THE AGRICULTUEAL 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 Europe, but ou 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 United States unite in one continuous howl of excreation against 

 this grass, audit seems strange, when every man's hand is against it, tliat it is not 

 exterminated. Yet "we could never really satisfy ourselves that its presence in mead- 

 ows and X'ftstnres was such an unmitigated curse. In lauds Avhere alternate hus- 

 bandry is xjracticed, it must be admitted to be an e^ilof great magnitude. Itshardi- 

 ness is such, and its rapidity of growth is so great that it springs up much mover 

 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 creepiug roots are succulent, and very nutritive, and are greedily 

 devovoured by horses and cows. 



Professor Phares, of Mississippi, says: 



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

 wheat grass. Cattle eat it heartily when green, and cut early it makes a good hay. 

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

 as coco or nut grass ; and hogs are as fond of aud 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.) 



Agropyrum GLAUCU3I. (Blue Stem, Blue joint.) 



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

 ing, prevails on the Western i^lains from Texas to Montana, and is well 

 known to stockmen. It differs from the A. repens in having a stouter,, 

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

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

 erally shorter, denser, and with larger spikelets. 



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



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

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



HoRDEUM N0D0SU3I. (Barley grass.) 



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

 on the borders of saline marshes, especially in 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 close, 

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

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



