42 



BULLETIN 201, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



SITANION LONGIFOLIUM J. G. S. 



The genus Sitanion in general does not contain grasses which are considered to be 

 of much value for either pasture or hay. Sitanion longifolium, however, grows in 

 large clumps and furnishes a small amount of very valuable grazing up to the time it 

 heads out. After this the awns and brittle spikes are very annoying, but when these 

 have disappeared, in late maturity, it is again relished by stock. The feed produc'ed 

 by it appears to be of very fair quality early in the season, but it is small in amount. 



No. 9555 was collected near Prescott, Ariz. , Sept. 7, 1908. Its percentage of moisture 

 was 7.08. Other constituents (on a water-free basis) were as follows: Ash, 7.02; ether 

 extract, 2.18; crude fiber, 35.08; nitrogen-free extract, 47.89; protein, 7.83; pentosans, 

 26.69. 



SITANION PUBIFLORUM J. G. S. 



So far as forage value is concerned, the remarks under Sitanion longifolium apply 

 equally well to S. pubiflorum. 



No. 8341 was collected near Ashfork. Ariz., May 30, 1906. The specimen was com- 

 pletely headed out, but was mostly under blossom. It was cut lh to 2 inches high. 

 Its percentage of moisture was 8.13. Other constituents (on a water-free basis) were 

 as follows: Ash, 19.51; ether extract, 1.55; crude fiber, 31.64; nitrogen-free extract, 

 38.59; protein, 8.71; pentosans, 12.18. 



SPARTINA CYNOSUROIDES (L.) Willd. 



The giant cord-grass (Spartina cynosuroides) is a familiar species in lowland pastures 

 and meadows of the States as far west as Colorado and Texas. Like the other two 

 species of this genus discussed in this report, it is rank, tough, and wiry, but in spite 

 of this it makes a very fair quality of hay and is readily grazed by stock, especially 

 when young. The hay it produces, if cut in proper season and when not too rank, is 

 of very good quality and weighs heavily. Its natural habitat is in moist bottoms and 

 swales, where it may often be found growing almost pure, but never forming tussocks. 

 On the other hand, like S. gracilis, the culms are isolated, and it propagates almost 

 entirely by running rootstocks. 



No. 8796 was collected near Fargo, N. Dak., August 10, 1907. The sample was in 

 late blossom in an entirely green and fresh condition, but coarser than is usually cut 

 for hay. It was harvested 3 inches above the ground . 





Percent- 

 age of 

 moisture. 



Water-free basis (per cent). 



Material analj'zed. 



Ash. 



Ether 

 extract. 



Crude 

 fiber. 



Nitrogen- 

 free 

 extract. 



Protein. 



Pento- 

 sans. 





5.03 



7.20 

 6.10 



1.77 

 2.27 



37.50 



36.75 



46.16 

 47.22 



7.37 

 7.66 



26.04 

















6.16 



2.23 



36.79 



47.16 



7.64 











i Canada Central Experiment Farm Bui. 19, p. 32. Connecticut Report, 1889, p. 245. Iowa: Bui. 11, 

 pp. 456, 478; Bui. 56, pp. 506, 507. Montana Report, 1902, p. 67. South Dakota: Bui. 40, p. 94; Bui. 114, 

 p. 546. U. S. Department of Agriculture Report No. 32, 1884, p. 125. 



SPARTINA GRACILIS Trin. 



Spartina gracilis is the species commonly known as the small cord-grass, in contra- 

 distinction to the giant cord-grass (S. cynosuroides). Unlike the larger species, this 

 one seldom, if ever, grows in pure stands. On the other hand, it is found in scattering 

 individuals among other vegetation, from the Dakotas and Kansas westward to Cali- 

 fornia. It is almost invariably found in somewhat alkaline soils, in moist situations 

 in river and lake bottoms, and other places of a similar nature. It is a tough, wiry 



