GRASSES AND FORAGE PLANTS FIGURED IN THIS BULLETIN. 
The most common and conspicuous of the grasses mentioned in the 
report of Mr. Neally and of Professor Tracy are figured herewith, and 
the figures will aid much in an identification of the species by those liv- 
ing in the arid districts, and will be useful in directing experiments for 
their cultivation or utilization. 
Panicum crus-galli (Barn-yard grass). 
_ ‘This is an annual grass, with thick, stout culms, usually from 2 to 4 
feet high. In the Southern States it is often employed and considered 
/ a valuable ee Jeans cameos of Mississippi, says that— 
that 4 lly, and is said sometimes to furnish 
f q 4or 5 tons of hay peracre. It Giaaety re-seeds the ground, and requires no other 
’ cultivation or other care save protection from stock and the labor of harvesting. In 
4 one county in Mississippi hundreds of acres are annually mowed on single farms. 
_ Cows and horses are very fond of it whether green or dry. 
In the Northern States it is hardly ever employed. (Plate 1.) 
Panicum virgatum (Fall panic-grass, switch-grass). 
A tall perennial grass, 3 to 5 feet high, growing mostly in clumps in 
dry sandy soil, very common on the sea-coast, and also in the interior to 
the base of the Rocky Mountains. This is a good and prolific grass if 
cut when young; when ripeit becomes harsh and unpalatable. It forms 
a large constituent of the native grasses of the prairies, particularly in 
moist localities. (Plate 2.) 
Aristida purpurea (Western beard-grass; purple three-awned grass). 
This species prevails extensively west of the Mississippi River from 
British America to Mexico, and is abundant on the plains of Kansas, 
New Mexico, and Texas. It grows usually 1 to 14 feet high, with slen- 
der culms, branching at the base, and with short, involute leaves. It 
is an exceedingly variable species, and there are sven distinct varie- 
ties. The panicle is 6 to 8 inches long, rather narrow, erect or flex- 
uous. The spikelets are much like those of the preceding species, but 
usually larger, and with longer awns or beards. In some varieties 
these awns are 2 or 3 inches long, widely diverging, and purplish 
colored, the whole panicle having a graceful and feathery appearance. 
(Plate 3.) 
Stipa fed ate (Bunch-grass). 
A perennial grass, culms 2 to 4 feet high, leafy ; the radical leaves 12 
to 8, eka long, those of the stem 4 to 10 inches long, one to two lines 
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