98 NATIVE GRASSES OF NORTHERN MEXICO. 



beside them on their 2)oiiies, and the women carry them ou their 

 backs or lieads, trundling painfully behind the ponies. How 

 many times I have contended with the horrid mesquite bushes to 

 gather an armful of this grass to carry joyfully to my hungry 

 and jaded horses. 



MuhJenhergia gracilis-, Trin., thrives on cool, grass}' summits 

 of mountains, i:)erhaps the most important element in the pastur- 

 age of such ranges. It grows in small clumps al)out two feet 

 high, and is rather Aviry and tough. 



Sporobohis Wrightii, Munro, grows along water courses, form- 

 ing great clumjis, nearly contiguous, four to six feet liigh. 

 These are browsed down by stock within a '•'oot or two of the 

 ground. The culms are stout and stiff and the leaves long and 

 conspicuous. They ajipear to be acceptable to animals. It is to 

 this species notably that the Mexicans apph' the name Zacaton 

 or Zacate grass, meaning great grass. Tl\e same name is given 

 to other species. 



Bouteloiia liirsuta is a common grass on rocky, dry soil of the 

 hills and plains, with rather wiry culms. The quality is equal 

 to the most of the species enumerated, and furnishes an impor- 

 tant proportion of the forage of the region. 



Boutelona oligostachya, Torr., var. j)alUda, Scrib., is the most 

 abundantfspecies of the plains, esi^ecially abundant, and forms a 

 close sod in the less arid portions. In amount of yield and in 

 qnality it is surpassed by no common grass of the plains, ami is 

 the one native species adapted to permanent mowing. I believe 

 it Avould bear the effects of close grazing in enclosed areas. 



Boutelona Harvardi, Vasey, I find to be the most valuabla 

 pasture grass of the hills and mesas around the city of Chihua- 

 hua. It is ])erennial and forms a sod more or less interrupted. 

 It is tender and nutritious, and is kept closely cropped during 

 most of the vear. 



