25 



Seliiiocai'piis axigiistifolius, Torr. 



eta. 

 S. dittusus, Gray. 

 Boerhaavia eiecta, L. 

 B. eridseliiia, Gray. 

 Abronia uiellifera, Dougl. 

 A. cyclopetra. Gray. 

 A. fragrans, KxM. 

 Eriogounm fasciculatum, Bcntli. 

 E. pacile, Benth. 

 E. viiiiineuin, Dougl. 

 O. hymenelytia, Torr. 



O. Occidentalis, 3fnq. 

 Corisperniuni hyssopifolinm, X. 

 Saicobatis vermicularis, A'ec.?. 

 Phoradenilron californicuni, jN^Mff. 

 Euphorbia albo-marsinata, Torr. 

 Crotoii piocunibeiis, £sch. 

 Aphora seirata, Engel. 

 Jlozinna caidiophylla, Engel. 

 Pilostyles Thurberi, G. 

 Hosackia piiberiila, Bth. 

 Astia"'alus Missourieusis, Xutt. 



Y. stenoi>hylla, Eng. ined. 



Y. brevifolia. Eng. ined. 



Y. baccata, Torr. 



Aristida purpuiasceiis, Pair. 



Papitoplioiiim boieale. Led. 



Boiiteloua olifi'ostachya, Xult, 



B. eiiopoda, Torr. 



B. polystachya, Benth. 



Chloiis alba, Pre-^l. 



Tiicuspis pulchella, Eth. 



Brizopyrum spic.atum. Hook. 



CULTIYATIOX OF THE PLAINS. 



Mr. R. S. Elliott, agent of the iiidastrial departmeut of the Kansas 

 Pacific Eailway, has been making experiments in the cnltivation of the 

 unirrigated phiins at Wilson, 236 miles west of the State line of Mis- 

 souri, and 1,580 feet above the level of the sea ; at Ellis, 302 miles west 

 of the State line, and 2,019 feet above the sea; at Pond Creek, 422 miles 

 west of State line, and 3,175 feet above the sea. These plantations are 

 west of the limits heretofore assumed by most meteorologists as the 

 limit of cultivation, except by the aid of irrigation. Only a few acres 

 of ground were broken at each place on account of the lateness of the 

 season when the work was begun. After one plowing and a slight har- 

 rowing the seeds were sown. 



At Pond Creek, on the 2Gth of September, 1870, were sown 4 acres of 

 wheat, 3 acres rye, 2 acres barley, timothy sown on the wheat. On the 

 14th of November, lucerne was sown across the wheat, rye, and barley. 

 At Ellis were sown, on the 20th of October, wheat three acres, rye 3 

 acres, barley 1 acre. On the 22d of the game mouth 3 quarts of Tou- 

 zelle wheat and 3 quarts of Scotch rye, furnished by this Department, 

 Avere sown, and on the 24th, Italian rye gvass, lucerue, northern lucerne, 

 province lucerne, Alsike clover, sainfoin, seradilla, vetches, vetchlings, 

 and perennial rye grass, also from this Department. On the 12th of 

 November a few nuts and tree seeds were planted at Wilson, burr-oak, 

 Ijecan, chestnut, peach, and ailanthus. Mr. Elliott says: 



The experiment, Avithoxit irrigatiou, at Poud Creek, 120 miles beyond Ellis, and ou 

 the extreme ^vesteru border of the State of Kansas, in the very midst of the dry plains, 

 and in a soil to be classed with the least promising ou the line of your road, is the most 

 interesting and imi>ortant. The location is near the 102d degree of west longitude, four 

 degrees west of the limit of arable elfort, depending on rain-fall alone, as heretofore 

 assigned by eminent meteorologists. IJaldly, but not unwisely, you have invaded the 

 " desert," not only with the ii-on rail, but the plow and harrow as well ; and success, 

 under circumstances heretofore believed to forbid it, will prove the wisdon of j-our 

 ord'.ir to make the trial ; and it will also establish a new value for millions f>f acres of 

 lands heretofore regarded as worthless except for limited grazing resources in favored 

 portions. Even with the first trial I have no doubt of success. A second trial, with 

 better culture and a decomposed sod, will yield larger results, but will not more clearly 

 illustrate the favorable climatic conditions and the strength of the soil. 



Relative to tree growth on the plains, Mr. Elliott lays down these 

 propositions : 1. Forests can be established in all parts of the plains, 

 even without artificial irrigation. 2. Much deeper plowing will be re- 

 quired than for winter grains or forage plants. 3. The most rapid 

 growers are the beech trees for first planting. 4. Planting seed is better 

 than transplanting young trees. 



The ailanthus seeds sent by this Departmeut to Ellsworth County, 

 Kansas, last spring, hav^e been tried by several farmers with very favor- 

 able results. The little trees now in Ellsworth County are " the talk of 

 the county." Mr. Elliott is satisfied that there is no tree seed so valu- 

 able as this for that part of the country. 



