54 



inches long, the upper ones much closer and shorter, all flowering nearly 

 to their bases with the spikelets short-stalked and appressed. 



This species is very common in sandy fields in the Northern and South- 

 ern States, as well as over all the dry plains west of the Mississippi 

 River, extending from British America to Mexico, where it furnishes a 

 portion of the wild pasturage. It deserves observation and experiment 

 as to its value. (Plate 11.) 



Sporobolus airoides (Salt-grass, fine-top grass). 



Calms arising from strong perennial, creeping root-stalks 2 to 8 feet 

 high, thickened at the base and clothed with numerous long, rigid, 

 generally involute, long-pointed leaves, which are smooth and bearded 

 in the throat of the sheath, panicle becoming exserted and diffuse, 6 to 

 12 inches long, 3 to 4 inches wide; the branches capillary, scattered, 

 mostly single, or in whorls below, the branches subdivided above the 

 middle and rather sparsely flowered. 



A common grass throughout the arid regions of the West, sometimes 

 called salt-grass, and affording considerable pasturage in some places. 

 (Plate 12.) 



Agrostis exarata (Northern redtop, mountain redtop). 



This is chiefly a northern species, being found in Wisconsin and west- 

 ward to the Rocky Mountains, also in British America and California 

 to Alaska. It is very variable in appearance and presents several va- 

 rieties. It is generally more slender in growth than the common red- 

 top. The panicle is usually longer, narrower, and looser. In all the 

 forms the palet is wanting or is very minute. 



There is reason to believe that this grass can be made to supply the 

 same valuable place on the Pacific coast that the Agrostis vulgaris does- 

 at the East, but it requires investigation and experiment. (Plate 13.) 



Desehampsia cwspitosa (Hair-grass). 



This is an exceedingly variable species, having a very wide distribu- 

 tion in this and other countries. It is somewhat rare east of the Mis- 

 sissippi, but on the elevated plains and in the Rocky Mountains, also in 

 California and Oregon, it is one of the common bunch-grasses which 

 afford pasturage to cattle and horses. In the East it is found in the 

 hilly regions of New England and the Alleghanies. The panicle is 

 very handsome, presenting a purple or glossy hue and a loose, graceful 

 appearance. We know very little as to the value of this grass; it may 

 be found worthy of cultivation in the arid interior districts. (Plate 14.) 



Chlcris alba. 



An annual grass growing in tufts, 1 to 2 feet high, smooth, the culms 

 frequently branched and bent at the lower joints, decumbent, becom- 

 ing erect ; leaves numerous, smooth, the sheaths mostly loose, the blade 

 broad, the upper sheath dilated, and at first inclosing the flower spikes, 



