15 



Curly Mesquite {Eilaria cencliroules) (fig. 4). — Too much can not 

 be said in praise of this superior pasture grass. Fortunately for stock- 

 meu, it is found in all the counties of central Texas and is about the 

 most abundant, as it certainly is one of the most valuable, of all the 

 native grasses. It has a peculiar habit of creeping over the ground 

 and rooting at the joints of the stems, from which spring leafy 

 branches that in their turn reach out for other places in which to take 

 root. In protected localities it greens out very early in the spring, 

 makes a thick mat of leafy turf 

 during the summer, matures on 

 its roots, and in the fall and win- 

 ter, when not rotted by late rains, 

 affords excellent pasturage for 

 all classes of stock. No grass 

 stands the long dry spells to 

 which the section is periodically 

 subject better than the curly 

 mesquite. As it does not grow 

 tall, sheep, horses, and even hogs 

 are especially fond of it, and cat- 

 tle prefer it to almost any other 

 grass. In very dry weather it 

 dries up and appears to be dead, 

 but in a few hours after a warm 

 rain it becomes green to the end 

 of its smallest leaf blade and stem. 

 When matured on its roots, it is 

 very much better feed than at 

 any other time, and stock will not 

 only live but fatten on it without 

 grain. It is doubtful if acre for 

 acre it will support as many head 

 of stock, year in and year out, 

 as Bermuda grass, but it will 

 stand drought better, and for 

 general range purposes is cer- 

 tainly superior. When lands are sodded down to it and it is given the 

 advantage of irrigation even by sprinkling, as is done in the case of 

 Bernuida, it makes as attractive looking turf as the latter, especially 

 when closely cut by the lawn mower. Some of the central Texas 

 stockmen are sodding down small pastures, from 5 to 20 acres, with 

 it, to be used as calf lots and for pasturing the ranch horses used 

 about headquarters. They report that such pastures in a good year 

 will support one head of stock per acre. It grows well on any but 

 alkali soils, on uplands and lowlands, out in the open or in the shade. 

 In Jones County there is a small pasture well sodded within which 



Fio. 4. — Curly Mesquite. 



