43 



Milium effusuin. 



A tall, perennial <>Tas,<-', 4 or 5 feet high, growing in damp woods in tho nnrihrrii 

 portions of the United States and in Canada. It in also found in Northern Europe 

 and in Russian Asia. 



Hon. J. S. Gould, in the Eeport of the New York State Agricultural 



Society, says, respecting this grass : 



Meadows and borders of streams and cold woods. It thrives when transplanted to 

 open and exposed situations. It is one of the most beautiful of the grasses; the pan- 

 icle is often a foot long, and the branches are so exceedingly delicate that the small, 

 glossy spikelets seem to be suspended in the air. Birds are very fond of the seed. 

 Mr. Colmau says that he has raised 3 tons to the acre of as good, nutritious hay as 

 could be grown from it, when sown in May. The plants multiply by the roots as 

 well as by the seed, sending out horizontal shoots of considerable length, which root 

 at the joint as they extend. 



(.Plate 40.) 



MUHLENBERGIA. 



Spikelets one-flowered, small, paniculate, articulated above the outer glumes; 

 flowering glume with a very short, usually hairy callus. 



Muhleiibergia diffusa (Nimble Will). 



Professor Killebrew, of Tennessee, says : 



It is hardly more than necessary to mention this grass, which forms in many sec- 

 tions the bulk of the pastures of the woods. It does not grow in fields, but in woods, 

 where, after rains have set in, it carpets the earth with living green. Various opin- 

 ions are entertained as to its nutritive qualities. Some farmers assert that their stock 

 are fond of it, and that on sufficient range, cattle, horses and sheep will go into the 

 winter sleek and fat from this vigorous grass. Others regard it as well nigh worth- 

 less. 



(Plate 41.) 



Muhleiibergia glomerata (Spiked Muhlenbergia). 



This grass grows* in wet) swampy grounds, chiefly in the Northern 

 ami Western portions of the United States. It is found in Colorado, 

 Utah, Nevada, New Mexico, and Texas. It grows to the height of 2 or 

 3 feet, stiffly erect and generally unbranched. 



The culm is hard, somewhat compressed, and very kafy. The panicle is narrow, 

 2 to 4 inches long, composed of numerous close clusters of flowers, becoming loosi-r 

 below, forming an interrupted glomerate spike. The spikelets are closely sessile in 

 the clusters. The root-stock is hard and knotty, and furnished with numerous short, 

 firm shoots or stolons. 



In the Eastern States it is utilized as one of the native products of 

 wet meadows in the making of what is called wild hay. Specimens 

 have been sent from Colorado and Kansas, and recommended as an 

 excellent grass for forage. (Plate 42.) 



Muhleiibergia Mexicaiia. 



A perennial grass of decumbent habit, 2 or 3 feet high, much branched, 

 from scaly, creeping root stocks. It is frequently found in moist woo 

 and low meadows or prairies. It probably would not endure upli 



