THE GRASS QUESTION. 203 



forage grasses offered by European seed merchants at 

 the present day numbers over two hundred annual, bien- 

 nial and perennial varieties ; but, without doubt, the 

 number will, ere long, be considerably extended, for 

 there are many wild forms of grasses all over the world 

 well worthy of propagation ; for example, some of the 

 wild grasses of Texas, Arizona and the Southwestern 

 plains, rich when green, and very nutritious in the form 

 of self-dried hay. Many of these may be much improved 

 by critical selection, hybridization and rich feeding, and 

 be fitted for cultivation in all high dry altitudes of the 

 cotton belt. Among these wild grasses of the plains the 

 most common is the Grama grass, a perennial on the 

 heavier soils, and known botanically as Bouteloua oligos- 

 tacTiya. It is found on all the great plains of the South- 

 west, growing in low, cushion-like masses, forming a 

 succession of tussocks a habit rendering it unsuitable 

 for mowing, even if it grew tall enough for hay, which 

 it does not. As a pasturage grass it is highly nutritious, 

 and cures good hay on its own root. 



The next widely distributed variety on the prairie is 

 the Buffalo grass, known as Buchloe dactyloides, a native 

 of the plains from Texas up to Missouri. It is a peren- 

 nial, affording a reliable supply of forage. In dry loca- 

 tions it is desirable as a lawn grass. It is of low habit, 

 seldom rising over four inches, and is inclined to grow 

 in tufts, or patches. It is found in greatest breadths on 

 the Texas prairies in the vicinity of Mesquit trees, hence 

 it is often called Mesquit grass. It possesses a runner 

 of long creeping habit, and, once established on con- 

 genial soil, soon spreads over the adjacent land. Bear- 

 ing few seeds, it is, consequently, best propagated by 

 cuttings. When green, it is sweet and nutritious, and, 

 dried as hay on the root, is very palatable to cattle. 

 During drouths, when appearing to be about dead, it 

 springs into life upon a rain, becoming green in a few 

 hours, and developing with phenomenal rapidity. 



