20 



Cheyenne Canyon, at an altitude of G,5()0 feet. It usually grows 

 much shorter than at lo^Ye^ altitudes. 



Blue-joint [Calama(jrostls canadensis Beauv.) is plentiful in Iowa only 

 in low swales and second bottoms, where it commonly grows from 

 ;j to 4 feet high, forming an abundance of leaves, well liked by all 

 kinds of stock. The leaves keep green till late in the season, and 

 the hay is not objectionable because the leaves and culms are not 

 dead at the time when hay is usually made, as is often the case 

 with Wild Kye. 



Broom-corn Millet (Panicum miUacenm) is seldom cultivated in the 

 central district of Iowa, though used more extensively in northern 

 and northwestern parts of the State. It does well in dry years, 

 and as a productive crop should commend itself. 



Buffalo Bunch-grass {Festuca scahrella). This species at higher alti- 

 tudes is the bunch grass par excellence. It is abundant on the 

 Little Beaver in northern Colorado, at an altitude of 1),50() feet, 

 where it occurs in open, sunny places and grows from a foot to 4 

 feet in height. The blades are often a foot long. The whole plant 

 is more or less glaucous, which adds to its striking appearance. 

 Professor Crandall, who is familiar with the plants of this region, 

 states that several years ago, when stock had not grazed so far up 

 the mountains, this grass occurred in great quantity in the open, 

 sunny places at an altitude of 1),500 feet, ^'ery few good specimens 

 could be found, because almost every blade had been closely cropped. 

 The Ilocky Mountain Husbandman has this to say of Bunch-grass: 



The cured grass retains its nutriment all winter, owinj^ to the fact that we have no 

 drenching raius in the fall to bleach it— the light snows which come in early 

 winter and melt off soon only serving to moisteu it and make it more palatable. 

 When we have late summer rains and the grass remains green until fall, should 

 frost come »-arly it is injured and stock do not seem to keep in such good con- 

 dition during the winter as when it dries up early, as is generally the case. 

 During the winter the lowlands and sharp foothills are for the most part free 

 from snow. Usually the snow is cleared away by the wind except that which 

 is driven into the thick clusters of grass. * * * In grazing the stock gather 

 np more or less snow, which serves in great measure as a substitute for water. 

 With the disappearance of snow in the sjtring, stock go up into the foothills, 

 following the receding snow line. The grass which lies covered all winter is 

 relished best. Besides, the young crop starts first and grows fastest among the 

 steep hills. 



What is here said of Buffalo Bunch-grass applies also to Montana and 

 Idaho, where it grows at lower altitudes. This grass has received 

 11i(! same high appreciation by stockmen everywhere. 



Buffalo-grass {BnlhiUs dacti/loidis liaf.) (fig. 1) once extended farther 

 east than now, since it is re[)orted from northwest Iowa. I did not, 

 however, meet with it in that part of the State, nor did 1 observe 

 it east of Lincoln, ]Srebr. At Lincoln small patches occur. It is 

 abundant about Hastings, Nel)r.. wliere, in some cases at least, 

 it is the chief pasture grass. It is common about Oxford and 



