12 
an excellent grass for binding railroad and other embankments subject to wash, 
and can be recommended for this purpose. The roots are well known in medi- 
cine under the name of Radix graminis. The simple infusion is used as a diu- 
retic. Propagated by root cuttings” or by seed. 
Agropyron repens var. glaucum Am. Auct. (See Agropyron spicaium.) 
Asropyron spicatum Scribn. & Smith. Colorado Blue-stem; eie ap Blue- 
stem; Blue-grass; Wheat-grass; Wild Quack-grass; Gumbo-grass 
A grass closely resembling gd Couch-grass of the Eastern ERR and by some 
garded as only a variety of it. It has the same 
vu g and extensively creeping . and the 
so and spikes are very similar, but the whole 
plant usualiy has a bluish color, whence the com- 
mon name “Blue-stem,” most frequently applied 
to it in the West. 1t grows naturally on the dry 
yield per acre is not large, the quality of the hay 
is unsurpassed by any other species of the region 
where it grows. In Montana and the neighboring 
ant of the native forage SC 
plants. After three or four M y 
successive annual c eme w 
the yield diminishes ve MC 
much, but the grass ? à Ai 
“brought up” by letting it b. A Y 
stand a year or two, or by AS 
agging over t SAL A 
sharp-toothed harrow, thus 
breaking the int ` 
n is grass is quite 
Fic. e -grass. (Agro- distinct from the “Blue 
ron repens.) stem" grasses of Nebraska, 
pogon (A. provincialis). There are a number of native 
species of Agropyrons or wheat-grasses in the Rocky 
Mountains, some of which are evidently excellent hay 
grasses and could be introduced into cultivation to 
advantage. 
ostis alba Linn. 's-grass; Bent-grass; English 
Bent; White el ace: White-top; Dew-grass ; 
Fiori; Marsh t-grass. (Fig.2.) Fig. 5 (Agrostis 
Under the botanical name of 8 alba are included a Sele 
number of varieties, some of which have received distinct Latin names; as, for 
example, Agrostis vulgaris Eg gross e stolonifera , and many English ed local 
names, t Eastern 
grass, ane m Me South, Red- top. The groat variability of this grass has led to a 
alue. The taller forms are largely 
cultivated for hay, being usually mixed with timothy and clover. This grass 
requires considerable moisture in the soil, and is one of the best for 
A 
