64 THE AGRICULTUKAL GRASSES OF THE UNITED STATES. 



line long 5 the outer glumes unequal, tbin, and nerveless, the upper one 

 about half as long as the flower, the lower one, still shorter, obtuse or 

 truncate ; the flowering glume and palet are of nearlj^ equal length, 

 membranaceous, lead-colored, smooth; the glume acute; the palet 

 obtuse. 



Professor Phares sajs : 



It grows abundantly and luxuriously on many uncultivated fields and commons, 

 and furnishes grazing from April till frost. It thrives under much grazing and many 

 mowings, and grows promptly after each if the soil be moist enough. Cattle and 

 horses are fond of it if frequently cut or grazed down, but-if allowed to remain un- 

 touched long they will not eat it unless very hungry, as it becomes tough and unpal- 

 atable and probably difficult to digest. 



Professor Killebrew also speaks favorably of it and recommends it 

 for trial under cultivation. (Plate 50.) 



Sporobolus cryptandrus. 



This species grows chiefly in sandy soil. It is stouter than the pre- 

 ceding, growing in loose tufts ; the culms frequently bent at the lower 

 joints, then rising erect to the height of 2 or 3 feet. The leaves are mostly 

 near the base, where tliejoints of the culms are short ;, here the sheaths are 

 short and the blades of the leaves 5 to 6 inches long ; the upper sheaths 

 become longer and the blades shorter ; the leaves are flat, but become 

 involute in dry weather. The top of the sheath is fringed with fine 

 soft hairs. The long and narrow panicle is for a long time completely 

 inclosed in the very long sheath of the upper leaf, but finally emerges 

 except the base and becomes more or less spreading. The full panicle 

 is from 6 to 12 inches long, the branches mostly alternate or scattered, 

 the lower ones about 1 inch apart and 2 inches long, the ux)per ones 

 much closer and shorter, all flowering nearly to their bases with the 

 spikelets short stalked and appressed. 



This species is very common in sandy fields in the Northern and 

 Southern States, as well as over all the dry plains west of the Missis- 

 sippi River, extending from British America to Mexico, where it fur- 

 nishes a portion of the wild y)asturage. It deserves observation and 

 experiment as to its value. (Plate 51.) 



Sporobolus heterolepis. 



This species grows in dense, firmly-rooted tufts, principally west of the 

 Mississippi Rivw, from British America to Texas. The culms are IJ to 

 3 feet high, erect, smooth. The radical leaves are very long and nar- 

 row ; those of the culm, 3 or 4, with long sheaths and blades, becoming 

 involute when dry. The panicle is from 3 to 8 inches long, rather nar- 

 row and loose ; the branches, two to three together, slender, and with 

 few rather distant flowers. The spikelets are one-flowered, sessile or 

 nearly sessile, on the slender branches; they are about two lines long, 

 unequal, acutely long-pointed, the lower one a little shorter and the 

 upper a little longer than the flower. The flowering glumes and palet 



