82 
Kansas. It has deeply penetrating and widely spreading underground 
stems or rhizomes, making it a valuable species for binding drifting sands. It 
on the sand dunes south of the Arkansas River, near Garden City, Kans. 
Rottboelia. Rat-tail-grass. 
The native species of Rottbollia are 3 leafy perennials, with slender, 1 
drical, many-jointed spikes, which readily break up. ey are found chiefl 
the pine-barren swamps of the Gulf. States. Of little agricultural value in this 
country.  Rotibellia compressa, a native of southern Asia, south Africa, and 
Australia, where it is called Mat-grass, has creeping or ascending flattened 
stems, rather short leaves, and slender spikes. In some parts of Australia it is 
highly esteemed for pasturago, and is said to retain its greenness throughout the 
year in dry elimates. It is not injured by light frosts. The prostrate stems 
sometimes attain the id of 5 or 6 feet. A closely related species, H. fascicu- 
lata, occurs on the lower Rio Grande 
Saccharum ciliare Anders. 
A tall, handsome grass of India, with smooth stems 8 to 10 feet high, long leaves, 
and large, showy panicles of silky-hairy flowers. Used in the manufacture of 
matting, rope, and paper, and for thatching. The stems are made into sieves, 
screens, and baskets. The thicker portion of the stems is used for lining wells, 
and in making chairs and couches. The leaves are sometimes used for fodder 
and when young the grass is grazed by eattle. 
Saccharum officinarum L. Sugar cane. 
A stout grass with many-jointed stems, 8 to 15 feet high, broad leaves 3 to 4 feet 
long, and long (16 to 32 inches), pyramidal panicles. Native country unknown, 
but sparingly spontaneous in the South Sea Islands, where it blossoms freely. 
Cultivated in all tropical countries, extending northward into Spain and Ala- 
bama. Propagated chiefly by cuttings o estems. There are pra ee 
distinguished chiefly by the color and height of stem. The leaves are some- 
imes used for fodder, and to a limited extent also in paper making 156 8 cane 
is cultivated, however, for its sweet juice, which yields from 12 to 20 per cent 
a 
scale is practically limited to the State of Louisiana. The sugar production of 
that State in 1889 was 292,124,050 pounds. The world's production of cane sugar 
is about 3,000,000 tons, more than one- -third of which i is produced by „a West 
Indies. Molasses isa product of suga nd rum 
is made from molasses. Refuse eat from. which the juice has been occidi 
yields a strong fiber, and in parts of India is used for torches, ete. 
Saccharum sara Roxb. 
Stout, erect, 8 to 14 feet high, with long leaves, the lower ones 4 to 8 feet, and 
densely flowered panicles 1 to 2 feet long. A native of India. At Jeypoor it is 
extensively used as a sand binder, for which purpose it has proved well suited. 
Saccharum spontaneum Linn. 
A stout — 5 to 15 feet high, with extensively ene rootstocks, long, nar- 
row leaves, and a narrow, woolly panicle 1 to 2 feet long. A native of India 
where i is a favorite fodder for the buffaloes, E is eed given to hs agp 
when young. Where not esteemed too valuable as pasturage for buffaloes it is 
used for thatching dwellings. 
Schedonnardus texanus Steud. Texan een Slender Tail- Quir 
grass; Wire-grass. ! 
A serm branching annual, : with. anette narrow leaves and slender * 
spikes. Th It is a nativo 
