88 



drills 6 inches apart on April 24, 1897. So far as I could observe the quality of th'^ 

 product was good. The yield was not large, but the rapid growth would perhaps fully 

 repay the shortage of the yield. I consider it a valuable addition to our pasture 

 o-rasses; a good variety to sow in a mixture for permanent pasture. We had jjlenty 

 of rain all season. 



BLUE GRAMA (Bouteloua oligostachya) . 

 (Plate IV, fig. 2.) 



A somewhat tufted or matted perennial, 6 inches to 3 feet high. with 

 strong-growing rootstocks and numerous basal leaves. The inflo- 

 rescence consists of usuall^y 2 one-sided spikes on slender stems. It 

 extends westward from Wisconsin to California and southward into 

 Texas and northern Mexico. This grass improves ver\^ rapidly under 

 cultivation. For several years it has grown luxuriantly in the experi- 

 mental grounds of the Department at Washington, D. C, starting to 

 green out about the middle of April and growing from li to 2i feet 

 hioh, varyino- with the seasons. It is in full ])loom about the middle 

 of July and produces a tine growth of excellent hay. A tine aftermath 

 appears soon after cutting, which affords excellent pasturage until 

 injured by severe frosts in November. 



No other grass better withstands the trampling of stock, and on the 

 ranges it is considered among the very best for grazing purposes. 

 During the dry season it cures in the turf into perfect hay, which is 

 said to lose none of its nutritive value. Cattle are pastured on this 

 hay all winter in the eastern Rocky Mountain region, where it is 

 regarded as an exceedingly valuable grass. 



Since 1896, 70 packages of the seed of blue grama have been dis- 

 tributed, but only 14 reports have been received. Of these, 5 experi- 

 menters failed to get any result, 3 considered it of little value, and 6 

 regarded it as a valuable grass for their districts. 



The following are some of the reports that have been received from 

 different States with widely varying climatic conditions: 



Mr. J. S. Holmes, Bowmans Bluff', Henderson County, N. C. : 



The land used was fairly good upland on a steep hillside facing the east. The seed 

 was sown broadcast on April 8, 1898, and harrowed in. At this date, January 18, 

 1899, the grass looks quite alive and ready to make a good growth next year. It stood 

 the long drought of August, September, and October, and seems to promise better 

 than side oats grama {Bouteloua curtipendula) . 



Mr. P. T. Kerr, Cambray, Donna Ana County, N. Mex. : 



This is a native grass and know^n here as grama, and grows luxuriantly when it has 

 plenty of water. It is valued as fine grazing for both horses and cattle. 



Mr. Henry W. Merrill, Hiram, Oxford County, Me. : 



This grass did very well the first season, but I could not find a trace of it the 

 following year. 



