me that the Wheat Grass was regarded as very good for hay. Switch Grass (often called Wild Red Top), grows well in some places and is much praised. A little Clover has been grown." "At Ft. Robinson (Sioux county), the grass vegetation is much lik: that at Chadron. The Buffalo Grass, Gramma, and Wheat Grass are abundant, but in addition there is a very considerable increase in the amount of Blue Stem. There is also to be found in considerable quantity, a small grass looking much like Buffalo Grass and often confounded with it. It may be called False Buffalo Grass (Munroa squarrosa). It is said to be far less valuable than Buffalo Grass. Near Crawford I observed a good field of Hungarian Grass."

IV. GRASSES AT THE STATE FAIR.

Some time before the State Fair I sent out through the state press, and also by personal let ter the following notice, viz:

I shall be glad to name grasses for counties intending to make grass exhibits at the coming State Fair. C. E. BESSEY. Some correspondence resulted, and as a consequence quite a number of the samples of grasses sent to the State Fair were labeled with their correct names.

In order to contribute to a more accurate knowledge of the names of some of the common wild grasses of the state I caused to be prepared a dozen or more bundles of our native grasses, which were then fastened up in a conspicuous place in Agricultural Hall. To each specimen there was attached a large label with the English name distinctly printed upon it, and also the proper scientific name. From the attention which this small showing attracted I feel warranted in saying that it contributed somewhat to a greater knowledge of, and interest in, the grasses on the part of those who visited the fair.

Many counties in different parts of the state made an exhibit of native and introduced grasses and forage plants. These I examined with some care and made many valuable notes. This part of the exhibit might be greatly increased in its value to the visiting public if the specimens were all labeled, and if upon each label some statements were made, as to the value of the grass for pasture or hay. I would urge upon the members of the Board, or such committee as may have the matter in hand, that a larger and better label should be required for displays of this kind. The "tag" now used is small, and the writing on it is necessarily so small that it is only with great difficulty that anything can be made out by the visitor who is in pursuit of information. Moreover, when the "tag" is hung by a string, as it usually is, the writing is in vertical lines. rendering it entirely illegible. The "tag "should be larger, more

nearly square, and with the hole and string for fastening upon one side.

V. SPECIMENS AND BOOKS.

Some considerable additions have been made to the collection of authentic specimens of the grasses of the United States in the University Herbarium. These have been arranged in such a manner as to be convenient for reference and study. Additions have been made, also, to the collection of books in which there are descriptions of the grasses of the world, and of particular groups or genera. The list now includes the following works, viz.:

Gray's Manual of the Botany of the Northern United States.

Coulter's Manual of the Botany of the Rocky Mountain Region.

Chapman's Flora of the Southern United States.

Watson's Botany of California.

Watson's Botany of the Fortieth Parallel. (Vol. V. of U. S. Geological Exploration.)

Rothrock's Botany of the Region west of the One Hundredth Meridian. (Vol. VI. of U. S. Geographical Surveys.)

Torrey's Reports of the Botany of the Pacific Railroad Route. (Various volumes of Pacific Railroad Reports.)

Vasey's Agricultural Grasses of the United States.

Vasey's Descriptive Catalogue of the Grasses of the United States.

Steudel's Synopsis Plantarum Graminarum.

Sowerby's Grasses of Great Britain.

Flint's Grasses and Forage Plants.

Beauvois' Agrostographie.

Kunth's Agrostographia.

Trinius' Species Graminum.

Trinius' Genera Graminum.

Trinius' De Graminibus,

Trinius' Clavis Agrostographiæ.

Irinius' Fundamenta Agrostographiæ.

Trinius & Ruprecht's Species Graminum Stipaceorum.

Nees' Glumaceæ Capensis.

Buchanan's Indigenous Grasses of New Zealand.

Jessen's Deutschlands Graser.

Sinclair's Hortus Gramineus Woburnensis.

Scheuchzer's Agrostographia,

Haller's Appendices to Scheuchzer's Agrostographia.

Hackel's Monographia Festucarum Europæarum.

Beal's Grasses of North America.

Buckman's British Grasses.

Andersson's Monographia Andropogonearum.

Du Mortier's Classification des Graminees.

Pratt's British Grasses and Sedges.

Preston's Pasture Grasses and Forage Plants.

VI. BOTANICAL GEOGRAPHY OF THE STATE.

The great area included within the boundaries of the State of Nebraska-an area far greater than that of the whole of New England, and more than nine times that of Massachusetts

renders necessary the division of the territory into botanical regions when we discuss its vegetation. This immense territory stretches through nearly nine degrees of longitude, and spans three degrees of latitude. At its lowest point (in Richardson county) it has an altitude of 880 feet above the level of the sea, and from this it stretches away westward and north-westward, up, up, up to more than 5,000, and even in one instance (Scott's Bluff in Cheyenne county), to fully 6,000 feet above the sea. We live on the eastern slope of the Rocky Mountains. The western line of the state. where it touches Wyoming, is higher than any mountain in Pennsyl vania or New York. It is only because the slope is so gentle and regular that we deny to the western elevations in Nebraska the title of mountains. But whether we call them mountains or not, the elevations themselves are mountainous in their height, and their effect upon vegetation is that of the mountains.

Down this great slope there rush a number of impetuous rivers, which carry to the sea the waters of the melting snows of the Colorado and Wyoming mountains. The Republican, the South Platte, the North Platte, and the Niobrara, are thus supplied with the waters which course swiftly down their steep channels. These are emphatically mountain streams, and as their waters rush down the great slope, they give moisture to the low lands adjacent to their beds, and which thus sustain a luxuriant grassy vegetation.

Three other important streams arise within the state, viz., the Loup river, with its many branches, the Elkhorn, and the Blue, the latter having, also, many branches. These are fed by the rains which fall into their drainage areas, and also by springs, which draw their waters from the subterranean supply originating perhaps in the far off mountains in the West.

These factors, along with others which need not be fully discussed here, such as soil, climate, rainfall, etc., etc., enable us to perceive a natural division of the territory of this state, into half a dozen botanical regions, each having certain marked peculiarities. Thus there is a region which may be called the South-eastern, including the valleys of the Blue, Nemaha, Weeping Water, and Salt Rivers. There is a second, the North-eastern, which includes the valleys of the Elkhorn and Papillion rivers. A third, the Central, which covers the Loup valley. A fourth, the South-western, including the Republican valley. A fifth, the Northwestern, including the Niobrara valley and the adjacent White river valley. And last, a sixth, the Western, which includes the region of the Lodge Pole and North Platte rivers.

VII. MAP.

The accompanying map was prepared with great care, in order to show the principal drainage areas, the contour lines marking the elevations in the state by differences of one thousand feet, and the division of the state into botanical regions. I have not attempted to draw lines separating the regions from one another, for the reason that in nature no such sharp lines are to be found.

VIII.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE REGIONS, WITH LISTS OF THE PRINCIPAL GRASSES.
The South-eastern Region.

This region includes about 12,000 square miles of territory south of the Platte river, and extends from the head waters of the Little Blue river on the West, to the Missouri river on the East. It is watered by the Little Blue, Big Blue, Nemaha, Weeping Water, and Salt rivers, and has an average elevation of about 1,400 feet above the level of the sea. It lies mainly south of the 41st parallel of latitude. The average annual rainfall as determined by a series of observations extending from 1878 to 1885, inclusive, is 2934 inches.

THE PRINCIPAL GRASSES of this region, that is, those which give character to the grass flora, are the following:

Old Witch Grass (Panicum capillare L.); a weed in fields.

Barn-yard Grass (Panicum crus-galli L.); an introduced weed, about barns, etc.

Small Panic-Grass (Panicum dichotomum L.); on high prairies.

Crab-Grass (Panicum sanguinale L.); an introduced weed in fields and about dwellings.

Switch Grass (Panicum virgatum L.); on rich or moist soils.

Yellow Foxtail (Setaria glauca Beauv.); an introduced weed in fields in autumn.

Green Foxtail (Setaria viridis Beauv.); an introduced weed in fields in autumn.

Hungarian Grass (Setaria italica Kunth). This valuable annual grass from the old world is much sown. The small headed varieties are known as Hungarian Grass, while those with greatly enlarged heads are called Millet.

Sand-bur (Cenchrus tribuloides L.); a vile and troublesome weed on sandy soils.

Cord Grass (Spartina cynosuroides Willd.); on moist soils.

Called also Bunch Grass.

Wild Rice (Zizania aqua'ica L.); in streams and ponds.
Big Blue Stem (Andropogon provincialis Lam.); on prairies.
Little Blue Stem (Andropogon scoparius Michx.); on prairies.
Bushy Blue Stem (Chrysopogon nu ans Benth.); on prairies.
Canary Grass (Phalaris arundinacea L.); a rank grass in moist places.
Beard Grass (Aristida purpurea Nutt.); growing in bunches on dry soil.

Porcupine Grass (Stipa spartea Trin.); on prairies, where it is often troublesome on account of its sharp-pointed fruits, which when ripe in early summer, penetrate the skins of animals. At other times the foliage affords a considerable pasturage.

Muhlenberg's Grass (Muhlenbergia glomerata Trin.); grows abundantly on rich moist soils. Muhlenberg's Grass (Muhlenbergia mexicana Trin.); with the last.

Timothy (Phleum pratense L.); commonly sown in fields.

Prairie Grass (Sporobolus asper Kth.); very common on prairies, large and tall.

Prairie Grass (Sporobolus vaginæflorus Torr.); very common on prairies, small and low.

Tickle Grass (Agrostis scabra Willd.); common on the prairies in the spring.

Red Top (Agrostis valgaris With.); sown in fields for its fine hay.

Blue Joint (Deyeuxia c nadensis Beauv.); common on low or moist ground.

Gramma (Bouteloua oligostachya Torr.); common on prairies, but slowly disappearing as the ground is cultivated.

Muskit Grass (Bouteloua racemosa Log.); with the last.
Buffalo Grass (Buchloe dactyloides Engl.); still persisting on the "Salt lands" at Lincoln, and
Occasionally found in the western parts of the region.

Reed Grass (Phragmites communis Trin.); in ponds and sloughs; grows eight to ten feet in height.

Prairie Grass (Koelerin cristata Pers.); common on the prairies, where it grows in bunches. Prairie Grass (Eatonia obtusata Gr.); with the last, which it resembles.

Candy Grass (Eragrostis major Host.); a native of Europe, which has come in as a worthless weed about buildings and by road sides.

Salt Grass (Distichlis maritima Raf.); a common grass on salt lands.

Orchard Grass (Dactylis glomerata L.); sown in fields for its excellent early hay.

Wire Grass (Poa compressa L.); a native of Europe, which resembles and often accompanies the next, but which is far less valuable.

Kentucky Blue Grass (Poa pratensis L.); common in yards and pastures, very valuable.
Meadow Fescue (Festuca elatior L.): occasionally sown for its excellent hay.

Wheat Grass (Agropyrum glaucum R. & S.); common on rich lands.

Squirrel-tail Grass (Hordeum jubatum L.); very common on the "Salt lands" at Lincoln, and by road sides and in fields, in early summer; useless and troublesome. Wild Rye (Elymus cana lensis L.); common on rich or moist soils.

The North-eastern Region.

This region lies north of the Platte river, and extends from the headwaters of the Elkhorn river eastward to the Missouri river. It includes an area of about 10,000 square miles. It is watered mainly by the Elkhorn and its tributaries, although the Papillion, and several other smaller streams afford water to considerable areas. The average elevation of this region is about 1,500 feet above sea level, and it extends from latitude 41° North to about 42° 457. The average annual rainfall, as shown by observations extending from 1878 to 1885 inclusive, is about 313 inches.

THE PRINCIPAL GRASSES of this region are the following:

Barn-yard Grass [Panicum crus-galli L.]; an introduced weed about barns, etc.

Switch Grass [Panicum virgatum L.]; on rich moist soils.

Yellow Fox-tail [Setaria glauca Beauv.]; an introduced weed in fields in the autumn.

Green Fox-tail [Setaria virid s Beauv.]; an introduced weed in fields in the autumn.

Hungarian Grass [Setaria italici Kuth.]; a valuable annual grass from the old world, now much grown in this region. The small headed varieties are called Hungarian Grass, while those with enlarged heads are known as Millet.

Sand-bur [Cenchrus tribuloid s L.]; a vile and troublesome weed on sandy soils.

Wild Rice [Zizania aquatica L.]; in streams and ponds.

Big Blue-Stem [Andropogon provincialis Lam.]; on prairies.

Little Blue-Stem [Andropogon scoparius Michx.]; on prairies, called also Bunch Grass.

Bushy Blue-Stem [Chrysopogon nutans Benth.]; on prairies.

Johnson Grass [Sorghum halepense L.]; occasionally grown for hay.

Porcupine Grass [Stipa spartea Trin.]; on prairies, where it often proves to be troublesome on account of its sharp-pointed fruits, which when ripe in early summer, penetrate the skins of animals At other times the foliage affords a considerable pasturage.

Muhlenberg's Grass | Muhlenbergia glomerata Trin.]; on rich moist soils.

Timothy [Phleum pratense L.]; commonly sown in fields.

Tickle Grass [Agrostis scabra Willd.]; common on prairies in the spring.

Red Top Agrostis vulgaris With.]; sown in fields for its fine hay.

Blue Joint [Deyeuxia conadensis Beauv.]; common on low or moist ground.
Muskit Grass [Bouteloua racemosa Lag.]; on dry prairies.

Reed Grass [Phragmites communis Trin.]; in ponds and sloughs, grows eight to ten feet in height.

Prairie Grass [Kocleria cristata Pers.]; common on the prairies, where it grows in bunches. Prairie Grass [Eatonia obtusata Gr.]; with the last, which it resembles.

Candy Grass [Er grostis major Host.]; a worthless European intruder, growing about buildings and by road sides.

Salt Grass [Distichlis maritima Raf.]; on saline lands.

Orchard Grass [Dactylis glomerata L.]; sown in fields for its excellent early hay.

Kentucky B ue Grass [Poa pratensis L]; common in yards and pastures; very valuable. Wheat Grass [Agropyrum glaucum R. & S.]; common on rich lands.

Squirrel-tail Grass [Hordeum jubatum L.]; being common in places early in the season, useless and troublesome.

Wild Rye [Elymus canadensis L.]; common on moist soils.

The Central Region.

The territory constituting this region lies in the center of the state, and includes fully 20,000 square miles. With the exception of a comparatively narrow strip along its southern and south-eastern border, adjoining the Platte river, it is watered entirely by the various branches of the Loup river. Its average elevation is about 2,500 feet above sea level, and it lies between the parallels, marking the latitude of 40° 45′ N. on the south to 42° 30' on the north. age annual rainfall during the period from 1878 to 1885, inclusive, was 264 inches.

THE PRINCIPAL GRASSES of this region are the following:

Old Witch Gra`s [Panicum capillare L.]; a weed in fields.

Bard-yard Grass Panicum crus-g lli L.]; an introduced weed, about barns, etc.

Small Panic-Grass [Panicum dichotomum L.]; on high prairies.

The aver

Crab Grass [Panicum sanguinale L.]; an introduced weedy, annual grass, common about buildings, and also in fields.

Switch Grass [Panicum virgatum L.]; on rich or moist soils.

10

Green Fox-tail [Setaria viridis Beauv.]; an introduced weed in fields in the autumn. Hungarian Grass [Setaria italica Kuth.]; an old world annual grass, of great value and much grown. The small headed varieties are called Hungarian Grass, while those with enlarged heads are known as Millet.

Sand-bur [Cenchrus tribuloides L.]; a vile weed, often met along the railroad tracks.

Wild Rice [Zizanin aquatica L.]; in streams and ponds.

Big Blue-Stem [Andropogon provincialis Lam.]; on prairies.

Little Blue-Stem [Andropogon scoparius Michx.]; on prairies, known also as Bunch Grass. Bushy Blue-Stem [Chrysopogon nutans Benth.]; on prairies.

Canary Grass [Phalaris arundinacea L.]; a rank grass on moist soils.

Beard Grass [Aristida purpurea Nutt.]; grows in bunches on dry soil.

Porcupine Grass [Stipa spartea Trin.]; on prairies, fruiting early in the season.
Muhlenberg's Grass Muhlenbergia glomerata Trin.]; on rich moist soils.

Timothy [Phleum pratense L.]; grown in fields in the older parts of this region.
Tickle Grass [Agrostis scabra Willd.]; common on prairies in the spring.
Blue Joint [Dey uxia canadensis Beauv.]; common on low or moist ground.
Gramma [Boutelona oligostachya Trin.]; still very common on the prairies.
Muskit Grass [ Boutel ua racemosa Lag.]; on prairies, very common.

Buffalo Grass Buchloe dactyloides Engl.]; still common on the prairies of the newer portions of the region.

Reed Grass [Phragmites communis Trin]; in ponds and sloughs, attaining a height of from eight to ten feet.

Prairie Grass [Koeleria cristata Pers.]; common on prairies, growing in bunches.

Prairie Grass [Eatonia obtusata Gr.]; with the last, which it resembles.

Candy Grass [Eragrostis major Host.]; from Europe, a worthless weedy grass growing about buildings and in fields.

Wire Grass [Poa compressa L.]; resembling the next, but less valuable.

Kentucky Blue Grass [Poa pratensis L.]; a very valuable grass, common in yards and pastures in the older parts of the region.

Sheep Fescue [ Festuca ovina L.].

Wheat Grass [Agropyrum glaucum R. & S.]; abundant on low lands.

Squirrel-tail Grass [Hordeum jubatum L.].

Wild Rye [Elymus canadensis L.]; on rich moist soils.

The South-western Region.

This includes about ten thousand square miles of territory lying south of the Platte river, and west of the divide separating the waters of the Little Blue from those of the Republican river. It is watered almost entirely by the Republican river and its tributaries, a narrow strip only along the Northern border draining into the Platte river. Its average altitude above the sea is about 2,800 feet, and it lies almost entirely south of the 41st parallel of north latitude. The annual rainfall averaged 2934 inches during the period from 1878 to 1885, inclusive. THE PRINCIPAL GRASSES of the South-western region, are the following: Switch Grass [Panicum virgatum L.]: on rich or moist soils.

Hungarian grass [Setari italica]; grown for its valuable hay, both as Hungarian Grass [the small headed varieties], and as Millet [the large headed varieties].

Big Blue Stem [Andropogon provincialis Lam.]; on prairies.
Little Blue Stem [Andropogon scoparius Michx.]; on prairies.
Bushy Blue Stem [Chrypsopogon nutans Benth.]; on prairies.

Johnson Grass [Sorghum halepense L.]; grown for its large yield of hay in some portions of the region.

Muhlenberg's Grass [Muhlenburgia g'omerata Trin.]; although I have had no specimens of this valuable wild grass from the south-western region, I have no doubt whatever as to its frequent occurrence.

Timothy [Phleum pratense L.]; grown in fields in the older portions of the region for its hay. Gramma Bouteloua oligostachya Torr.]; on prairies.

Muskit Grass [Bouteloua racemosi Lag.]; on prairies.

Buffalo Grass Buchloe dactyloides Engl.]; on prairies. I have been unable to learn the extent of territory still pretty well occupied by the three last named grasses. In Eastern Colorado they are still the dominant native grasses.

Reed Grass [Phragmites communis Trin.]; in ponds and sloughs grows to the height of 8 to 10 feet, and along the Platte river [Kearney Co.] it occasionally forms runners which creep along the surface of the ground to an astonishing length. One in my possession measured 512 feet. Prairie Grass [Koeleria cristata Pers.]; on prairies.

Prairie Grass Eatonia obtusata Gr.]; on prairies. These two grasses almost always occur in company. I do not know to what extent they are distributed throughout this region.

Candy Grass [Eragrostis major Host.]; a native of Europe, which has advanced with rapidity into nearly every settled portion of this region.

Kentucky Blue Grass [Poa pratensis L.]; in yards and pastures, a most valuable grass. Mountain Blue Grass [P a andina Nutt.]; on the high plains and prairies. A promising grass which should be carefully studied.

Wheat Grass [Agropyrum glaucum R. & S.1; a most valuable grass, especially in the western parts of this region, where it is highly esteemed.

The North-western Region.

This region occupies a comparatively narrow belt stretching across the northern and northwestern side of the state. It includes about 13,000 square miles, and is watered mainly by the Niobrara river. In the extreme north-west the headwaters of the White river water a considerable area. Its average elevation is not far from 3,200 feet above sea level, although in its lowest [eastern] part it is scarcely 1,500 feet. Its extreme western portions rise to fully 5,000 feet.