16 



2. S. comigata, Schult. Georgia to Florida. 



3. S. glanca, Beauv. . Pigeon grass. Extensively naturalized. 

 S. glanca, var. laevigata, Chap. North Carolina to Florida. 

 S. glauca, var. imberbis ? Mississippi to Texas. 



-t. S. Italica, Kth. Hungarian grass. German millet. Introduced. 

 This grass is supposed to be a native of the East Indies, but it has 

 been extensively introduced into most civilized countries. It has 

 long been cultivated as a fodder grass both in Europe and in this 

 country. It is an annual grass of strong rank growth, the culms 

 erect, 2 to 3 feet high, with numerous long and broad leaves, and a 

 terminal, spike-like, nodding panicle, 4 to 6 inches loDg, and often 

 an inch or more in diameter. There is a great difference in the dif- 

 ferent varieties and forms of this grass, so much so that some of 

 them have been considered different species, but the general opinion 

 of botanists is that they are all varying forms of the same species, 

 dependent upon the character of the soil, thickness of seeding, 

 moisture or dryness, and time of sowing. It owes its value as a 

 fodder plant to the abundance of its foliage and to the large quan- 

 tity of seed produced. In some instances objection has been made 

 to this grass on account of the bristles which surround the seed, and 

 which have been said to penetrate the stomachs of cattle so as to 

 cause inflammation and death. But it is plain that this opinion is 

 not generally held, as the cultivation of the grass is widely extended 

 and everywhere recommended. 



For forage it should be cut as soon as it blooms, when of course it is worth 

 nothing for seed, but is most valuable for forage and exhausts the land much less. 

 If left for the seed to mature they are very abundant and rich feed, but the stems 

 are worthless, while the soil is more damaged. The matured stems are very hard, 

 indigestible, and injurious, and the ripe seeds will founder more promptly than corn, 

 and sometimes produce diabetes if mouldy and too freely used. If cut at the right 

 stage the whole plant is a safe and very valuable forage. On good soil, if the ground 

 be moist, it will be ready for mowing in sixty days from seeding and produce from 

 two to four tons of hay per acre. It is folly to sow it on poor land. — Professor 

 Phases. 



5. S. setosa, Beauv. New ilexieo, Texas, and Arizona. 

 S. setosa, var. caudata. Same region. 



We know little as to the agricultural value of this species ; as it 

 is found in arid districts it is deserving of the attention of farmers 

 in that section. 



6. S. verticillata, Beauv. Introduced from Europe. 



7. S. viridis, Beauv. Green Pigeon grass. Naturalized. 



