31 



Sheep's Fescue (Festuca ovhia L.). Several forms occur in the foot- 

 hills of Colorado. On the steep sides of rough and rocky moun- 

 tains it grows in small bunches with numerous firm leaves. Here 

 it is a most valuable grass. 



Short-a-wned Brome {Byomus hreviaristatns Thurb.) (fig. 10) has been 

 introduced and grown for a number of years in central and western 

 Iowa. The results have 

 been very satisfactory. 

 Two crops may, under 

 favorable conditions, be 

 cut in a single season. 

 It is nearly as valuable 

 as Hungarian Brome, and 

 is worthy of a more ex- 

 tended trial. In Colo- 

 rado it is common in some 

 gulches in the vicinity of 

 Fort Collins at an alti- 

 tude of (5,000 feet, and is 

 equal in point of vigor to 

 Hungarian Brome-grass. 

 It produces an abun- 

 dance of large, soft leaves, 

 and the forage is well 

 liked by stock. 



Side Oats Grama or Tall 

 Grama {Bouteloua curti- 

 2Je7idui(() (fig. 11) is com- 

 mon on hills in central 

 and western Iowa. It is 

 a valuable grass of the 

 loess, occurring abun- 

 dantly on rather dry soils. 

 The hay made from it is 

 of the very best quality. 

 It cures readily, and even 

 when cut late in the sea- 

 son the leaves retain their 

 freshness longer than many other wild grasses. It occurs through- 

 out Nebraska, but was apparently most abundant in the eastern 

 half of the State. It makes a fine growth of leaves, and is highly 

 prized by farmers for hay and grazing. 



Sleepy-grass { Sf i2ni rohusta Scrihu.) U common at altitudes of from 

 5,000 to 5,r)00 feet, growing in large patches. Although cattle 

 are numerous everywhere in tliis region, they apparently do not 

 touch this grass. It flowers much later than Feather Bunch-grass 

 {Stipa viridula). 



Fig. 10. — Shortawned Brouie-gras.s {Bromus hreviarinta- 

 tvs): «, the floret seeu from the side; ?/, palea: c^.joint 

 of tlie rachilla; c1, grain ; /, young seed or grain ; e, lower 

 portion of i)istil, showing lodicule.>s. 



