25 



some localities this grass is abundant and forms a valuable resource for 

 stock. The bottom leaves and sterile shoots are tender and much rel- 

 ished. (Plate 8.) 



PANICUM. 



In this genus the mode of inflorescence is very variable, but most of the species 

 have a spreading, much-branched panicle, the terminal branchlets of which 1 

 spikclets of a single perfect flower, or in some cases with a lower male or imperfect- 

 flower also. There are two or three empty glumes, the lower one generally much 

 shorter than the others; the perfect flower has a thick, hard glume with a palrt 

 similar in texture, and with the stamens and pistil inclosed between them. The 

 other imperfect flower when present has a glume similar to the empty ones. 



The name is probably derived from the Latin wor&panis, bread, be- 

 cause some of the species were used, and are still used, for bread-making. 

 The species of this genus are very numerous (more than three hundred 

 on the globe), and of widely different appearance. We have about fifty 

 native species, most of which have little practical value except as adding 

 more or less to the wild forage of our woods and fields. But some 

 species, both native and foreign, are of very high agricultural value. 



Panicum maximum (True Guinea Grass). 



This is a native of Africa, which has been introduced into many 

 tropical countries, and in the West Indies is extensively cultivated. 

 It has been brought into Florida and other places along the Gulf coast, 

 but is little known in the United States. It requires a long season, is 

 very susceptible to frost, and ripens seed only in the warmest part of 

 the country. It lias often been confounded with Johnson grass, which 

 is very different. A sufficient point of distinction is the fact that John- 

 son grass spreads by underground stems, while Guinea grass does not, 

 but remains in bunches. 



Its chief value is for hay or soiling, and it should be cut frequently 

 to prevent it becoming too hard and coarse. It grows tall and rank, 

 reaches the height of 6 or 8 feet when mature, and yields a seed much 

 resembling millet. It is not adapted to the climate of the Northern 

 States. Panicum jumentorum is a synonym. (Plate 9.) 



Panicum Texanum (Texas Millet). 



This grass is a native of Texas, and was first described and named 

 in 1866 by Prof. S. B. Buckley, in his preliminary reportrof the "Geo- 

 graphical and Agricultural Survey of Texas." It is frequently called 

 Colorado grass, from its abundance along the Colorado Eiver in that 

 State. In some localities it is known as river grass ; in others as goose 

 grass, from its being supposed to have been introduced by wild geese. 

 In southern Texas it is sometimes called buffalo grass, and in Fayette 

 County it is known as Austin grass from the fact that it was first util- 

 ized as hay near Austin. 



The most numerous and favorable reports regarding it are froi 

 Lampasas, Burnet, and Travis Counties, along the Colorado River, and 



