48 



Mountain. In the varieties of tussock-grass growing in the higher 

 altitudes the leaves become considerably reduced, and, of course, pro- 

 duce little forage of any sort, but the varieties growing in the meadows 

 at from 4,000 to 6,500 feet develop a much greater leafage and aftbrd a 

 large amount of hay and pasturage. 



A form of red fescue is not uncommon in the moist meadows at from 

 4,000 to 9,000 feet altitude in the northern part of the Kocky Mountain 

 region, and is of much value for hay in some localities. It seldom 



forms tufts of any size, spreads by 

 means of very slender underground 

 stems, and is usually found mixed 

 with other grasses. It is quite abun- 

 dant in the Spanish Basin and else- 

 where in southwestern Montana, and 

 also in the Big Horn and Shoshone 

 mountains in Wyoming. 



Eough-leafed bent occurs natur- 

 ally in wet, boggy meadows and 

 along banks of streams and ditches. 

 The best hay-producing forms occur 

 at elevations of from 4,000 to 0,000, 

 or occasionally 7,000, feet. This 

 grass produces an abundant leafage, 

 much more than the common redtop, 

 and also produces a large amount 

 of seed — two things very desirable 

 in a grass for cultivation. In the 

 wild state it seems to be even more 

 hardy than redtop, and while flour- 

 ishing best with plenty of water it 

 will, nevertheless, endure consider- 

 able drought when once iirnily es- 

 tablished. It is quite an important 

 element in the native meadows in portions of northern Wyoming and 

 central and southern Montana, and is perhai)s more common on the 

 west side of the Continental Divide than on the east. As ordinarily 

 seen in the natural condition, rough-leafed bent has a closely tufted 

 habit of growth, but when thicl^ly seeded, as when in cultivation or 

 occasionally in native meadows when conditions are favorable, this 

 habit is largely lost, and a fairly even sod is formed. Its good quali- 

 ties as a meadow grass commend it to those experimenting with our 

 native species. It will doubtless be found to be better adapted for 

 meadows at higher altitudes than most of the common so-called tame 

 grasses. 



There are several of the oat-grasses found in greater or less abun- 

 dance in the meadows and "parks" of the mountains and foothills of 



FiQ. 16.— Kocky Mountain oat-grass (Dantho- 

 nia intermedia). 



