The Portland daily press., 1895-09-02
SAND BINDING GRASSES.
Plants That Protect the Land from 'A0
Ravages of Sea and Wind.


Plants That Protect the Laho h0A INV
Ravages of Sea and wilma.
The forthcoming annual report OF the
department of agriculture contains some
interesting data concerning SAND plndlne
grasses, by Professor T. Lamson-ocrlo-
ner, expert in grasses. He makes PLAIN
the fact that ''all sand binding OF SOL
binding grasses have strong creeping
roots, SO called, which are really modl-
fed underground stems SolloWlhg
are some of the interesting lSems gleah-
ed in advance from the professor s pa
per by the New York Sun. 10 the Tar
north Oh the Atlantic coast sea lyme
grass is conspicuous sand plnder' BE-
low Maine MARIAN is the leadlhg
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 Dlnders
| are usually represented by other but no
| less valuable species. Running mesqult
and several grama grasses are valuable
as sand binders on the mesas OF Ar1-
iona and western Texas. The propaga-
| ton of sand binding grasses may be ef-
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
| Che coasts Of northern and western Eu-
rope and on the Atlantic coast from Vlr-
ginia northward. Below its southern
limit grasses of other kinds take It's
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-
| cific 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
| beach grass committee clothed With
power to enter any mans Enclosure, sum
mer or winter, and set out MARIAN, or
| beach grass, as it was called, it 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 6 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 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 in southern cities than the rather
coarse St. Augustine grass. 1t sends out
runners which soon cover lawn with
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. It is one of the largest OF
native grasses. The young shoots arc
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
at least partially under the ground level,