21 



McCook, JSTebr., ;iiid westward to the Nebraska line, althongii at 

 no point was it so linelj^ developed as on the beautiful prairies 

 surrounding Hastings. Buffalo-grass is certainly adapted to the 

 semiarid belt and to the western part of the humid prairie region. 

 Farmers agree that it is exceedingly valuable, not only because of 

 its nutritious qualities, but the close turf retains the moisture and 

 allows the plaut to develop under conditions adverse to most 

 plants, certainly to our cultivated grasses. Every effort should be 

 made to retain this grass. In central and southwestern Nebraska 

 it is not only a valuable 

 summer forage, but the mild 

 winters make it especially 

 desirable for winter grazing. 

 When used for this pur[)0se 

 it should not be cropped too 

 closely in the summer. The 

 farmer should recognize the 

 importance of not overstock- 

 ing the ranges. Tie should 

 give this and other grasses 

 time to produce seed, so that 

 they may perpetuate them- 

 selves by seeds from the 

 most vigorous plants. Buf- 

 falo-grass seeds freely, and 

 this is one of the nu)st im- 

 portant points in its favor. 

 In ('olorado I observed it 

 only in the lower foothills, 

 where it is a valuable grass. 

 It grows in the same way as 

 on the plains, forming large 

 mats and patches of turf, 

 which are closely crop})ed 

 by stock. 



Buffalo Pea {Afiiragnlus cari/o- 



carpus Ker.) is common on the prairies of Nebraska and dry, sterile 

 hills of central and western Iowa. It is valuable as a forage plant. 



Bunch-grass {SporoholuH heterolepis Gray) is the most valuable of the 

 several Drop-seed grasses that abound in central and western Iowa. 

 This beautiful species occurs on high or low prairies and liillsules 

 with Little Blue-Stem and Switch-grass. It grows m bunches and 

 produces large numbers of slender leaves close to the ground. 



Bunch Spear-grass (Poa arida Vasey) comes up quite abundantly in 

 the meadows of arid pastures in the Keimblican River Valley, 

 Nebraska. It somewhat resembles Blue-grass, with sharp-pointed 



Fig. 4. — Buffalo-grass {Bulhilis dactyloides) : «, female 

 pbint: b, male plant; «', two clusters of fuiuale 

 spikelets; 6', a branch of several staminate spike- 

 lets; c, a male or staminate splkelet of two dowers. 



