose sands of the coast. This grass is easily propa- 

 gated by root cuttings. Maiden Cane (Panicum. digitarioides) . A 

 rather coarse grass, growing along ditches, in swamps, and in moist 

 sands from Delaware southward to Florida, and along the Gulf near 

 the coast. It has strong and widely spreading or creeping rootstocks, 

 which are useful in binding sandy railroad embankments in the 

 Southern and Gulf States, vine Mesquite (Panicum obtusum). 

 This grass ranges from Colorado to Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and 

 southward into Mexico. It is usually found in irrigated lands or in 

 the low, damp soil of the valleys, most frequently under the shade of 

 trees and shrubs. No attempts have been made to cultivate this 

 grass, but its appearance and habit of growth indicate an agricultural 

 value of sufficient importance to call for experiments in its cultiva- 

 tion. In New Mexico this species is called "Wire-grass." Creeping 

 Panic (Panieum repens). An extensively creeping grass, with 

 rather stiff upright stems. It is common in the maritime districts in 

 southern Asia, northern Africa, southern Europe and Australia. It 

 is also found along the shores of the Southern States bordering the 

 Gulf, extending westward to Mexico. It has no agricultural value, 

 but is a natural sand binder. Upon the sandy islands lying off the 

 Gulf Coast it grows abundantly upon the outside of dunes, protecting 

 them from the action of the winds and waves. Reed Canary-grass. 

 See h. g. Common Reed (Phragmites vulgaris). This is one of the 

 largest of our native grasses, growing to the height of 12 feet, the 

 rather stout culms bearing numerous broad, spreading, and sharply 

 pointed leaves, 1 to 2 feet long. It has deeply penetrating and exten- 

 sively creeping rootstocks, making it one of the most valuable grasses 

 for binding the banks of rivers subject to periodical floods. It is 

 occasionally found along the coast in brackish marshes and some- 

 times upon sandy soils, and possibly may be employed with advan- 

 tage for binding drifting sands or those liable to be shifted by high 

 tides. Cord grass (Spartina cynosuroides) . Stout, with erect, sim- 

 ple stems 2 to 9 feet high, flat and long-pointed leaves, and numerous 

 erect or spreading spikes 2 to 5 inches long. This is a native, com- 

 mon along our ocean and lake shores, borders of rivers, etc., ranging 

 from Maine to the Carolinas, and westward to the Pacific. It makes a 

 fair but rather coarse hay when cut early, and has been successfully 

 employed in the manufacture of twine and paper. The strong, 

 creeping, scaly rootstocks of this grass adapt it for binding loose 

 sands and river banks, and in the West it is used for thatch. Also: 

 Johnson g., red fescue, salt g., Bermuda g., cane, smooth brami, 

 knotgrass, carpet g., St. Augustine g., and Japanese lawn. 



