The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1895-09-19
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SAND BINDING GRASSES.
Plants Tat Protect the Land From the
Ea,ages of sea and Wind.

Plants Tat Protect the Land From the
Ea,ages of sea and Wind.
The forthcoming annual report Of the
department # agriculture contains some
interesting data concerning sand binding
grasses. by Professor + Lamson- Serb
ner, expert IN grasses. He makes plain
the fact that "all sand binding or soil
binding grasses have strong creeping
roots, - called, which are really mudI-
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 thu Atlantic coast sea lyme
grass IS conspicuous sand binder Be
low Maine marram Is the Leading
species This gives way south of Mary
land to bitter panic grass winch extends
to Florida and around samc parts OF the
gulf coast There are several important
sand binders among the grasses along
the southern borders, rs the 81. Angus
tine grass and creeping panic.
In thu interior regions. away from the
influence Of salt water, the sand binders
arc usually represented by other bat no
less valuable species. Running mesquit
and several gram~ grasses are valuable
Is sand binders on the mesas Of Arr
IONA and western Texas The propaga-
ton Of SAND binding grasses may he eff
fertcd by seed when proeurable, but the
better way III most cases is 10 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.
Rinia north8ard Below its southern
limit grasses If ether kinds take its
place. 1t Is not confined to salt water
regions, but grows i'll abundance along
the shores If the great lakes. Marian
grass las been introduced along the Pa
cific coast, near san Francisco, for the
purpose Of binding the sand dunes there
The town and harbor OF Proylncetown,
Cape Cod, owe their preservation To this
grass. AT ole time Proyiucet0Wn had
beach grass committee clothed with
power 10 enter any man : inclosure, sum
mer or winter, and set ont MARIAN, or
beach grass. as 1t was called, if the sand
was uncovered or movable. Sand storms
once the terror Of the town, were thus
entirely prevented.
Hardly less important than MARIAN
as a sand binder is the sea lyme grass,
,al, loo f.o
high and long, sharp pointed leaves.
This species is common along the west
ern 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 MARIAN grass
on the Atlantic coast bitter panic grass
may be utilized as a sand hinder. 1t
grows in sand along the seashOre from
Connecticut southwark. The leaves are
very bitter to 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 than 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 seizing 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 lawn grass for sandy soils. and
doubtless would be better for that pur-
pose in southern cities than the rather
coarse St Augustine grass. 1t sends out
runners which soon cover lawn with a
soft and firm carpet specially priced for
tennis courts
The common reed is one of the most
valuable of grasses for binding the banks
of rivers subject to periodical floods. 1t
is very useful in converting swamps and
stagnant pools into dry land. 1t grows
along rivers and lakes from Maine to
California. 1t is one of the largest of
native grasses. The young shoots are
liked by cattle, and the mature stems
make the best of thatch. This grass re-
sembles the cultivated reed, and like
that species is occasionally grown for
ornament
Storing Potatoes.
A perfect store place is capable of be-
ing kept quite dark and cool, but quite
safe from frost. Therefore it should be