194 FARM GRASSES OF THE UNITED STATES 



make the best combination for wet or overflowed lands 

 of any grasses whose seed can be had in the markets ; 

 but they are not adapted to very wet lands, such as 

 remain muddy throughout the season. For such lands 

 we have to depend at present on the chance growth 

 of wild grasses. In the South barn-yard grass, already 

 mentioned with the Japanese millets, grows on rather 

 wet lands. Its seed is easily saved, and it is worth 

 more attention than it has heretofore received in that 

 section, particularly on lands subject to June over- 

 flow. 



Wild rice {Zizania aquatica) is a very large, suc- 

 culent grass that grows even in shallow water, and fur- 

 nishes excellent green feed for cattle w T hen it can be 

 harvested. A dairyman near Washington city annu- 

 ally cuts a large area of it for soiling purposes, and re- 

 ports it to be excellent feed. Its seed furnishes valu- 

 able feed for fish and w r ater-fowl. A few dealers offer 

 seed of this grass. 



Large w^ater-GRASS (Paspalum dilatatuni) is said 

 to be a valuable grass on wet lands in the South. Its 

 seed has recently been placed on the market. There 

 are numerous other grasses, yielding feed of fair to 

 good quality, growing on swampy land in all parts of 

 the country, but those mentioned are the only ones of 

 w T hich seed is available at the present time. 



SANDY LANDS 



For drifting sands only one grass has thus far been 

 successfully used— namely : 



Beach-grass (Ammophila arenaria). — This is the 

 ' 'Marram" grass of Australia. Extensive planta- 



