FLORA OF MICHIGAN. 47 



June grass, fowl meadow-grass, and several other species of Poa which 

 have no well-known common name; several manna-grasses (Glyceria); a 

 few small fescues, two or three Eatonias; blue-joint, two or three small 

 redtops, and several species of Muhlenberg's grass, two or three kinds of 

 mountain rice, reed-grass, two beard-grasses, and several panic-grasses. 

 The following, though quickly and thoroughly disseminated, are not native 

 to our State: Barn-yard grass, crab-grass, foxtail or pigeon-grass, sweet 

 vernal-grass, Timothy, meadow foxtail, the larger redtop so popular for low 

 lands, tall oat-grass, orchard grass, tall fescue, perennial rye-grass, 

 quick-grass. 



Besides the true grasses, there are about one hundred and eighty species 

 of grass-like plants mostly found on marshes, which are called sedges. 

 They are mostly confounded with the grasses except by the botanist. In 

 addition to these are some twenty-five other narrow-leaved and grass- 

 like plants known as rushes which furnish more or less herbage. Many 

 of the sedges and rushes make hay of fair quality when cut early before 

 they become harsh and woody. 



On the Jack-pine plains and in many other portions of the sandy stump- 

 lands in the northern counties are two species of sedges found abundantly 

 on dry land. These are Carex Pennsylvania, Lam., and C. umbellata, 

 var. vicina, Dewey; they are popularly called grasses by the residents of 

 those counties. Inquiries have frequently been made concerning the 

 name, and statements made to the effect that they were very nutritious 

 and that cattle got fat on them early in the spring. So far as we have 

 observed, cattle prefer something else as it starts in spring, thus leaving 

 the sedges untouched to grow all summer and remain green under the 

 snow till the following spring. In spring the cattle eagerly devour the 

 last year's growth of the sedges and thrive on it. This is but another 

 evidence that the quality of the fodder is not of so great importance, 

 provided animals can get enough of it, and can be induced to eat it. 



Besides the native grasses, sedges and rushes there are great numbers of 

 other herbaceous plants, usually one here and there which are eaten by 

 hungry stock. Leaves and the tender growth of shrubs and young trees are 

 often eaten in great quantities, and in times of scarcity cattle get astride of 

 young trees bending down the tops so as to reach the leaves and twigs 

 Sheep eat the greatest variety of plants and thus where they feed closely 

 are valuable aids in the clearing of a new country. They eat briars, elders 

 and sprouts of stumps, but will leave some things which they do not like. 

 The weeds tnat are thus left have an excellent chance to spread and in 

 time occupy much of the ground once covered by the nutritious and edible 

 plants which have been removed. Here we see one of the most excellent 

 reasons for the interference of man in removing the weeds and in encour- 

 aging the introduction of the more valuable fodder plants. While these 

 early native pastures and meadows are of incalculable value to the pioneer, 

 without some care they soon deteriorate. 



In times of great scarcity of feed in a new country, farmers used to fell 

 trees that cattle might eat the twigs, or " browse," which contain much 

 starch and protoplasm stored away by the trees ready to be used in giving 

 the young growth a start on the approach of warm weather. 



Michigan has no native species of clover. 



