17 



pearance of thrift and greenness has been noticed, and my attention 

 was called to it by farmers and observant citizens. It would under 

 cultivation produce a large amount of forage, and it will be given trial 

 at the grass station. 



What are the common grasses of the prairies ? 



[Near Wichita, Kans., the examination of a piece of native upland 

 prairie showed Stipa spartea, Panicum virgatum, Kceleria cristata, Andro- 

 pogon provincialis, and Andropogon scoparhis as (he principal species. 

 Here and there occurred a little of Bouteloua racemosa and B. oligosta- 

 chya, with occasionally small patches of Buchlce dactyloides. With these 

 were mingled Amorpha canescens, Psoraleafloribunda, Petalostemon viola- 

 ceum, a Helianthus, Aplopappus rubiginosus, and Euphorbia marginaia. 

 On lower ground were Panicum virgatum of larger growth, Agropyrum 

 glaucum, Spartina cynosuroides, with Elymus virginicus and E. canadensis. 



A ride of 20 miles over the prairies of Butler County showed that the 

 principal upland grasses are the five species first mentioned. A very 

 intelligent farmer said they would yield a cutting of 1 to 2J tons per 

 acre. He had tried various tame grasses, but without much satisfac- 

 tion, as they mostly winter-killed, and he doubted if he could obtain 

 any grasses better than those of the virgin prairie. Old settlers say 

 that buffalo grass used to be very abundant, but it has nearly disap- 

 peared from this section. Blue-grass (Poa pralensis) is coming in, and 

 he thinks it will take the country. 



In southwestern Minnesota and southern Dakota there yet re- 

 main extensive stretches of primitive prairie, and a careful examina- 

 tion showed that on the uplands the common grasses were mainly 

 the ones mentioned as prevailing in eastern Kansas, viz : Stipa spartea, 

 Andropogon provincialis, A. scoparius, Kceleria cristata, together with 

 patches of Sporobolus lieterolepis and Bouteloua racemosa. On moister 

 ground was Panicum virgatum, Elymus canadensis, and in wet ground 

 Spartina cynosuroides. Wherever the ground has been broken and not 

 cultivated, as on railroad embankments and roadsides, Agropyrum glau- 

 cum and A. tencrum had taken possession. According to the observa- 

 tion of Professor Crozier the native prairies of northwestern Iowa are 

 characterized by the same species as above mentioned. Having been 

 familiar with the prairie vegetation in northern Illinois forty years ago, 

 I was struck with the similarity, the same species being then prevail- 

 ing ones in that region. The Stipa spartea is an early grass and ripens 

 its seeds about the first of July. Later in the season it is recognized 

 by the persistent bleached culms and empty glumes of the spreading 

 panicle. But the radical tufts of leaves continue growing green and 

 vigorous throughout the summer, frequently being 2 feet long. Al- 

 though somewhat coarse they make very good hay. 

 11244— No. 8 2 



