90 AGRICULTURAI- GRASSES OF MONTANA. 



Reed Beut Grass {Deyetixia). — There are quite a number of 

 species of this genus native to the country, all possessing some 

 A^alue for forage, being readily eaten by stock. Grasses that grow 

 naturally on these dry bench lands without irrigation, and hold 

 the ground in spite of excessive grazing, deserve special attention, 

 for these are the species which will best meet the requirements 

 of the farmer when it becomes necessary for him to cultivate 

 grasses on these same lands. 



"Buffalo Grass," Mesquite {Boutelotia oligostachya). — The true 

 Buffalo Grass (Buchloe) was not seen, but this Bouteloua, which 

 the ranchmen of Montana recognize under that name, is a no less 

 valuable species for grazing. It frequents the bench lands at 

 elevations of from 3,000 to 4,500 feet, and not uncommonly covers 

 wide areas. Its strong, perennial roots and fine curly leaves 

 make a dense turf that yields a large amount of forage, and no 

 other species seems better to withstand the tramping of stock 

 than this. 



^June Grass" {Kceleria cristata). — This is one of the most 

 common grasses of the bench lands, disputing possession of the 

 soil with Poa tennifolia, with which it is almost always associated. 

 On the dry benches it is seldom over a foot high, l)ut on irrigated 

 grounds it grows to the height of two feet or more, and makes 

 excellent hay. "June-grass" is the only local name I heard 

 applied to this species. [It may be needless to say here that this 

 is not the grass called "June-grass " in the east.] 



"Bunch-grass," "Meadow-grass," " Spear-grass," etc., {Poa). 

 There are a large number of Poas found throughout the north- 

 ern portion of our country, and one and all are excellent pasture 

 grasses. Wherever grasses grow at all, from the sea-shore to the 

 mountain-top, from the arctic zone to the antarctic, this genus 

 has its representatives. In Montana, Poa nemoralis ascends to 

 the altitude of 9,000 feet. At this elevation it is dwarfed in 

 habit, but lower down the mountain's side it soon becomes taller. 



