ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE OF GRASSES 1 29 



China, the tops of which are used as vegetables. Canned bamboo sprouts 

 are not uncommonly found in the Chinese grocery stores in all of our large 

 cities. 



The best lawn grasses are the Kentucky blue-grass (Poa pratensis), 

 red-top (Agrostis alba var. vulgaris) and the Rhode Island bent grass 

 (Agrostis canina). For the extreme south, Bermuda-grass (Cynodon 

 dactylon) and crab-grass (Stenotaphrum americanum} are the best. 



The grasses which are suitable for the edgings, beds and borders of the 

 garden are Provence cane (Arundo donax, A. conspicua), maize (Zea mays), 

 pampas-grass (Gynerium argenttuni), Eulalia, ribbon-grass (Phalaris 

 arundinacea var. picta) and some of the Japanese bamboos which are 

 hardy in northern latitudes. For interior decoration, the above grasses 

 can be cut and used either singly, or in masses, but the inflorescences of 

 the seaside oats (Uniola paniculata) are gathered for this purpose and also 

 the tall red top (Tridens flavus), reed (Phragmites communis), reed 

 meadow grass (Glyceria septentrionalis) and others which can be tied into 

 bunches and placed in vases and other receptacles. The holy grass 

 (Hierochloe odorata) is manufactured into fragrant baskets by the eastern 

 Indians and the dried bleached straws of the Kentucky blue grass are 

 woven into straw hats. The marram grass (Ammophila arenaria) is 

 the most important species for the binding of the drifting sands of 

 wandering dunes. 



Paper can be made from the fibrous matter in the stems of a number of* 

 grasses principally maize from which a very good grade of paper can be 

 made. Corn stalks have not been used extensively in this country as yet 

 for paper, but with the fast disappearing spruce forests attention will no 

 doubt be directed to maize as an abundant source of material for paper 

 pulp. Esparto grass (Macrochloa tenacissima) is also extensively used in 

 the manufacture of paper. 



In the tropics, the bamboos of the larger size are used for a variety of 

 purposes. They are used as the upright posts and rafters in house con- 

 struction. In the split condition, they form the walls and partitions of 

 the native houses and bungalows. They are used for roofing, for ram 

 spouts, for water pipes, for flower pots, for buckets, for bridge construction 

 and for many other purposes. The various species of bamboos are indis- 

 pensable to the dwellers of the tropical countries of the world. 



The vetiver, or kus-kus, is the very sweet-scented fibrous root of 

 Andropogon muricatus, or grass of India, used to perfume rooms and to 



