39 



The predominating grasses are tbe needle grasses {Aristida fasci- 

 culata and A. coarctata) which form fully 50 ])er cent of the entire 

 grass vegetation, and more thaii that on the pastures which have been 

 overgrazed. Stockmen consider the needle grass most nutritious and 

 valuable, although many of the closely related species that occur in 

 the Gulf States are there known as the much despised poverty grasses, 

 held to be characteristic of the poorest land and all but worthless for 

 pasturage. However, there is no doubt that here the needle grasses 

 hold a position which could not be tilled by anything else. They are 

 thelirstto start growth in the spring, 

 and after the sharp bearded seeds 

 have fallen in autumn, cattle and 

 sheep greatly relish the stems and 

 leaves. The stalks remain green 

 at the base long after the curly 

 mesquite has become brown and 

 dry. The bearded seeds undoubt- 

 edly cause some inconvenience to 

 animals, esi)ecially to sheep. Losses 

 among lambs are frequently re- 

 ported through the needle-grass 

 seeds piercing their skins or perfo- 

 rating their intestines. But aside 

 from such tritling losses the fact re- 

 mains that there is no grass which 

 will spread so rapidly if only given 

 a chance to ripen its seeds, as the 

 three long beards attached to each 

 enable it to be readily blown about 

 by the winds. When the sharp point 

 catches in loose earth the drying and 

 wetting of the beards causes theseed 

 to bore into the soil, burying it deep 

 enough to insure germination. 

 Wherever there is a ridge or mound 

 of bare earth, or a furrow, the needle- 

 grass seedlings grow abundantly. 



The black grama {Eilaria mutica) (fig. 7) occurs quite abundantly in 

 some of the valley pastures. It was formerly much more plentiful. It 

 is one of the best of the winter grasses. Cattle do not seem to relish 

 it in summer as long as there are tenderer annual grasses in abun- 

 dance. Its stems and lower leaves remain green long after the first 

 frost, and the whole plant cures on its own roots, forming first-class 

 natural hay which is much relished in winter. Black grama hay was 

 highly valued in the early days, but it is hardly ever found now suffi- 

 ciently abundant to mow. The river valleys of this region are the 



Fig. 7.— Black grama (Hilaria mutica). 



