134 



but once broken, the roots quickly rot and add to the fertility of the soil. 

 The roots run to a surprising length and depth, and serve as pumps to 

 raise dormant fertilizing material from below the reach of any plow. 



The farmers living near 'the Mississippi bottoms find the immense 

 cane-brakes in that region exceedingly .useful. They are in the habit 

 of driving their stock to them, and the most luxuriant pasturage is ob- 

 tained, both summer and winter. Cane will not grow in standing water, 

 as the presence of water destroys its roots. Therefore, it is only found on 

 land elevated above the swamps. 



FESTUCA The genus Festuca contains many species that are high- 

 ly valued for grazing purposes. Several of the fescue grasses have been 

 already treated in Part I. The sheep fescue is one of the principal grasses 



Cane Arundinaria tecta. 



found growing on the mountain soils of East Tennessee and in other por- 

 tions of the State where there are light, thin and siliceous soils. The 

 red fescue (Festuca rubra glaucescens) called also Tennessee fescue, is an 

 admirable native grass. It makes a good pasture where many other 

 grasses would fail. Nodding fescue (Festuca nutans) is most frequently 

 seen about thickets. Sheep will eat it but do not relish it so much as they 

 do the sheep fescue. Short's fescue (Festuca Shortii) is probably a 

 variety of the same grass. 



POA Many species of this genus have already been treated in full in 

 Part I. Several of them grow with great luxuriance among the high 

 mountains of East Tennessee. The writer has seen the densest turfs of 

 low spear grass (Poa annua), leafy meadow grass (Poa alsodes) and 

 short meadow grass (Poa brevifolia) growing in the elevated valleys of 

 Johnson county and on the crests of Iron and Roane mountains. Ken- 

 tucky blue grass also grows well in the same situations and gives richness 

 to the mountain pastures. 



