154 NOKTH-CAKOLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 



It has a procumbent ,assurgent, geniculate stem, which root? 

 at the joints; the leaves are hairy, with spikes shorter than 

 the joints. Spikes digitate, spreading, from 4 to 6. Annual, 

 grows through the summer; common in cultivated fields. 

 This grass, though by no means so valuable as orchard grass 

 or redtop, still as it grows luxuriantly, and is moderately nu- 

 tritious, it might justly be cultivated to a greater extent than 

 it is at present. Cattle, horses and mules eat it with consider- 

 able relish here, and it is frequently saved for fodder. But as 

 it is pulled up from the cornfields, it is foul with sand and 

 dirt, and its value probably diminished. It, however, cannot 

 take the place of the better grasses. It grows from one to two 

 feet high in waste places, in gardens, corn-fields and yards, 

 and is frequently a troublesome weed. 



The panicum (Oplismenus) crusgalli is common about barns* 

 and waste places where the soil is rich, and some attempts 

 have been made to cultivate it. It is rich and nutritious, and 

 is relished tolerably well by stock, though it must be regarded 

 as coarse fodder. There is no difficulty in cultivating this 

 grass in this State, as it grows spontaneously in many places, 

 and attains a height of 4 feet. It is better, and contains more 

 nutriment than the crab grass. Its ash is composed of: 



Silica, 17.325 



Phosphate of iron, 0.425 



Phosphate of lime, 0.625 



Phosphate of magnesia, 2.831 



Phosphoric acid, 6.894 



Silica acid, 0.626 



Carbonate of lime, 3.060 



Magnesia, 2.613 



Potash, 36.656 



Sada, 1.885 



Chloride of sodium, 5.723 



Sulphuric acid, 8.524 



Coal 1.850 



One hundred parts of the plant, nearly dry, gave : 



Water 4 737 



Dry matter, 95.'J63 



Ash, ... . 11.479 



