Middletown transcript., 1895-08-31
SAND BINDING GRASSES.
Plants That Protect the Land From the
Rayaces of Sea and Wind.

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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-S -Scrib-
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 professors pa
per by the New York Sun. To the far
north on the Atlantic coast sea lyme
grass is a conspicuous sand binder. Be-
low Maine MARIAN is the leading
species. This gives way south of Mary
land to bitter panic grass, which extends
to 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-
zona and western Texas. The propaga-
tion of sand binding grasses may be eff
fected by 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 northward. Below its southern
limit grasses of other kinds take its
place. It 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
cifio coast, near San Francisco, for the
purpose of binding the sand dunes there.
The town and harbor Of Provincetown,
Cape Cod, owe their preservation to this
grass. At one time Provincetown had o
beach grass committee clothed with
power to enter any man s inclosure, sum-
mer or winter, and set out MARIAN, or
beach grass, as it 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 sand binder is the sea lyme grass,
which has stout stems from to feet
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 sand binder. It
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 sand binder, is
salt grass, or alkai grass, as it is called
in the interior. It 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 we'll known grass of the old world
is the japanese lawn grass. It is one Of
the few grasses which are at the same
time good binders Of sands and excellent
forage plants. It 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. It 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
Of grasses for binding the banks |
Of rivers subject to periodical floods. It |
is very useful in converting swamps and
stagnant pools into dry land. It grows |
along rivers and lakes from Maine to |
California. It 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