some parts of Colorado, and with very satisfactory results. (Plate 16.) 
_ what close, but becoming quite open and diffuse. The lateral panicles 
are shorter and partly inclosed by the sheath at the base. The branches 
“4 
2 By page es een ag 
Although so much esteemed in the South, it is considered a pest. in 
the Northern States. (Plate 15.) 
Panicum virgatum (Tall Panic Grass; Switch Grass). 
A tall perennial grass, 3 to 5 feet high, growing mostly in clumps in 
moist or even in dry, sandy soil, very common on the sea-coast, and 
also in the interior to the base of the Rocky Mountains. Thisisa good - 
and prolific grass if cut when young; when ripe it becomes harsh and 
unpalatable. Itformsa large constituent of the native grasses of the 
prairies, particularly in moist localities. Jt is said to be cultivated in 
Panicum agrostoides. (Redtop Panicum.) 
This is a perennial grass, commonly growing in large clumps in wet 
meadows or on the muddy margins of lakes and rivers. It grows 4 to 
6 feet high, is erect in habit, and developes its reddish panicles from 
several of the joints as well as at the apex. The stem is somewhat 
flattened and very smooth, as are the sheaths; the leaves are 1 to 2 
feet long, about half an inch wide, and somewhat rough on the margins 
and midrib. The terminal panicle is 6 to 12 inches long, at first some- 
of the panicle are mostly 1 or 2 inches long and rather densely flowered 
nearly to the base. The spikelets are a little more than a line long on 
very short pedicels, mostly racemose on one side of the branches, oblong, 
acute, the lower empty glume ovate, acute, half as long as the upper 
one, which is rather long-pointed ana five-nerved; the lower or sterile | 
flower is a little shorter than the longer glume and a little shorter than 
the perfect flower, which is oblong, obtuse, and under a lens shows a 
few beards at the apex. This grass produces a large amount of foliage, 
which makes fair hay if cut before flowering time; if left later it con- 
tains too many wiry stalks. It may be utilized as a hay crop in low 
grounds, but it is doubtful if it can be made productive on dry, tillable 
land. (Plate 17.) 
Panicum anceps. (Two-edged Panic Grass.) 
A perennial grass, when well developed resembling the preceding, but 
of a smaller, lighter growth, generally found in moist clay soil. It has a 
flattish erect stem, 2 to 3 feet high, with smooth leaves a foot or more 
long, of a bluish-green color, and mostly near the base of the stem. The. 
root-stock is thick, scaly, and creeping near the surface of the ground.’ 
The panicle is 6 to 12 inches long, with short branches near the top, the 
lateral branches 3°to 6 inches long, rather distant, erect or somewhat 
spreading. Usually there are also several smaller lateral panicles from 
the upper joints of the culm. The spikelets are about a line and a half 
long, a little longer than those of Panicum agrostoides, oblong, lanceo- 
late, a little curved, and sessile, or on very short pedicels. The lower — 
empty glume is broadly ovate, and about half as long as the five to 
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