97 



sqrne forms apparently indigenous in the Rocky Moun- 

 tains. 



There has been a good deal of discussion relative to this grass, 

 some pronouncing it one of the vilest of weeds, and others claiming 

 for it high nutritive qualities overweighing all the disadvantages of its 

 growth. Whichever party may be right, it is proper that farmers 

 should be acquainted with it in order to know how to treat it. and 

 hence our description. It forms a dense sod by means of its far- 

 reaching rhizomas or root-stalks, which have short joints, and root 

 tenaciously at every joint. 



It has an abundance of foliage, and sends up a flowering culm, 2 

 to 3 feet high, which is terminated by a close, narrow spike of flow- 

 ers from 3 to 6 inches long. This spike consists of a succession of 

 closely set spikelets, one at each joint of the axis, and placed flatwise 

 with the side against the stalk. Each spikelet contains several (three 

 to eight) flowers, with a pair of nearly equal and opposite three to 

 five nerved glumes at the base. 

 Hon. J. S. Gould says : 



Ihe farmers of the United States unite in one continuous howl of oxei-rstum 

 against this grass, and it seems strange, when every man's hand is against it, tlmt it 

 is not exterminated. Yet we could never really satisfy ourselves that its juvs.'iwv 

 in meadows and pastures was such an unmitigated curse. In lauds whoro iritvrimt <> 

 husbandry is practiced, it must be admitted to be an evil of great tnAguinuii'. lis 

 hardiness is such, and its rapidity of growth is so great, that it springs up miioli 

 more rapidly than any other crop that can be planted, and chokes it. Still ii l\:is 

 many virtues. It is perfectly cosmopolitan iu its habits. It is found in »U sorts of 

 soils and climates. Its creeping roots are succulent, and von nutritive, miv>1 »iv 

 greedily devoured by horses and cows. 



6. A. Scribneri, Vasey. Subalpine situations in the luukv Moun 



tains. 



7. A. tenerum, Vasey. Rocky Mountains. 



This grass prevails in the Rocky Mountain region from New 

 Mexico to Oregon, and has been commonly called u wirioly of 

 Agropyrum repens, from which it differs essentially in wauling the 

 running root-stock, and in a narrower nearly cylindrical wpiUc. It 

 occurs mostly in low, moist grounds, and like the .[(jropyniii) </l,ut 

 cum it is one of the best grasses for hay. 



8. A. nnilaterale, Vasey db Scribner. Subalpino HiltiulioiiH in llu> 



Rocky Mountains. 



9. A.? violaceum. Rocky Mountains. 



7 



