HORDEAE 147 



hardly form tufts. It is entirely possible that it might be made 

 more valuable if it were encouraged on the ranges it occupies. 

 The two species named and Agropyron arizoniaun give prom- 

 ise of being quite valuable where they will grow, if properly 

 encouraged and cared for, but no such work has yet been done 

 so far as we know. 



The genus to which our cultivated barley belongs, 

 (Hordcuni), is represented in New Mexico by three very eas- 

 ily distinguished species, the third one in our list being prob- 

 ably a recent introduction as a weed in the fields at the south- 

 ern end of the State. As yet it is of little importance but 

 it may get to be a pest in the irrigated lands. 



Squirrel-tail Grass (Hordeuiii jiibafum) is one of 

 the commonest of ditch-bank weeds, especially at the higher 

 levels in the mountains, but not infrequently found along the 

 ditches or in the fields in the lower irrigated valleys, the seeds 

 having come down on the river waters and having been de- 

 flected into the lateral ditches and distributed to the fields. 

 Its name is suggestive of its most pronounced characteristics, 

 though it is not infrequent to hear it called "fox-tail grass." 

 (The latter name should be reserved for the species of Chae- 

 tochloa referred to previously. They resemble Italian millet 

 somewhat.) It is a tufted or "bunch" grass of a bright yel- 

 lowish green, with numerous erect stems about a foot high and 

 conspicuously long bearded heads. It is of little or no value as 

 a forage plant but is a pretty aggressive weed in some places. 

 It is apt to get into alfalfa-fields at the middle levels where the 

 summer is moderatel}- cool and is considerable of a nuisance. 

 Its profusion of light seeds that float readily on the irrigation 

 water and its habit of growing beside streams in the mountains 

 make this method of seed dissemination most effective and at 

 the same time hard for the farmer to combat. 



Hordeum nodosum sometimes called Wild or Meadow 

 Barky is a small grass found only at high levels in the moun- 

 tains, usually on high peaks or in wet nieadows. In the lat- 

 ter situation associated with sedges, rushes and other grasses 



