_ good ground in protected places it grows to the height of several feet. It is only par- 2a in 
tially killed through the winter. From the avidity with which it is eaten by all 
kinds of stock, the closeness of turf formed, its ability to resist almost any amount of 
tramping, and its rapidity of growth I think that it is a most valuable grass for this 
country. 
Mr. F. W. Thurow, of Harris County, Tex., says that at present Pas- 
palum platycaule furnishes about five-eighths of the pasturage in south- 
eastern Texas, forming a dense sod. Stock of all kinds seem to relish 
it, butis not as nutritious as Bermuda grass. (Plate 6.) 
Paspalum distichum. 
Several species of Paspalum have received attention in the South as 
being useful pasture grasses and very durable from their creeping and 
rooting habit. Paspalum distichum is one of these species. It grows 
principally in low, moist ground. Its stems and culms are mostly pros- 
trate and running, sending up here and there a few flower-bearing 
culms. It is found in the Southern States and Texas, thence to Cali- 
fornia. Farther south it is found in most tropical countries. Mr. W. 
A. Sanders, of Fresno County, Cal., writes recently as follows : 
_ Are you aware of the value of Paspalum distichum for seeding pond-holes that dry 
up or nearly so in autumn? Such ponds are usually spots of bare, stinking mud, but 
when well set to this grass will yield all the way up to 80 tons (in the green state) of 
autumn feed tor stock, especially valuable for cows first, then follow with sheep till 
every vestige is devoured. Surely it has an immense food value in such places. 
(Plate 7.) 
BECKMANNIA. 
_Beckmannia eruceeformis (Slough Grass). 
This genus is closely related to Panicum and has considerable re- 
semblance to some forms of Panicum Crus-galli. It grows abundantly 
in the Rocky Mountain Region from California and Oregon eastward 
as far as Iowa and Minnesota. It is found in marshy ground and in 
sloughs, particularly in the neighborhood of streams. 
It usually grows in tufts, and isof a coarse growth, the stout, roughish 
culms rising to about 3 feet in height; the thickish leaves are about 
half an inch wide and 6 to 8 inches long. These, as well as the loose, 
long sheaths, are strongly marked with numerous parallel veins. The 
panicle is generally long and narrow, from 6 to 10 inches long, and half 
an inch to an inch wide, composed mostly of many very short, closely- 
set branches, which are more or less interrupted below where the 
branches are generally longer, sometimes 2 inches long and erect. ; 
The spikelets are crowded very closely together on the one-sided 
spikes, and each one consists of a pair of thickish, compressed, inflated, 
boat-shaped, empty glumes, and between these, one lanceolate, acute 
flowering glume, of thinner texture, with its still thinner palet, and the 
stamens and styles. These are represented in plate 8, a showing an- 
enlarged spikelet, b the same expanded to show the separate parts. In 
a a yor erry = eR rt rt 
