ACADEMY OF NATUKAL SCIENCES. 205 



The stump of the " Original Big Tree " measured in six diameters, gives for 

 mean, 23 ft. 1 J in., diameter inside of the bark, — which was two feet thick. 



Regular Meeting, August 21st, 1S65. 

 Mr. Fisk in the chair. 



Nine members present. 



Donations to the Cabinet : Specimen of Chromic Iron, 

 from Tuolumne County, by Mr. Hanks. 



Mr. Bolander submitted a paper on the Grasses of Arizona, 

 with the following remarks : 



The following List of Grasses, accompanied by the very judicious and practical 

 observations of the Corresponding Member of our Natural History Society, Mr. 

 C. J. Croft, of the 1st Cavalry California Volunteers, was received by mail from 

 Fort Goodwin, Arizona Territory, some little time since. From the same intelli- 

 gent source, we have, from time to time, received many valuable specimens, pre- 

 served with uncommon care, and reaching us in a state quite unusual, even from 

 localities far more favorably situated. We are very hopeful, we shall shortly be 

 placed in possession of specimens of the seed of the White Layia Mexicana, for 

 ornamental culture, as also of a species of native Potato, from the same inde- 

 fatigable individual, who has also furnished us with a very interesting account of 

 numerous species of the Cactus family, of that District. 



TSie Grasses of Arizona. 



BY C. J. CROFT, U. S. A. 



The grasses of this Territory, principally consist of four varieties : 



No. 1. (Pleuraphis Jamesii, Ton - .,) is the lowland Grama which grows in great 

 profusion along the valley of the Gila, and constitutes the principal feed for our 

 animals, which do quite well upon it, moderately worked. 



No. 2. (Aristida purpurea, Nutt.) The highland Grama, growing upon the 

 sand "mesas," or highlands, seems to differ but little, if any, from that found in 

 some portions of California. 



No. 3. ( Muhlenberg ia pungeus, Thurb.) Black Grama, or, " Grama China," as 

 vulgarly called by the natives, is the most valuable as feed ; upon it animals will 

 fatten. It grows on the highlands, in sandy arid soil. I have never met any of 

 this variety in the valley of the Colorado, and but very little in the territory of 

 New Mexico. At this post we have had as many as 700 animals, and the scarcity 

 of forage required us to herd our stock upon this grass during the winter. We 

 were often obliged to make rapid and distant marches in pursuit of Indians, over 

 a country almost impassable, yet our horses stood it well, fed only upou this grass. 



