The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-08-10

/
feet tan and has af the summit from three
to six slender flower spikes, At the lower
joints the culms are sometimes bent and
then they frequently take root. This grass
il better and inner in the Southern than IN
the Northern STATES The switch grass, OF
the fall panic grass. Panicum s5yydfum,
grows mostly in the eastern counties. but
It is also found on the seashore. Ii IS
nearly i've feet high and grows In clumps.
The genus Rhaiqris is found everywhere
in this state. This grass prefers wet
ground. when II reaches the height OF over
three feet. 1t has strong. creeping rni-
zones and its culm is stout and smooth. The
leaves arc long. sometimes ten inches. but
only about half an inch wide. The reed
canary grass is called Phniayis ayaSdissacsd
and the ribbon grass OF our gardens is .
variety OF this grass
The genus Authorization comes origin
ally from Europe and its variation, the So
called sweet vernal grass. 1ssfhozaat huns
odoruf,at. is much employed as lawn grass
on account OF its slender culnis and scanty
foliage.
OF the genus 4topscuyus. the so-called
Rocky mountain foxsal. Aiopscuyus 0ccident-
ouis, is indigenous in cavern Washington,
and the water foxtaiI, 4dlopecuyass gcnicu aus
var. 0ristuictts is found in W.T. meadows in
other parts of the state. TIE first one
yields Iarsef quantity of tiue hay than
the second one. and both are no more than
q foot In height.
OF the genus &ipu we find few species
in the state. Sgamens are usually three,
spikelefa one-how cred, and the towering
giume has hardened, sharp and bearded
pedicel or stipe at lis base. This stipe is
often dangerous to sheep. as it penetrates
into the wool and into the flesh. The diff
ferent species Of this genus--that is. Stipa
spagkeo. Hipa comofa Sipn uizidula-are
generally known under the name of beard
grass, bunch grass and feather grass: Sipn
spayfea Is also often called devils knitting
needles, porcupine grass and arrow grass,
on account Of its very long awns inclosing
the seed 1t is also sometimes called buff
falo grass.
The ASistida is worthless grass, growing
in punches about one foot high. The
flowers are purplish. with slender awns.
The regular bunch grass, Oyysopsis cuspi-
ddfn is q mountainous grass, growing in
very dense tufts. The culms are nearly
two feet high. with narrow leaves. The
panicle is over five feet long. and the splke-
lets each one lowered. The glumes in
close an ovate flower covered with silky
hairs, which is, however, not flower. but
the towering glume OF hard texture. 1t
grows usually on the sandy soil.
The genus PbJcum is very common
grass, and two Of its species, Phlenm p,u-
Hsse, or the so-called Herds grass, and
Fhleum dlpiaum, are to be found near Sc
attic. 1t is cultivated in this state, and it
makes excellent nav. Herds grass was
found by Timothy Herd in wet localities of
New Hampshire, hence it is also known
under the name Of Timothy. The culm of
this grass Is erect, with leaves about FIVE
inches long, and the base OF the culm is a
little dubious The flower spike is densely
Powered, and the roots are very fibrous.
Ii is one of the most valuable of grasses
and it yields large crops. and it can be
raised almost in any soil, moist or loamy,
sandy or gravelly. 1t is sometimes sown
with clover, but it is better to have the
timothy meadows free from other plants.
The clear seed weighs about forty-five
pounds to the bushel, and about twelve
pounds ought to be sown to the acre.
OF the genus Agyostis or the so-called red
top, dnetop and bent grass. the Aayostis
eyoyufa grows abundant in all the parts of
this state. 1t is three feet high with a
stout culm. with broadish leaves over five
inches long. The panicle is also over five
inches long and pale green. 1t makes good
hay. Other species are 1grostis ,cqairaipis
and Agyvsfis scub,u.
A very common grass in Washington is
wood reed grass, CHINA pcnduia of the
genus Ciaaa. 1t is slender grass, five feet
high, with creeping rhizoma and with a
long. loose, dropping panicIe. 1t grows
usually in swamps and shaded woods. and
on account of its leafy culms is good for
hay.
An excellent grass is also the so-called
blue joint or small reed grass Calamag,osfis
Cagsadensis. found in moist meadows near
the Canadian boundary. Its culms are
from three to five feet high and very hol-
low. and the leaves are one foot long and
about half an inch wide. fat and rough
The panicle is long and spreading. of pur-
plish color, the spikelets short-stalked, and
at the base of the lowering glume are
silky white hairs. The stem sheath is
smooth. This very productive grass ought
to be more cultivated in this state. The
cattle relish it very much. Another species
of this grass, .Cdlnmagrostis syledtica. is also
found in Washington in sandy localities.
1t grows in tufts and is more coarse than
the previous one. 1t is also sometimes
called bunch grass, and in the scientific
world is also known under the name oil
Degearia syIratica.
The genus I,Ssefum is represented in this
state by Trisefum suJspicatuDa, purely
mountainous grass, sometimes only few
inches in height and sometimes two feet.
Its culms are erect and smooth, the PAN
icle spike-like and the spikelets two OF
three-howered. 1t is nutritious grass.
Now we are coming to the weli-known
grass, wild oats, Arena fatua, which is dit.
fused almost all over the world. 1t does
not differ very much from the cultivated
oat, arena sotiva. 1t differs in the pres.
ence of the long twisted arm, in
the smaller size of the grain, IN
having more flowers in the spikelets, and
in brown hairs which cover the towering
giume. Though very good as fodder, the
Aresaa fafsa is injurious TO any grain-field.
The org OF the cultivated cat Is believed
TO be " Id oat, and Professor J. Buchanan
succeeded in raising s'the potato-oat type, u
anu ..the white Tartarian oat" from grain
OF .Aread 1afad. There appears also to be a
great tendency in the cultivated oat TO de-
generals on std clay soils into weed oats. ~
The fall cat grass, evergreen grass, OF
meadow cat grass, A,7headfk0am Gueaaceaan,
| is much valued on account OF its rapid,
vigorous growth and productive heritage.
The culms are from two TO four feet high,
with four or i've leaves each. the sheaths
smooth but the leaves are rough. The
spikelets are on short pediceis and the
panicle is loose, nearly ten inches long.
This grass is found but scarcely in Wash.
| ington