35 



are not to be recommended for cultivation, but some have been praised 

 in the South as furnishing, with proper management, permanent and 

 reliable pastures. 



Andropogon Virginicus and Andropogon scoparius (Broom Sedge). 



Andropogon Virginicus and A. scoparius are the ones commonly em- 

 ployed in this way. 



Dr. Charles Mohr, of Mobile, says that Andropogon xcoparius grows 

 extensively in old fields, and in the dry, sandy soil of the pine woods. 



Much despised as it is as a troublesome weed, it has its good qualities, which en- 

 title it to a more charitable consideration. In the dry pine woods it contributes, 

 while green and tender, a large share to the sustenance of the stock. 



It is common on the Western prairies, growing in dense tufts, and is 

 known under the names of wire grass and bunch grass. It is, in most 

 places, a constituent of prairie hay, and it makes good fodder if cut 

 early. (Plates 26 and 27.) 



Andropogon macrourus. 



Andropogon macrourus, or heavy-topped broom grass, is frequent near 

 the coast, from New Jersey to Florida, &nd thence west to Texas, and 

 even to southern California. It has a stout culm, 3 to 4 feet high, with 

 large, leafy clusters of flowers near the top. (Plate 28.) 



Andropogon furcatus. 



This is the tallest of our species. It grows erect to the height of 5 

 or 6 feet, in rocky or hilly ground; or at the West it is abundant on the 

 native prairies, where it is frequently called blue stem. The leaves are 

 long and frequently somewhat hairy on the sheaths and margins. The 

 spikes are in small clusters of from three to six, terminating the stalk, 

 and also with several clusters from the side branches. The spikes are 

 usually 2 to 3 inches long, rather rigid, and contain ten to twenty flow- 

 ers each. At each joint there is one sessile, perfect flower, and one 

 stalked one, which is staminate only; otherwise it is nearly like the fer- 

 tile one. The outer glumes are about four lines long, the upper one 

 tipped with a short, stiff awn. 



This species, as above stated, is abundant on the prairies of the West, 

 where it is one of the principal hay grasses of the country, and is ex- 

 tensively cut and cured for winter use. (Plate 29.) 



Andropogon Hallii. 



This species ranch resembles the preceding, but the culms are stouter, 

 the leaves thicker and more succulent, the flower spikes are larger, and 

 the flowers generally more hairy. It prevails in very sandy soil, and 

 is most frequent in western Kansas and in Colorado, Nebraska, and 

 northward along the Missouri River. The leaves and stems are com- 

 monly of a light, bluish-green color. It will probably be well adapted 

 to light, sandy soils. 



