in Extra-Tropical Countries. 363 



diameter of three feet. The wood differs much from that of S. 

 Tomairo of the Easter-Island (Dr. Philippi). 



Spartina cynosuroides, Willdenow. 



Eastern part of North- America, there often called Prairie-grass. 

 A perennial grass of fresh- water swamps; it can be utilized for fodder, 

 and its value as paper- material seems almost equal to that of Esparto. 

 Emits shoots copiously, hence is recommended by Bouche for binding 

 maritime driftsands, covering the ground densely with its persistent 

 rigid foliage. 



Spartina juncea, Willdenow. 



Salt-marshes of North- America. A grass with creeping roots; it 

 can be utilized to bind moist sand on coasts. A tough fibre can 

 readily be obtained from the leaves. S. polystachya (Willdenow) is 

 a stately grass, adapted for saline soil; it is also a North- American 

 grass. S. juncea and S. cynorsuroides extend to Canada (J. 

 Macoun). 



Spartina stricta, Roth. 



The Twin- spiked Cord -grass. Countries on the Mediterranean 

 Sea, extending to Britain and also to North-America. A rigid peren- 

 nial with creeping roots, recommended for fixing and rendering solid 

 any mud-flats on low shores and at the mouths of rivers; only suitable 

 for brackish ground. 



Spartium junceuni, Linne". 



Countries around the Mediterranean Sea, thence to the Canary 

 Islands, Styria and Persia. The flowers of this bush provide a 

 yellow dye. A textile fibre can be separated from the branches. 



Spergula arvensis, Linne". 



All Europe, North- Africa, West-Asia. This annual herb, though 

 easily becoming a troublesome weed, is here mentioned for the desir- 

 able completeness of this enumeration. The tall variety with large 

 seeds (S. maxima, Weihe) can be chosen with advantage for the 

 commencement of tillage on any sandy soil too poor for barley. It 

 takes up the land only for about two months, if grown for green 

 fodder, and as such much increases the yield of milk. It serves also 

 for admixture to hay (Langethal). It is one of the earliest of fodder- 

 plants, and imparts a particularly pleasant taste to butter. 



Spigelia Marylandica, Linne\ 



The "Pinkroot" of North-Eastern America, north to Pennsylvania 

 and Wisconsin. A perennial handsome herb, requiring cautious 

 administration as a vermifuge. S. anthelmia, L., is an annual 

 pretty plant of tropical America, and possesses similar medicinal pro- 

 perties, in which probably some others of the many species likewise 

 share. 



