SOUTHERN CULTIVATOR. 
333 
■he supposed to be this plant, and thus describes it:— “The 
Stipa Juncca of Europe (as described by Linn^us) with 
■‘the awns nearly straight and without pubesence.’ The 
African variety figured by DasroNTAixs, has twisted pu- 
bescent awns, and blunt seeds; the iMissouri plant has a 
nerved, chaffy, loose calyx tiliforinly accundnaied to more 
than double the length of the seed, which last is acutely 
stipitated, almost one third of its length, tlie stipe pubes- 
cent, the seed rather obtuse, distinctly articulated to the 
awn which is smooth and slender, scarcely contorted and 
nearly half a foot in length. This species grows very 
‘Com.monly on the grassy plains of Missouri.'’ A speci- 
men of this grass was found in herbarium of our famed 
pioneer traveller, Lewis. Believing that it was not the 
European species, I sent to Prof Gray, of Boston, one 
of the very specimens kindly presented to me by Mr, 
•Cloud, at the same time stating that I propose calling it 
S. Lewisi. Lewis’ Grass, after the first discoverer. He 
agreed with me about its being the iMissouri plant des- 
cribed by NuTTALL,and also that it was the same species 
as that found in Lewis’ herbarium, but informed me that 
it had already been described by Tri.vius under the name 
<of Stipa Sparta. I have found the Latin description in 
“ Kunth’s Enumeratio Plantarium Tom. 1, p. 179.” He 
draws the following distinction between the European 
and American species : — “The American species has the 
glumes twice as long as the perianth. The European, 
(viz : Juncca) has the glumes longer than the perianth by a 
third. The awms of the American is more than three times 
-as long as the glumes while the European has the awns 
six times as long as the glumes.” I must here add, how- 
ever, that Prof Gray has some doubts whether the Euro- 
pean and American species may not yet be found identi- 
cal. 
The difference between this species and the Oat like 
Grass can be detected at a glance by the very long awns 
of the Lewis’ Grass, which are fully five times the length 
of the Oat like Grass. Indeed, they belong to different 
genera. No. 16 is an admirable pasture grass, relished 
by cattle above all other grasses. It succeeds admirably 
at Mr. O’Hear’s cattle farm, and on our whole seaboard. 
It is, however, a short grass, only fit for grazing, and is 
said not to flourish beyond the atmosphere of the ocean. 
No. 17. This species has for many years existed on the 
plantation of Mr. Mathews, on James’ Island. He repre- 
sented it as green in winter and an excellent winter and 
• spring grass. Elliott says : (vol. 1, p. 10*2) “This plant 
appears to be worth cultivating as a spring grass. I have 
seen it on James’ Island in a dry soil.” No. 18. Arrhem.a- 
theruvi Avenaccum — Beam’s Common Oat like Grass — 
(Lindley’s System, p. 305.) Holcus Avenaceus, Scop — 
(English Botany t. 813). Avena elatior, Linn. Avena 
elatior — (Muhlenburg’s Catalogue, Dr. Eaton’s Botany, 
p. 48). Arrhenatherum avenaceus — (Hooker’s British 
Flora, p. 39, Dr. Gray’s Botany of the Northern States.) 
This is one of the species cultivated by iMr. Stanford, Mr. 
Cloud, Mr. Peters and others, and highly recommended. 
By some Botanists it has been supposed to be a species dif- 
fering from the European. I have compared specimens, 
with those from Pennsylvania — those found in an unculti- 
vated state on the borders of the Santee, and also those sent 
to .me by Mr. Stanford, and can find no characters by 
which they differ. One Botanist, I am informed, has ex- 
pressed an opinion, that, although of the same species, it 
may have originated in America, from the fact of its wide 
diffusion. To this may be remarked that we have no evi- 
dence that the same species has in any instance been cre- 
ated in two widely separated localities. The fact that 
this species is only naturalized in a few localities in the 
Atlantic States and the rapid manner in which seeds are 
spread v/ill easily account for its general extension, and 
leads to the conclusion that it was brought to this country 
among other seeds. It was, therefore, a rare species in 
Pennsylvania in the time of iNk hi.enrurg, and is express- 
ly given as cultivated — (p. 1^3';. I regard it, therefore, 
as the European species transplar.tt d at an etulv period 
into America, having become naturalized, and flourishing 
most in soils best adapted to its growth, more especially 
in the far We.^t. 
I regard Nos. 9, M, 17 and H as winter grasses that 
are deserving of the careful cuhivaiion anil tlie juuient ex- 
periments of ilic AgricultuiAi In CNUukision, 1 cannot 
but express the liope that it may not be regarded as too 
presumptuous if a gentle him should be triven to plant- 
ers not to condemn hastily, any grass if it has not suc- 
ceeded on the first trial. 8oils and culture differ. The 
man who, with a poor, badly cultivated soil, should pro- 
nounce the cultivation of Corn a humbug, because he has 
only succeeded in making 3 bushels to the acre, might be 
regarded as having prmiounccd a hasty decision. 
Yours truly, John B.\( iiaiAN, 
Waulesa, Whitfield Countv, Ca., S-.pt. 11, is.')."). 
Charleston, S. C, Oct. 3d, 1S5.'). 
Editors Southern Cultivator — Having arrived at 
home and received the proof sheets of the above, I have 
had leisure as well as an opportunity of consulting au- 
thorities, and comparing specimens, I believe my desig- 
nation of the species as given above, wliioh was nearly all 
I intended in the article, will be found correct. 
If I have not already tresspassed too much I will 
yet crave your indulgence whilst I make a few suggestions 
that may be of some benefit to farmers, more especially 
those who arc desirous of cultivating the grasses for pa.s- 
turage and hay, and of renovating their soils by a rotation 
of crops. 
1. Preserve speciuiens of the rarwus grasses, in order 
that you may, at all times, know what you are cultivating, 
and that you may be saved from imposition or other dis- 
appointments. For this purpose prepare a volume of 
folio size, with alternate leaves of soft, spongy and com- 
mon writing paper. On the soft paper, on the right, at- 
tach your specimens of grasses. On the top border, the 
breadth of the paper, paste a strip of writing paper an 
inch broad, on which the name of the genus should be 
written. The specimen having been pressed for a week 
between several folds of spongy paper and changed once 
or twice into dry paper, must now, in its dried state, be 
carefully pasted on the right page of your book — a strip 
of paper with the name of the species attached fastens the 
stem of the plant to the paper near the bottom. On tlie 
opposite, or left side, containing the writing paper, you 
make your notes on the species — your experiments in cul- 
tivating it, &c. I'he Book must be paged. An alpha- 
betical index of each genus directs to the page where the 
specimen can, in a moment, be referred to. I have seen 
in England, Germany and France small volumes in which 
the various grasses were pasted on one side of tlie page, 
and on the other, printed descriptions and directions, iu 
the language of the several countries, giving the names, 
qualities and mode of cultivation. A work of this kind, 
like that of Ravenei.l on the JIusci, would be invaluable 
in our country. 
2, I^l the S'lul’i raise her turn (I'rass Sxds. 'i'hi.s will 
save them not only c.xpenscs, but secure tlicm against 
many impositions and disapj)ointmcnt.-i, as the secd.s when 
old, have lost their vegetative powei.'<. Tlicre is in raid- 
ing our own grass seeds another advaninge which ap- 
pears to have i.^eeii; in a great mea.surc, oa r-rloodied. You 
will, in this case, by successive sowing of Southern gras.s 
seeds, produce varieties of gl asses springing out of Euro- 
pean ov Northern species, adapted to your own soil and 
climate. Our poniologists of C^arolina, Georgia and Ala- 
bama — the two brolheis Si mmer, Van Buken, Dr. Bald- 
