BULLETIN 201, U. S. DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTURE. 



ANDROPOGON SCRffiNERIANUS Nash. 



Andropogon scribnerianus, the beautiful bluestem of the dry pine regions of Florida 

 and adjacent States, furnishes considerable feed early in the season, but, like the 

 remainder of the bluestems, the feed is of second quality. 



No. 8725 was collected near Jacksonville, Fla., June 8, 1907. The sample was 

 secured in full blossom, the plants being cut at the surface of the ground. Its per- 

 centage of moisture was 5.66. Other constituents (on a water-free basis) were as fol- 

 lows: Ash, 3.02; ether extract, 2.11; crude fiber, 39.38; nitrogen-free extract, 51.87; 

 protein, 3.62; pentosans, 28.44. 



ANDROPOGON TORREYANUS Steud. 



Andropogon torreyanus (white-topped beard-grass) is conspicuous upon prairies, 

 in the edges of swales, upon railroad embankments, and along roadsides where the 

 ground has been stirred or there is an accumulation of moisture, from Arizona to 

 eastern Texas and northward to Kansas and Nevada. It furnishes a large amount of 

 grazing, and in some situations, even in the valleys of southern Arizona, it furnishes 

 at times considerable crops of hay. While common upon the prairies in the eastern 

 limit of its range, in more arid regions it grows mainly in depressions or in places 

 which receive an accumulation of water from the nature of the surface drainage. In 

 the desert regions it is strictly a summer grass, starting to grow about the first of July 

 and maturing its seed in late September or early October, corresponding with the 

 rainy season. Farther east, in Texas, its period of development is entirely different. 

 There it may mature as early as June. 



Under proper conditions it grows readily from seed, and were it not for the fact 

 that its seed habits are poor (that is, the 6eeds are difficult to gather) it would be a 

 promising grass for cultivation. Like many other valuable native species, however, 

 its seed habits are such that it would be very difficult indeed to thrash the plants 

 after they are harvested, although the seed itself is produced in good quantity and is 

 unusually fertile. The grass is peculiar in having a distinctly characteristic and 

 pleasing aroma. (PI. IV. fig. 1.) 



No. 8394 was collected near Green, Tex., August 14, 1906. The sample was a trifle 

 overripe; about half of the seed had fallen, but the plant was still green. A few dead 

 leaves were attached to the lower part of the clump, which was cut 2 or 3 inches above 

 the ground. Its percentage of moisture was 8.37. Other constituents (on a water- 

 free basis) were as follows: Ash, 7.16; ether extract, 1.64; crude fiber, 36.78; nitrogen- 

 free extract, 48; protein, 6.42; pentosans, 23.51. 



ANDROPOGON VIRGINICUS L. 



Andropogon virginicus, the broom sedge of the East and South, is commonly looked 

 upon as a pernicious weed which gradually works into permanent pastures and 

 neglected places, driving out more valuable plants. Still it is persistent and fur- 

 nishes a great deal of fairly good pasture early in the season, and it often enters into 

 the composition of hay upon long-established meadows. 



No. 8727 was collected near St. Petersburg, Fla., June, 1907. The sample consisted 

 of root leaves only from burned-over ground; consequently, the analysis represents a 

 most favorable composition. 





Percent- 

 age of 

 moisture. 



Water-free basis (per cent). 



Material analyzed. 



Ash. 



Ether 

 extract. 



Crude 

 fiber. 



Nitrogen- 

 free 

 extract, 



Protein. 



Pento- 

 sans. 



Our sample No. 8727 



8.29 



8.40 

 6.80 



3.70 

 2.11 



33. 57 

 37.04 



44.48 

 47.82 



9.85 

 6.23 



23.89 

















7.03 



2.33 



36.54 



47.35 



6.75 











i Connecticut Report, 1879, p. 153; 1887, p. 103. Mississippi Report, 1895. p. 90. North Carolina Bui. 90b, 

 p. 5. U. S. Department of Agriculture Report No. 32, 1884, p. 126. Virginia Bui. 180, p. 96. 



