6 University of California Publications in Agricultural Sciences [Vol.3 



The roots arc fibrous, radiating downwards to a depth of one or 

 two feet. They are covered with a downy coating similar to that 

 found on many desert grasses. That they are able to make use of 

 slight amounts of hygroscopic moisture in the soil seems possible, as 

 when a clump was dug up and placed upon the surface of the ground 

 the grass continued to grow, although exposed to severe conditions 

 of drouth with no rainfall for several months. 



The plot of Harding grass attracted considerable attention during 

 tin 1 hot summer months, with its long green leaves showing no tend- 

 ency to wilt. It makes a decided contrast in July and August by 

 its vivid green among the dry brown stubble of the cereals and other 

 grasses given the same care and treatment. We also had occasion to 

 observe its behavior during the winter. On the coldest morning, with 

 ice everywhere, we visited the grass plot and observed the hoar frost 

 on the leaves and the ground frozen, yet the foliage remained green. 

 Even our generally recognized hardy grasses like Kentucky blue- 

 grass, orchard grass, and red top had turned brown. 



The second year from the seed it still maintained a dense leafy 

 growth from the base of about three feet, the flowering culms extend- 

 ing about two feet higher, making a total height of five feet. This 

 is a growth rarely reached by any of the cultivated perennial species 

 of grasses known at the present time. 



We did not wish to be understood that the Harding grass will 

 withstand a lower or as low a temperature as our common hardy 

 grasses and that it is adapted to regions with severe winters as in 

 parts of the east or middle west. As yet we do not know its cold- 

 resistant qualities. The fact that it remains green during the com- 

 paratively mild winters at Davis, Yolo County, California, does not 

 indicate the minimum temperature the roots may withstand. In- 

 formation as to its latitudinal and altitudinal tolerance is not at 

 hand. 



In order that some comparison may be made as to the probable 

 adaptability of this grass to other states and to different parts of 

 ( lalifornia, we give the following conditions for Davis. 



According to S. H. Beckett, of the United States Department of 

 Agriculture, "the mean annual rainfall is 16.54 inches, the greater 

 part of which comes in December, January, February, and March, 

 while from May to October very little rain falls." There is con- 

 siderable variation in the amount of rainfall in different years. 

 Frequently it amounts to 20 inches, but occasionally only 8.74 



