THE AGRICULTURAL GRASSES OF THE UNITED STATES. 7 



Festuca 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 stud Beyenxia 

 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 aleutica of California and Oregon, extending into Alaska. Cal- 

 amagrostis (AmmopliiJa) longifoUa, confined chiefly to the plains east of 

 the Eocky Mountains, is tall and reed-like, growing in dense clumps, 

 from 4 to 6 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 Glyceria. 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 spicatum 

 now. culled Distichlis maritima, and some species of Sjmroholus, iilso 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 Eocky Mountains under the 

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

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

 or tall mesquite, and B. oligostacliya or low mesquite. 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 proportion of 

 the grassy vegetation of the great plains. 



GRASSES OF MONTANA. 



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

 botanist, spent the past summer in Montana in au 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 vselections : 



^'Beckmannia erucafonnis.—Gvovrs 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 horealis. — Common along the streams and rivers in the 



