NATIVE GRASSES OF THE GREAT BASIN. 93 



direction. I venture to say she will not find beyond her borders 

 more valuable species either for hay or for pasturage. 



Poa tenuifolia, Kwleria cristata, Stipa viridula, and Poa pra- 

 tensis (three feet high) were the prevailing species; then came 

 Stipa comata, Agropyrum glaucum, A. divergens, Elymus con- 

 densatus, Poa Nevadensis, Agrostis scdbra, and Hordeumjubatum ; 

 along the streams or growing in the water were Glyceria aquatica, 

 G. mrvata, Beckmannia erucceformis, Alopecurus aristulatus, and 

 Catabrosa aquatica. 



Some species extend over many degrees north and south, others 

 range within narrow limits. Some of wide range have their 

 limits of greatest abundance confined to a few degrees. So it is 

 in the matter of elevation above the sea. Some species range 

 from sea level to nearly the line of perpetual snow, others are 

 found only at certain elevations, extending but a little above or 

 below a given altitude, while others again may have a considerabe 

 range, but it is only within narrow limits that they are able to 

 conquer in the struggle for life and gain almost complete posses- 

 sion of the soil. 



With a little experience one could tell in Montana with a con- 

 siderable degree of certainty the altitude of his position by the 

 prevailing grasses about him. Bouteloua olygostachya and Ory- 

 zopsis cuspidata were never abundant above 4,000 feet. Agropy- 

 rum glaucum ranged a little higher, while Poa tenuifolia, Kceleria 

 cristata, and Stipa viridula prevailed up to about 5,000 feet. 

 Agropyrum divergens became the leading species between 5,000 

 and 5,500, when Festuca ovina took the field and usually held its 

 own up to 6,000 feet, when it in turn gave way to Festuca scdbrella, 

 which has its line of greatest vigor between 6,000 and 7,000 feet. 



Native Grasses of the Great Basin. For Arizona and 

 New Mexico in this basin, Dr. J. T. Rothrock ventures the asser- 

 tion that for want of water there will always be much waste land 

 so far as raising crops is concerned. For want of water, neither 



