54 
inches long, the upper ones much closer and shorter, ail flowering nearly . 
to their bases with the spikelets short-stalked and appressed. 
This species is very common in sandy fields in the Northern and South- 
ern States, as well as over all the dry plains west of the Mississippi 
River, extending from British America to Mexico, where it furnishes a 
portion of the wild pasturage. It deserves observation and experiment 
as toits value. (Plate 11.) 
Sporobolus airoides (Salt-grass, fine-top grass). 
Culms arising from strong perennial, creeping root-stalks 2 to 3 feet 
high, thickened at the base and clothed with numerous long, rigid, 
generally involute, long-pointed leaves, which are smooth and bearded 
in the throat of the sheath, panicle becoming exserted and diffuse, 6 to 
12 inches long, 3 to 4 inches wide; the branches capillary, scattered, 
mostly single, or in aba below, the branches subdivided above the 
middle and rather sparsely flowered. 
A common grass throughout the arid regions of the West, sometimes 
called salt-grass, and affording considerable pasturage in some places. 
(Plate 12.) 
Agrostis exarata (Northern redtop, mountain redtop). 
This is chiefly a northern species, being found in Wisconsin and west 
ward to the Rocky Mountains, also in British America and California 
to Alaska. It is very Pita | in appearance and presents several Va- 
rieties. It is generally more slender in growth than the common red- 
top. The panicle is usually longer, narrower, and looser. In all the 
forms the palet is wanting or is very minute. 
There is reason to believe that this grass can be made to supply the 
same valuable place on the Pacific coast that the Agrostis vulgaris does 
at the East, but it requires investigation and experiment. (Plate 15.) 
Deschampsia caspitosa (Hair-grass). 
This is an exceedingly variable species, having a very wide distribu- 
tion in this and other countries. It is somewhat rare east of the Mis 
sissippi, but on the elevated plains and in the Rocky Mountains, : also in 
California and Oregon, it is one of the common bunch-grasses whic 
afford pasturage to cattle and horses. In the East it is found in the 
hilly. regions of New England and the Alleghanies. The panicle is 
very handsome, presenting a purple or glossy hue and a loose, g eracefill 
appearance. We know very little as to the value of this grass; it may 
be found worthy of cultivation in the arid interior districts. (Plate 14.) 
-Chleris alba. 
An annual grass growing in tufts, 1 to 2 feet high, smooth, the eulms 
. eae, branched and heeos = ia lower joints, ease becom 
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