40 



origiual liome of the Colorado grass or Texan millet [Panicum texanum)^ 

 a leafy annual, whose merits as a hay grass have led to its becoming 

 widely eultiv^ated. Everlasting grass {Eriochloa annulata) and an 

 Indian millet [PanicHm cUiatissimum) also grow along the river bottoms 

 and supply leafy herbage that is greatly relished by cattle. 



The curly mesquite grasses [Hilaria cenchroidcs (fig. 8) and BuIbiUs 

 dactyloirles) are omnipresent. They monopolize a large share of the 

 range, supjilying sometimes as much as 80 per cent of all the vege- 

 tation. Their long, creeping run- 

 ners and short, crisp leaves fitrm 

 a matted sward that improves 

 under an amount of abuse and 

 hard usage that would kill out 

 less hardy grasses. 



The blue grama [Bouieloua oli- 

 gostachyd) and side-oats grama {B. 

 ctirtipen(hda) are abundant, form- 

 ing a valuable factor of the range 

 pasturage. The chief needs of the 

 lied Prairie region are better win- 

 ter and early spring forage. The 

 former may be supi)lied by putting 

 up fodder, hay, or stack silage. 



To supply spring grazing the 

 tallow weed {Acfhiella lineari- 

 folia) should be cultivated. This 

 plant belongs to the tansy family. 

 It is widely distributed in Texas 

 and the Southwest, clothing the 

 l)rairies Avith its ])right yellow 

 flowers and strap-shai)ed leaves 

 long before any of the grasses 

 have commenced to grow. Cattle 

 and sheei) '^^'^^ equally fond of it 

 and its feeding value may be 

 Judged from the common name 

 which it bears among stockmen. 

 It is said that there is no wild forage jdant which M'ill jiut so much fat 

 on an animal in so short a time. The tallow weed is truly a blessing 

 to stock and stockmen, whose only criticism in regard to it is tiiat 

 there is not enough of it. 



Fio. 8. — Curly mesquite (Ililaria ccnchroules) 



THE STAKED PLAINS. 



Tlie Llano Estacado or Staked Plains consist of an oblong ])lateau hav- 

 ing a greatest width of about 180 miles from east to west, with a length 

 of about 225 miles from north to south. This tableland lies approxi- 



