56 



of less value for liay than common needle-grass. Nelson's needle-grass 

 {Stipa nelsoni) and purple-top needle-grass {Stipa minor) are also of 

 value for pasturage, but both belong more properly, perhaps, to the 

 higher altitudes. On the Big Horn ranges, at about 8,000 feet altitude, 



purple-top needle- grass is an 

 important pasture grass and 

 is also frequently cut for hay. 

 Sleepy- grass {Stipa vaseyi) 

 is quite abundant in the south- 

 ern part of the eastern Rocky 

 Mountain region. It takes its 

 common name from the fact 

 that in some localities it is 

 thought to have a narcotic 

 effect upon stock eating it. It 

 is a coarse-growing grass, and 

 the forage could hardly be very 

 palatable in any event. How- 

 ever, in times of scarcity of 

 pasturage it is quite closely 

 grazed, in central Colorado at 

 least, but whether with any ill 

 effects has not been detinitely 

 ascertained. It is possible 

 that the narcotic principle is 

 not everywhere produced in 

 '/j^ injurious quantities. 



One of the best early pas- 

 ture grasses on the range is 

 prairie June-grass {Koeleria 

 cristata). (See fig. 20.) It is 

 widely distributed, ti(mrishes 

 on a variety of soils, and is 

 one of the earliest grasses to 

 afford pasturage on the prai- 

 ries. It has a tufted habit of 

 growth and seldom exceeds a foot in height on the dry prairies, but in 

 moist, valleys it fre(iuently reaches 2 feet or more and affords an excel- 

 lent (piality of hay. It nuitures its seed early and then dries up, fur- 

 nishing l)ut little fresh pasturage afterwards unless well watered. It 

 usually seeds heavily. Stockmen regard it as one of the most valuable 

 native pasture, grasses because of its earliness and palatability. To 

 many it is known as wild or prairie timothy, because of its external 

 resemblance to the comnion cultivated timothy. 



One of the most common and valuable "bunch-grasses" on the plains 

 is Poa buvklcyana. It is most abundant on the high elevated plains and 



ri 



Fig. 20.— Prairie June-grass {Koeleria cristala) : a. 

 empty gluiin's; b, tlie two Horets raised above the 

 empty glumes. 



