32 CIRCULAR 491, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



mature. Under favorable conditions it spreads by underground root- 

 stocks, making a fairly dense soil-binding sod. In 1895 Jared G. 

 Smith, as quoted by Shear (6$, p. £-5), reported: 



Switch grass produces a very luxuriant growth, especially iu the bottom 

 lands and "draws." As it is inclined to get hard and woody when old, it 

 should be cut before it has reached maturity. It is of most value for hay, 

 being rather coarse for pasture. Its seeds are large and abundant and easily 

 harvested. As it has been found to grow well under cultivation, it may be 

 recommended especially for use in mixtures with other grasses. 



INDIAN GRASS 



Indian grass is a tall, palatable, tufted grass sparingly distributed 

 over sand-hill pastures in the southern Plains, but it seldom occurs 

 in pure stands except on fairly moist bottom land. Cattle relish this 

 grass so much that they have nearly eliminated it, except in the pro- 

 tection of rank-growing shrubs. The large tawny-haired seeds are 

 easily broadcast but difficult to drill, except with special mechanism. 

 The prompt germination and strong seedling vigor of this species are 

 noticeably helpful in establishing stands. This grass continues active 

 growth later in the fall than the bluestems and other closely related 

 species but is equally slow in renewing growth in the spring. 



GIANT REEDGRASS AND BLOWOUT GRASS 



Giant reeclgrass and blowout grass are noted for the prompt and 

 effective manner in which they occupy and stabilize active sand 

 dunes and blowout areas. Although lacking in palatability in com- 

 parison with many other species, they serve an important and useful 

 purpose in overcoming the effects of serious wind erosion in sandy 

 localities (fig. 17). After stabilizing an area, they are gradually 



NN&4 



Figuke 17. — Blowout grass naturally stabilizing a sand dune near Waynoka, 

 Okla., showing giant reedgrass, the tall grass in the center background. 



