THE AGRICULTURAL GRASSES OF THE UNITED STATES. 7 



FesUica scabrella., the latter especially in California, Oregon, and Wash- 

 ington. 



The genus Calamagrostis (or Beyeuxia^ as it is now called) furnishes 

 several species which contribute largely to the vegetation of this re- 

 gion. They are mostly tall, stiff, and coarse grasses, but leafy and 

 some of them very nutritious. Of these Deyeuxia sylvatica ?iud Beyeiixia 

 stricta are the least valuable. Perhaps the best of them is Deyeuxia 

 canadensis, which is soft and leafy. Xext in value, probably, is De- 

 yeuxia aleuiica of California and Oregon, extending into Alaska. Cal- 

 amagrostis {AmmopliUa) Jonyifolia, cou^ued chiefly to the plains east of 

 the Eocky Mountains, is tall and reed-like, growing in dense clumi^s, 

 from 4 to G feet high. 



Several species of Andropogon are diffused from Arizona to British 

 America, but are not found on the western coast. The principal species 

 are Andropogon scoparius, A. furcatus and A, {Chrysopogon) nutans. 

 Some of them are known under the name of blue-joint. 



Other grasses also widely spread, but in more sparing quantity are 

 several species of Foa and Glycerin. Several varieties of Triticum {Ag- 

 ropyrum) repeus] or Couch grass, occur abundantly in saline soils, and 

 also Agropyrum glaucum, which is widely known as blue-stem and is 

 considered among the most nutritious of grasses. Brizopyrum spieatum 

 now dolled DisticMis maritima, and s(jme species of ISjwroljolus, also form 

 extensive patches or meadows in saline soils. Besides, there is a large 

 number of grasses of low growth and of more spreading habit, which are 

 known in the southwest and east of the Rocky Mountains under the 

 names of mesquite and buffalo grasses. The former belong mostly to 

 the genus Bouteloua, the most important species being B. racemosa 

 or tall mesquite, and B. oligostacliya or low uiesquite. The true buffalo 

 grass is botanically Buchloe dactyloides, which in many places forms ex- 

 tensive fields or areas. It is of a low and densely-tufted or matted habit. 

 Another similar grass, spreading out in low, wide patches is Munroa 

 squorrosa. The above-mentioned species form the larger proj^ortion of 

 the grassy vegetation of the great plains. 



GRASSES OF MONTANA. ' 



Prof. F. L. Scriber, of Girard College, Philadelphia, an accomplished 

 botanist, spent the past summer in Montana in an investigation of the 

 agricultural capabilities of the country, and he has furnished some val- 

 uable notes on the grasses of that region, from which we give the fol- 

 lowing selections : 



^'Beclimannia erucwformis. — Grows along the wet banks of streams, 

 rivers, and irrigating ditches, never away from a constant and abundant 

 supply of water. In favorable localities it attains the height of 3 feet, 

 and yields an abundance of tender herbage. Well adapted for cultiva- 

 tion. 



" HierocMoa borealis.— Common along the streams and rivers in the 



