NATIVE GRASSES OF THE GREAT BASIN. 98 



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

 more valuable species either for hay or for pasturage. 



Poa tenuifoUa, Kcpleria cristata, Stijui riridula, and Foa jjru- 

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

 Stljm comata, Agrojyynim f/hiucnin, A. divcrycnft, Ehjmns con- 

 densatus, Poa Xcmdcnsis, Agroxtu^ seal, a, and Ilordcuinjubafnm; 

 along the streams or growing in the water were Glyceriaaquatica, 

 G. nervata, Bechmanniaerucmformh, Alopecurusaristulatus, and 

 Cat ah rofia aq u at iva. 



Some species extend over many degrees north and south, others 

 range within narrow limits. Some of wide range liave their 

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

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

 from sea level to nearly the line of jierpetual 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 witMn 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 ^lontana with a con- 

 siderable degree of certainty the altitude of his position by the 

 prevailing grasses about him. Botitclona olyijOHtachya and Onj- 

 zopsts cusjndata were never abundant above 4,000 feet. Ayropij- 

 riim glaucuiii ranged a little higher, while Poa. tcnuifnUa, Ktehria 

 cristiita, and Stipa viriduhi prevailed up to about ,5,000 feet. 

 Af/ropi/nim divergcns became tlu^ leading species between 5,000 

 and 5,500, when Festuca on'tia took the field and usually held its 

 own up to G,000 feet, when it in turn gave way to Festuca scahrcUa, 

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



Native Grasses of the Great Basin. — For Arizona and 

 ^'ew Mexico in this basin. Dr. J. T. IJothrock 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 



