Button grass {Dactyloctenium anstraliense Scribn.). — Two plats were planted 

 with seed received from Australia nnder the name of "Munyeroo," or " Peta- 

 chartes " grass. The grass on these two plats was identical in habit and appear- 

 ance with the plants grown in the grass garden in 1896 from Australian seed and 

 reproduced each year by volunteer seeding. Some of the grass garden seed of 

 1899 was planted on two near-by plats, but it was either washed away or most 

 of it failed to germinate, as only a few weak plants appeared. The button grass 

 was sown May 26, and by July 14 the circular prostrate tufts were a foot in 

 diameter and loaded with flower heads. On July 30 the first gathering of seed 

 was made. From that time until the plants were killed by frosts in November, 

 seed was produced in great abundance and gathered at intervals of about two 

 weeks. The diameter of the individual plants increased to about 18 inches. 



Two adjacent plats, planted also on May 26, with a mixture of Australian 

 grass seeds were found to contain a small Panicum, considerable Eragrostis 

 brownii, and about half button grass. The rate of development during the 

 season was very much the same as that of the plats just described. The single 

 plants were, however, much larger, the branches being about 2 feet long and 

 rooting strongly near the base, the whole plant being some 4 feet in diameter. 

 The color was light green, and relatively much more foliage and less seed was 

 produced than in the other plats. This should make it of more value as a forage 

 plant and soil holder. 



Button grass is a native of the hot and dry interior regions of Southern Aus- 

 tralia, and it may be of great use in similar regions in this country. 



Curly mesquite {Hilaria cenchroides H. B. K.).— Three plats were planted 

 June 7 with seed gathered in 1897 ; germination was good and the growth was un- 

 checked by dry weather. By the middle of July the grass was 2 inches high and 

 the runners were abundant. Two weeks later the runners had reached a length 

 of 2 feet or more, striking root every four or five inches and sending up sturdy 

 new plants which filled all the vacant space between the original seedling plants 

 and made a strong, close growth, excellent for pasturage purposes. The erect 

 culms were about 6 inches high and in full flower. One plat was taken up in 

 September and transplanted to the Division's exhibit on the Pan-American 

 Exposition grounds at Buffalo, N. Y. The plants on the other two ripened seed 

 about October 1, at which time the fruiting culms were nearly dead, but the 

 basal portions and the young plants were still vigorous. This is one of the most 

 valuable grasses of the cattle ranges of the Southwest, and its successful propa- 

 gation by seed is of great economic significance. 



Black heads {Pappophorum nigricans R. Br.). — This well-known Australian 

 forage grass proved to be the chief ingredient of a package of seed of mixed sand 

 grasses received from that continent through Prof. J. H. Maiden. It was planted 

 May 23 on one of the driest plats on the grounds. Germination was prompt, and 

 the growth continued without check during the dry months of July and August, 

 when the plants reached their maximum size of a foot to 15 inches and were 

 fruiting abundantly. The production of fresh growths of leafy branches and 

 seeds was continued until stopped by the November frosts. 



This grass is very highly esteemed for pasturage in the drier parts of Australia. 

 It probably would never be valuable as a hay grass on account of its low, tufted 

 habit, but it should prove a desirable addition to the pasture grasses of our drier 

 regions. 



A grass very closely resembling "Black Heads" both in appearance and habit 

 of growth occurs on the cattle ranges of Arizona, where it is highly valued by 

 cattlemen. 



Grama grasses (Bouteloua). — One plat of Side-oats grama (B. curtipenclula 

 (Mx.) Torr.), one plat of Blue grama (B. oligostachya (Nutt.) Torr.), and two 



