Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1895-09-13
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SAND BINDING GRASSES.



Plants That Protect the Land From the
Ravages of Sea and Wind.
The forthcoming annual report of the
department Of agriculture contains some
interesting data concerning sand binding
grasses, by Professor f. Lamson- Serb
ner, expert in grasses. He makes plain
the fact that "all sand binding or soil
binding grasses have strong creeping
roots, so called, which are really modi-
fed underground stems " Following
are some of the interesting items CLEAN
ed in advance from the professor pa
per by the New York Sun. To the far
north on tie Atlantic coast sea lyme
grass is conspicuous sand binder. Be
low Maine MARIAN is the leading
species. This gives way south Of Mary
land to bitter panic grass which extends
so Florida and around some parts Of the
gulf coast. There are several important
sand binders among the grasses along
the southern borders as the ST. Angus
tine grass and creeping panic.
In the interior regions away from the
influence Of salt water, the sand binders
are usually represented by other but no
less valuable species. Running mesquit
and several grama grasses are valuable
as sand binders on the mesas of Ari-
iona and western Texas. The propaga-
ton Of sand binding grasses may be eff
fectod Ivy seed when prOcurable, but the
better way in most cases is to transplant
cuttings Of the creeping root stocks
The best known and one Of the most
important Of all sand binders is the
sand reed, otherwise known as MARIAN
grass. This grass is common all along
the coasts Of northern and western Eu
rope and ON the Atlantic coast from Vir-
ginia northwmd. Below its southern
limit grasses Of other kinds take its
place. 1t is not confined to salt water
regions, but grows in abundance along
the shores Of the great lakes Marian
grass has been introduced along the Pa
cific coast. near SAN Francisco, for the
purpose Of binding the sand dunes there
The town and habor of ProviHcotown,
Cape Cod, owe their preservation to this
grass A one time ProvincotoVn had
beach grass committee clothed with
power to enter any man S Enclosure, sum
mer or winter and set out ma1ram or
beach grass as il was called. if the sand
was uncovered or movable. Sand stMms,
once the terror Of the town, were thus
entirely prevented.
Hardly les important than MARIAN
as sand binder is the sea lyme grass,
which has stout stems from TO feet
high and long, sharp pointed leaves.
eru coast Of the United States. A closely
related grass with similar habits Of
growth Is found ON the Atlantic coast
from Maine northward and on the
shores Of Lake Superior. The Digger
Indians Of the northwest use the seeds
Of the lyme grass for food
South Of the range Of marram grass
on the Atlantic coast bitter panic grass
/ may be utilized as a sand binder. 1t
grows i'll sand along the seashore from
| Connecticut southwark The leaves are
/ very bitter t. the taste A conspicuous
grass Of the southern shores is water
oats. Its large spikes Of flowers are
| gathered for dry bouquets. a grass Of
| less growth thn those above described,
but much valued as a sand binder, is
salt grass, or alkali grass, as it Is called
in the interior. 1t is common along the
Atlantic and Pacific coasts and in the
deserts Of the west IN selling upon new
ground it sends out long root stalks,
often several yards in length, and from
these at intervals erect stems arise. An
area thus taken presents, during the first
few years, the striking appearance of
being cut into triangles, Quadrangles
and other geometrical figures.
A well known grass of the old world
is the Japanese lawn grass. 1t is one OF
the few grasses which are at the same
time good binders Of sands and excellent
forage plants. 1t is highly commended
as a lawn grass for sandy soils, and
doubtless would be better for that pur-
pose III southern cities than the rather
coarse st. Augustine grass. 1t sends out
runners which soon cover lawn with q
soft and firm carpet specially priced fol
tennis courts
The common reed is one Of the most
valuable Of grasses for binding the banks
of rivers subject to periodical floods. II
is very useful i'll converting swamps and
SldSHdHt lDo-h lutO uIy ldhu' II grove
along rivers and lakes from Maine tC
California. 1t is one Of the largest O.
native grasses. The Young shoots art
liked by cattle, and the mature stems
make the hest Of thatch. This grass re
sembles the cultivated reed, and Xix,
that species is occasionally grown fol
ornament
Storing Potatoes.
A perfect store place is capable of be
ing kept quite dark and cool, but quit,