84 NATIVE GRASSES OF THE PACIFIC SLUl'E. 



apccptal)l(', i>r(»l)al)ly, u« any alTordod by the pon'imial {rrasscs. 

 Paiiifuni lucojt/iwHin and Ainlro/)0(/>ni ronforfii.s, in tlit-ir scat- 

 tered tufts on tlu' niesus and foot lulls, are of siniilur value. 



llUario rit/ida on sandy ])lains has hard steuisan*! tough leaves, 

 l)iit aniiiiids arc forced to consunu' it. Panirum fusi-mn, P. 

 rapilhiro var. , and P. rolonviii are rather weeds of tilled lields, 

 and as forajre jtlants |)rol>al)ly equal /'(Uticmn Cnis^jaUi, P. 

 san(fi(bi(ih'. Srfarin f/Iaiini aiul >'. n'n'th's. ^^ ith theni may lie 

 classed ILlopiis punrfalus, I'h'afjrostis Piu'shii var. (liffunn, Chlo- 

 risalhti, Lvjitorhloa vincronala, as they are tender and eaten with 

 avidity. 



Aijroxlis rerticillnld, on tlie margins of water courses, xti a 

 tender and nutritious morsel; so also Entonia ohtusnfa, less 

 abundant in Arizona, Aifi'dxIU vxurata by brooks, and Phalaris 

 intermedia, more widely scattered along streams and in wet. cul- 

 tivated soil. 



To cattle straying over miles of arid wastes, nibbling at the 

 leaves of thorny trees and shrubs, or i)ulling here and there a 

 bitter weed, such grasses a.' Scfai'ia caiidala. Trimspis puhdiella 

 and mutica, Mi!ldeuhcr(jia dehiJis, and even Arisfida Americana 

 and J. Iliimholdfiana, and linnfelnna arisfidoides aiul other 

 species, all scattered iv. thin tufts over hill and mesa, furnish 

 dainty bits seized upon with avidity. When the summer rains 

 fall abundantly these species renew their groAvth, or spring up 

 from seed, and grow rapidly, so as to cover the soil with a pretty 

 close growth of herbi\ge, wliioh furnishes an abundant pasturage 

 to fatten herds during tne autumn months. Only a small part 

 of this is consumed while green; but drying up in the droughts 

 of October and Xovember, and being little weather beaten in 

 that dry climate, it serves co sustain the herds through the 

 winter and early spring months. The more densely covered 

 areas are sometimes mown for hay. 



Coilea makes its growth entirely, as far as I liave observed. 



