110 PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY. 



bristles at the base. The lower palese are tipped with a contorted 

 awn. It grows from three to six feet high. I have seen it remarked 

 that some seasons it does not produce seed. If that is the case in 

 this State, I have failed to observe it. This grass has been increas- 

 ing rapidly in Nebraska. It competes successfully with all its rivals 

 for the possession of the soil. The amount now growing is treble 

 what it was ten years ago. This season it monopolized the ground 

 where, in former years, only stray stalks were seen. It produces 

 the best hay if cut just before frost. For hay and for pastures it is 

 one of the noblest of the grasses. I often noticed, when camped 

 on the plains, that it was the first choice of horses after the buffalo 

 grass that was within reach was all consumed. Whether it can be 

 domesticated, remains to be seen. Three years ago an attempt was 

 made to grow it on the Agricultural Farm, but the locusts ate it 

 as fast as it came up. It did not survive the third time it was eaten 

 off. 



Andropogon furcatus,yi\ih\. — This is also a valuable grass in 

 this State. It is sometimes called blue joint in the West. It is 

 often confounded wite Andropogon scoparius, and even with Sorgum 

 nutans. It is distinguished by having from three to five straight 

 and rather rigid hairy spikes, from three to five inches long, to- 

 gether at the naked summit (Gray), and of a purple color. Occa- 

 sionally there are lateral spikes. The stem is from four to six 

 feet high. Some years it does not fruit, but the cause is not clear 

 to me, as this occurs in wet and dry seasons. 



Andropogon scoparius, Mich. — This grass is in some places even 

 more abundant than the former, but generally it does not seem to 

 be able to compete with it in the struggle for existence. I am not 

 sure which of these two is the most valuable for feed. It is dis- 

 tinguished from the former by not being more than half as tall and 

 by having a paniculate stem, one side of which is furrowed. The 

 spikes are simple, lateral, and growing from the end on rather long 

 peduncles, two or three being found on each sheath, and of a purple 

 color. It is generally slightly silky and hairy. It is generally dif- 

 ficult to distinguish these two grasses until they begin to flower. 



Andropogon Virginicus, L. — In a few localities in Southern Ne- 

 braska this grass is common. Though elsewhere it is of little re- 

 pute; here I have often seen cattle grazing on it, and apparently 

 enjoying it. No complaints have been made about it when used for 

 hay. The stem is flat below, and somewhat downy with scattered 



