35 



to be associated with diiuiuished seed production, caused by dry 

 weather. The phmt blossoms freely during moist weather, attract- 

 ing the honey-bees, its chief pollinators. Moist weatlier accelerates 

 seed production, as well as vegetative growth. 



Wild Rye {Eiymus canadensis) is very abundant on the prairies, low 

 Hats, and along the smaller streams in both Iowa and Nebraska. 

 On valley lands it sometimes makes np more than half the wild 

 hay. The forage is excellent when cut in time, but it is of little 

 value as cut here in ordinary practice. It is usually cut in August, 

 when the dead spikes stand out conspicuously among Blue stem. 

 There is often great danger in using such hay, as it frequently con- 

 tains ergot— as many as eight or nine ergotized grains having been 

 observed in a single head. The only safe course to pursue is to 

 cut the grass in July, before the ergot has formed. In favorable 

 seasons the meadow will produce a good second crop, which can be 

 used as autumn pasture. 



Wild Vetch {HosacUa purshiana Benth.), a native legume on low prai- 

 ries in Nebraska, is a most valuable plant and worthy of cultiva- 

 tion. It has established itself in central Iowa, and is not uncom- 

 mon on the loess region along the Missouri. 



Wire grass {Poa compressa L.) is frequent in dry woods and in sterile 

 soils in Iowa, and under such conditions is a valuable plant, form- 

 ing a dense and close turf. It was observed in eastern Nebraska 

 in the vicinity of Omaha and also as far west as McCook, in Red 

 Willow County, where it grows without irrigation. It thrives in 

 drier places and poorer soils than Blue-grass. This grass is worthy 

 of encouragement, for though less i)roductive. than Blue grass, it 

 furnishes good forage where better grasses will not grow. 



LIST OF GRASSES COLLECTED IN IOWA, NEBRASKA, AND 



COLORADO. 



The accompanying list is based on specimens collected at the follow- 

 ing points: 



In Iowa: Jefterson, Carroll, Carnarvon, Sioux City, Logan, Missouri 

 Valley, and Council Blufts. 



In Nebraska: Lincoln, Crete, Oxford, and McCook. 



In Colorado: Fort Morgan, Greeley, Fort Collins, La Porte, and 

 other points in Larimer County. Along the tributaries of the Cache la 

 Poudre River, Denver, near the mouth of Clear Creek Canyon, Golden, 

 Colorado Springs, and North Cheyenne Canyon. 



The higher altitudes as here given are based on field observations. 

 The altitudes of lower points are based on Henry Gannett's Dictionary 

 of Altitudes, and are approximate only for these places. 



