NATIVE PASTURE GRASSES OF THE UNITED STATES. 



35 



a fair quality of hay and is not usually grazed where other palatable feeds occur. 



(PI. IX, fig. 1.) 



No. 9551 was collected near Seligman, Ariz., September 6, 1908. The sample was 

 in full blossom and was harvested close to the ground. 





Percent- 

 age of 

 moisture. 



Water-free basis (per cent). 



Material analyzed. 



Ash. 



Ether 

 extract. 



Crude 

 fiber. 



Nitrogen- 

 free 

 extract. 



Protein. 



Pento- 

 sans. 





6.43 



9.44 

 9.49 



4.45 

 2.38 



35.27 

 32.74 



39.32 

 47.45 



11.52 



7.94 



21.21 

















9.48 



2.90 



33.37 



45.42 



8.83 











i Connecticut Report, 1879, p. 155; New Mexico Bui. 17, p. 37; U. S. Department of Agriculture Report 

 No. 32, 1884, p. 125. 



PANICUM VIRGATUM L. 



The common switch-grass (Panicum virgatum) is familiar and conspicuous on account 

 of its large stature. It extends from the East to the Middle West. In the Plains 

 region it mostly inhabits the moist situations. It seldom forms a pure growth over 

 any extended areas, but is commonly found in large bunches several feet across and 

 3 to 4 feet high. It is a coarse, rank, smooth species, with good seed habits, and it 

 adapts itself to cultivation very well. It has been considered by some as rather prom- 

 ising for domestication. 



No. 9337 was collected near Henrietta, Tex., July 1, 1908. The sample was just 

 beginning to head out and was cut 4 inches high. 





Percent- 

 age of 

 moisture. 



Water-free basis (per cent). 



Material analyzed. 



Ash. 



Ether 

 extract. 



Crude 

 fiber. 



Nitrogen- 

 free 

 extract. 



Protein. 



Pento- 

 sans. 





5.95 



5.64 

 6.30 



2.05 

 2.26 



37.20 

 33.28 



50.44 

 51.60 



4.67 

 6.56 



21 63 



Average of 16 others l 











Average of all 





6.26 



2.25 



33.52 



51.52 



6.45 











i Canada Central Experiment Farm Bui. 19, p. 28. Colorado Bui. 12, p. 30. Connecticut Report, 1879, 

 p. 155; 1887, p. 103. Iowa Bui. 56, p. 480. Mississippi Report, 1895, p. 92. North Carolina Bui. 90b, p. 4. 

 South Dakota Bui. 40, p. 36. Tennessee Bui. 3, vol. 9, p. 112. U. S. Department of Agriculture Report 

 No. 32, 1884, p. 125. West Virginia Report, 1891, p. 35. Wyoming Bui. 87, p. 68. 



PAPPOPHORUM APERTUM Munro. 



Pappophorum apertum is a perennial bunch grass with a long, white, spikelike head, 

 common in the moister situations from western Texas to Arizona. It is never very 

 abundant and almost never forms a continuous growth . On the other hand, it is found 

 scatteringly among other species, thus simply adding to the sum total of the feed and 

 not imparting any distinctive character to it. 



No. 8393 was collected near Green, Tex., August 14, 1906. The sample was overripe, 

 the seed having very largely dropped off, and there were some dry leaves at the base. 

 It was harvested about 3 inches above the ground. Its percentage of moisture was 

 8.29. Other constituents (on a water-free basis) were as follows: Ash, 8.85; ether 

 extract, 1.68; crude fiber, 34.87; nitrogen-free extract, 48.26; protein, 6.34; pento- 

 sans, 24.11. 



PASPALUM DILATATUM Poir. 



Paspalum dilatatum is a coarse, wide-leaved, perennial species, widely distributed 

 from Virginia to Florida and westward to the arid portion of western Texas. It is 

 partial to low, moist grounds and produces in such situations a valuable part of the 



