224 AGRICULTURAL REPORT. - 
Festuca macrostachya, Nutt.—A valuable annual species in the moun- 
tains of New Mexico, of very variable forms. It is one of the “ grama 
grasses” of that region, from six to eightgen inches high, with a loose, 
lax panicle of small spikelets, bristle-pointed. 
Bromus Kalmii, Gray.—Chiefly in the mountain districts. A slender, 
tall-growing grass, with a graceful panicle of drooping or nodding spikes 
of flowers. ‘These are long and roundish, or flat when mature. Where 
plentiful it affords excellent pasturage. 
Stipa viridula, Trin.—From four to six feet high in favorable situa- _ 
tions, with a plentiful supply of large flat leaves. A considerable 
amount of the mountain grazing comes from this species. 
Poa serotina, Khrh., and the other species enumerated in the cata- 
logue, abound plentifully in the higher as well as in the low mountain 
districts, and are all rich, nutritious grasses, and, where abundant, afford 
valuable food for ail kinds of stock. 
Triticum caninum, repens, and egilepoides contribute largely to the 
pasturage of some districts, and are not deemed so vaiueless as in the 
Hast, and, with a few other species in particular localities, are the chief 
reliance for grazing animals in these neighborhoods. 
The Oyperace are largely consumed by stock, and are even made into 
hay where abundant. ‘The large family of Carex afford the best species. 
Though less nutritious and palatable than most of the true gramina- 
ceous plants, they are liighly valued and largely used in some mountain 
districts. Carex Gayana, Desf., in’the mountain valleys of Colorado 
Territory, affords the principal hay of the country, but many other spe- 
cies are used for both hay and pasturage. The relative value of the 
several species depends more on quantity than quality, excluding a few 
of the coarse aquatic kinds that are quite worthless. 
The comparatively few species above described embrace the chief 
erazing resources of the region under consideration, and these resources 
are conceded by every one to be the principal source of the wealth of 
the country. The early pioneer, however, has already learned how soon 
the native grasses are destroyed by the clipping and treading of domes- 
tic animals, and he sees with regret their places immediately occupied 
by Erigeron Canadense, Lin.; Ambrosia psilostachya, D. C.; Ambrosia 
artemisiafolia, Lin.; Iva ciliata, Willd.; Iva axanthiifolia, Nutt.; Mono- 
lepis Nuttalliana, Moq.; Amaranthus blitum, Lin.; Polygonum aviculare, 
Lin.; Solanum rostratum, Dun.; Helianthus lenticularis, Nutt.; H. rigi- 
dus, Desf.; H. mollis, Lam.; Dysodia chrysanthemoides, Lagasca; Abuti- 
lon avicenne, Gertn.; Datura stramonium, Lin.; Hrigeron divaricatum, 
Michx.; Panicum capillare, Lin.; Panicum sanguinale, Lin.; Panicum 
filiforme, Lin.; Eragrostis megastachya, Link.; Vilfa vagineflora, Torr. ; 
and Aristida dichotoma, Michx.; worthless weeds and grasses, that occupy 
the soil to the exclusion of every profitable production. He sees that, 
as settlement progresses and domestic animals increase, the natural 
pastures diminish, and he recognizes the inevitable destiny of the grass 
product, which is the principal résource of his country, unless it can be 
supplied by cultivated species, and he naturally turns his attention and 
directs his labors to this task. The test of experiment alone is to 
demonstrate the practicability of his work. ‘The settler finds the ¢l- 
mate peculiar and extreme; not uniform in its several seasons, yet pos- 
sessing extreme general characteristics, to which he must conform his 
operations to be successful. Knowing that the greatest wealth of a 
nation springs indirectly from its agriculture, and that the latter is com- 
pletely successful onky when it adapts itself to.existing conditions ; that 
no conquest over nature pays the cost of the warfare with its spoils, 
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