18 THE AGRICULTURAL GRASSES OF THE UNITED STATES. 



least valuable. Perhaps the best of them is Calamagrosiis canadensis, which is soft 

 and leafy. Next, perhaps, in value is Calamagrosiis aleutica, of California and Oregon, 

 extendiDg into Alaska. Calamagrosiis longifolia, confined chiefly to the plains east of 

 the Rocky Mountains, is tall and reed-like, growing in dense clumps, from four to six 

 feet high. Several species oi'.Andropogon are diffused from Arizona to British Amer- 

 ica on the plains, bnt are not found on the western coast. They are, however, not 

 properly called bunch grass, as their habit of growth is more spreading. The princi- 

 pal species are Andropogon scoparius, A. f iircatvs, and A. nutans. Some of them are 

 known through the plain region as blue-joint or blue-stem. Others, more sparingly 

 spread, are several species of Poa and Glyceria. Several varieties of Triticum repens 

 or couch grass occur abundantly in saline soils, and are among the most UTitritious of 

 grasses. Brizopyrum spicatum and species of Vilfa and Sporobolus also form extensive 

 patches or meadows in saline soil. Besides the grasses already mentioned there are 

 a large number of low growth and more diffused habit, which are known in the South- 

 west and east of the Rocky Mountains under the names of mesquit and bwffalo 

 grasses. The former belong mostly to the genus Bouteloua, the most important species 

 being B. curtipendula, or tall mesquit, and B. oUyostacliya and B. hirsuta, or low mes- 

 quit. The true buffalo grass is botanically Bnchloe dactyloides, which in some places 

 forms extensive fields of its low and densely-tufted growth. Another similar grass 

 spreading out m low patches is Mnnroa squarrosa. The above-mentioned species form 

 the larger proportion of the grassy vegetation of the great ]3lains. 

 Respectfully, 



GEO. VASEY, 



Botanlat. 



General Benjamin Alvord. 



REPORTS ON GRASS AlS'D GRASS CULTURE FROM ALL PARTS OF THE 



UN PTE D STATES. 



lu 1882 circulars were sent out by the Commissioner of Agriculture 

 to agriculturists and farmers in all x)arts of the country asking- infor- 

 mation as to the natural pasture grasses of this district, >Yhat kind of 

 natural and cultivated grasses were used for hay and pasture, and what 

 grasses could be suggested for experiment. A large number of reports 

 were received and compiled by the assistant botanist, W. P. Conant, and 

 a summary of the results is herewith given. As a general thing the cor- 

 respondents were not acquainted with the botanic or technical names of 

 the grasses, and gave the common or local name where there was one. It 

 frequently happens that tlie same grass will have different local names 

 even in places not far remote from each other, and also that the same 

 name will be applied to grasses very unlike. Many have no common 

 name and are referred to as wild grass, woods grass, swamp grass, &c. 



So, in examining the reports, a perplexing difficulty was often en- 

 countered in not being able to determine to what species a grass be- 

 longed from the name given. In some instances this difficulty was ob- 

 viated by obtaining specimens of the iMants referred to ; in others they 

 were not sent or failed to reach here. 



The reports were sent in with commendable promptness, and all 

 evinced a great interest in the subject, and expressed a strong desire to 

 aid the undertaking by all means in their power. 



