GRASS AND HAY 163 



lands in the eastern part of Brazil, particularly in the region of Rio 

 de Janeiro, where it is called "Capim d' Angola." This Panicum is 

 closely related to and resembles some forms of Barnyard grass. It is 

 spoken of as an extremely productive and nutritious fodder-grass, 

 and may prove valuable for the low regions along the Gulf coast. 

 Animated Oats (A vena sterilis). A stout, oat-like grass, with one- 

 sided panicles, and very large, awned spikelets ; the awn is very long, 

 twisted, and "keened" or geniculate. It is the twisting and un- 

 twisting of these awns when exposed to changes of moisture and 

 dryness that has given to this grass the common name of "animated 

 oats." The untwisting or coiling-up of the awn causes the spikelets 

 to tumble about in various directions, suggestive of independent mo- 

 tion or life-like activity. Arizona Cotton-grass (Panicum, lachnan- 

 thum) This is a native of the dry regions of Arizona and New Mex- 

 ico. It resembles Panicum lanatum, but has more slender stems, which 

 rise from strong, woolly, and knotted rootstocks. This may prove to be 

 a valuable pasture grass for the dry or semiarid regions of the South- 

 west. Annual Meadowgrass (Poa annud) A low, spreading annual, 

 with erect or ascending somewhat flattened stems, 2 to 12 inches 

 high. This is an introduced grass, common in every dooryard and 

 about dwellings and cultivated grounds. It may be found in bloom 

 in the Southern States in almost every month in the year. Arrow 

 grass or esparto (Stipa tenacissima) This is a tall perennial, with 

 long, stiff, and very tough leaves, from which ropes, baskets, mats, 

 hats, and other articles are woven. The leaves are employed largely 

 in England and this country in the manufacture of paper, for which 

 purpose this grass is superior to straw. It is one of the most impor- 

 tant articles of export from Algeria, and from northern Africa and 

 Spain more than 2,000 tons of Esparto are exported to Great Britain 

 annually. Ten tons of dry Esparto, worth from $18 to $25 per ton, 

 can be obtained from an acre under favorable circumstances. The 

 grass will grow on almost any kind of soil, from that which is poor 

 and sandy or gravelly to heavy calcareous and clayey soils. Awned 

 or Bearded Wheat-grass (Agropyron caninus) A fibrous-rooted, 

 rather slender, upright perennial, with bearded, nodding heads or 

 spikes resembling slender heads of wheat. This grass is more or less 

 frequent in the northern parts of the United States, ranging from 

 Maine westward to the Dakotas. Bearded Wheat-grass is closely 

 related to the more common and better known Couch-grass, but 

 differs markedly from that species in having no creeping rootstocks, 

 and in the longer beards or awns to the spikelets. 



Bear-grass (Stipa setigera) A native of California, extending 

 northward to Oregon and eastward through New Mexico and Arizona 

 to Texas. It is common on the coast ranges and on the foothills of 

 the Sierra Nevada, where it is regarded as one of the most valuable 

 of the native bunch grasses. Bearded Crowfoot (Chloris barbata) 

 This and the very similar C. elegans of our Southwestern States are 

 pleasing ornamental grasses, growing to the height of 1 to 2 foot, the 

 main stem and branches being terminated by 3 to 10 bearded spikes, 

 which impart to them a striking appearance and make them valu- 



