GRASSES, GRAINS, AND PLANTS. 567 



fifty years ago, and has recently attracted renewed attention, 

 especially in the Southern States. The name Johnson grass, 

 which is the one now most generally adopted in this country, 

 originated from William Johnson, of Alabama, who introduced 

 the grass into that State from South Carolina, about the year 

 1840. It had previously been known as Mean's grass, and that 

 name is still occasionally used. It has also been largely grown 

 under the name of Guinea grass, but that name should be 

 restricted to Panicum maximum, described in another part of 

 this work. It has been called Egyptian grass, Green Valley 

 grass, Cuba grass, Alabama Guinea grass, Australian millet, 

 and Morocco millet. In California it is best known as ever- 

 green millet, or Arabian evergreen millet. There seems to be 

 good evidence that some of these names have been used at 

 times in order to sell the seed as a new kind, at an unrea- 

 sonably high price. Johnson grass seeds abundantly, and the 

 seed may be obtained of nearly all seedsmen, under that name. 



Calamagrostis (Deyeuxia) Canadensis (Blue-joint ; Small 

 Reed-Grass). A stout, erect, tall, perennial grass, growing 

 chiefly in wet, boggy ground, or in low, moist meadows. Its 

 favorite situation is in cool, elevated regions. It prevails in all 

 the northern portions of the United States, in the Rocky Moun- 

 tains, and in British America. In those districts it is one of 

 the best and most productive of the indigenous grasses. It 

 varies much in luxuriance of foliage and size of panicle, accord- 

 ing to the location. 



Calamagrostis (Deyeuxia) Sylvatica (Bunch -Grass). A 

 coarse, perennial grass, growing in large tufts, usually in sandy 

 ground in the Rocky Mountains at various altitudes, also in 

 California, Oregon, and British America. It furnishes an abun- 

 dant, coarse forage in the regions where it is found. 



Holcus Lanatus (Velvet-Grass ; Velvet Mesquite ; Soft-Grass, 

 etc.). Introduced from Europe and naturalized in many parts 

 of the United States. It makes a striking and beautiful appear- 

 ance, but stock are not very fond of it, either green or cured. 

 It is a perennial, but not very strongly rooted, and does not 

 spread from the root as do most perennial grasses. It seeds' 

 abundantly, and is generally propagated by seed, though some- 

 times by dividing the plants. It prefers low land, but does 



