62 
the borders of the so-called ** blow-outs," preventing their extension and assist- 
ing materially in restoring the turf. In some parts of Arizona where it occurs 
it is esteemed a valuable forage plant. It grows from Nebraska neers to 
N ico and dub a, and alon cibo Colorado River above Fort Yum 
Muhlenbergia texana Thurb. Grama. 
This grass is a native of New Mexico and Arizona, growing on the dry mesas and 
able-lands. It has a straggling habit of growth. The stems are 1 to 2 feet 
long, much-branched, and often matted together. It furnishes excellent feed 
for cattle in the regions where it grows, and yields good hay, which is harvested 
in eonsiderable abundance by the ranchmen. with "eee eS very well, 
but it is soon run out under the continued tramping of ca 
Muhlenbergia trichopodes Chapm. Bunch Hair-grass. 
A grass of the Southern States, povie in dry pine woods; similar in habit to 
Muhlenbergia capillaris. Of little value. 
Munroa squarrosa Torr. False Buffalo-grass; White Alfillaria. 
A d 8 8 3 much-branched annual, with numerous and crowded 
, rigid leaves. 3 young the whole blan has a silvery-gray, “fuzzy” 
8 pup en older it Ses pod hrs to some extent. It occurs in 
dry, sandy soil dre roadsides and waste places, where little or nothing else 
grows. Itspreads out over the Motu ud rs at the joints, and a single plant 
will frequently cover a circular area of a foot or two in diameter. It is a native 
of Montana, extending eastward to Nebraska and southward to Texas and 
Arizona. 
Opizia stolonifera Presl. Mexican Lawn-grass. 
An extensively creeping, dicecious grass, the very sees 3 stems sending 
up leafy tufts 1 to 4 inches high. Similar in habit Bermuda, but more deli- 
cate. According to Dr. E. Palmer, this is one of e most important grasses of 
Mexieo. Growing close to the ground, it forms a thick sod over all exposed sur- 
faces, even over the cobblestones in the streets of towns. It is used in the publie 
squares with good effect. By regular watering it is kept nicely green, and but 
little cutting is necessary. The seed is difficult to obtain, owing to the constant 
i a 
trate stems is probably the best method. Trials with this grass ought to 
undertaken in the Southern States, both for lawns and pastures. 
Oplismenus setarius R. & S. Creeping Beard-grass. 
A slender perennial of the Gulf States, with decumbent or creeping stems, and short 
by pieces of the stem which root at the joints, and if cared for, will in a short 
time make a good turf. A closely allied grass of similar habit of growth, wit 
variegated leaves, is often grown in greenhouses for its ornamental appearance. 
Oryza sativa Linn. Rice. 
A tropical or subtropical, semiaquatic grass, the grain of which is the staple food of 
one-third of the human race. It is most era cultivated in southern Asia, 
China, and Japan, and the annual produce of these countries is estimated at 
00, ns. Therice-growing distri dá of China 9 the densest popu- 
lation in the world. In this country rice is cultivated in the States of South 
Carolina, Georgia, and Louisiana. The estimate of the crop of cleaned rice pro- 
duced by the latter State in 1895 was 82,436,832 pounds. “Paddy” is the grain 
