THE AGRICULTUKAL GRASSES OF THE UNITED STATES. 10^ 



agaiust the .stalk. Each spikelet contains several (three to eight; flow- 

 ers, with a pair of nearly equal and opposite three to live nerved glumes 

 at the base. 



, This grass as it occurs in the Eastern States is supposed to be intro- 

 duced from Europp, but on the great Western plains and in the Eocky 

 Mountains there are several varieties of it which are undoubtedly in- 

 digenous, as also several other species in the same region. 



Hon. J. S. Gould says : 



The farmers of the Uuited States unite in one contiunous howl of exereatiou against 

 this grass, audit seems strange, wheu every man's hand is against it, that it is not 

 extermiuated. Yet we could uever really satisfy ourselves that its presence iu mead- 

 ows and pastures was such an unmitigated curse. In lands -where alternate hus- 

 bandry is practiced, it must he admitted to be an evil of great magnitude. Itshardi- 

 uess is such, and its rapidity of growth is so great that it si)rings up much more 

 rapidly than any other crop that can be planted, and chokes it. Still it has many 

 virtues. It is perfectly cosmopolitan in its habits. It is found in all sorts of soils- 

 and climates. Its creeping roots are succulent, and very nutritive, and are greedily 

 de\ ovourtd by horses and cows. 



Professor Phares, of Mississippi, says: 



This is perennial, ^ ith stem 2 or 2^ feet high, so much like wheat as to be called also- 

 wheat gra^s. Cattle eat it heartily wheu greeu, and cut early it makes a good hay. 

 But it tills the ground with roots, is as difficult to cultivate amongst and exterminate 

 as coco or nut grass : and hogs are as fond of and root up the ground as industriously 

 to obtain the roots. Cows and horses are also fond of them. It should be destroyed 

 as soon as found in cultivated ground, but it is very valuable in permanent pastures, 



(Plate 115.) 



Agropyeum glavcum. (Blue stem. Blue joint.) 



This species, which has also been considered a variety of the preced- 

 ing, prevails on the Western plains from Texas to Montana, and is well 

 known to stockmen. It differs from the A. repens iu having a stouter^ 

 more rigid stem and leaves : the leaves, indeed, often becoming involute 

 and stiff. It is also of a light bluish-green color. The spike is gen- 

 erally shorter, denser, and with larger spikelets. 



Mr. Richard Gaines, of Colorado Springs, Colo., says : 



We think this is the best grass grown, superior to timothy or clover, AVe call it 

 blue stem, or blue joint : no richer hay can be made from anything known. 



HoRDEUM >'0D0SU3i. (Barley grass.) 



An annual or biennial grass, growing principally in alkaline soils and 

 on the borders of saline marshes, especially iu the Western States and 

 Territories. Although eaten by cattle when in a young state, it cannot 

 be claimed as of anything more than temporary value. The culms are 

 usually 1 to 1^ feet high, sometimes in moist places reaching 3 feet, and 

 varying as to smoothness or pubescence. The leaves are usually flat, 

 2 to 4 inches long, and about two lines wide. The flowers are in a clo<e, 

 cylindrical spike, about 2 inches long, with three spikelets at each joint 

 of the rachis. One (the central) spikelet is sessile and perfect; the two 



