U NATIVE GRASSES OF NORTHERN MEXICO. 



of these territories have reuclied jinytliing like tlie real jwssibilities 

 of the soil and eliniate. 



Sereiio AVatson, a very carcfnl observer wlio has sjicnt much 

 time ill tlie liasin, makes a long report in the United States Geo- 

 logical Exploration of the Fortieth Parallel. Ho observes that 

 the climate is characterized by a very dry atmosphere, small 

 amount of rain and snow, by a cold -winter and a correspondingly 

 hot summer. No portion of this whole district is destitute of 

 some vegetation, even in the driest seasons, excei^ting only the 

 alkali plats. The vegetation possesses a monotonous sameness of 

 aspect, and is characterized mainly by the absence of trees, by 

 tlio want of a grassy greensward, the wide distribution of a few 

 low shrubs, and by the universally prevalent gray or dull olive 

 color of the herbage. 



The turllng ''buffalo*' or "grama'' grasses, which make the 

 l)laln8 east of the Rocky Mountains a vast pasture for the bison, 

 deer, and antelope, are hero unknown. The grass grows in 

 sparsely scattered tufts, dying away with the early summer heat. 

 Tlie two or three species that mat into a sward are confined to 

 alkaline meadows and are nearly worthless for pasturage. 



Native Grasses of Northern Mexico. — During the summer 

 of 188"), C. G. Pringle collected and studied the flora of this 

 (country, mainly in the Mexican State, Chihuahua. By request 

 ho has furnished full notes, from which the following arc taken: 



With' respect to the cultivated si)ecics, I think I shall sur])rise 

 you l)y declaring that though I botanized carefully in the irrigated 

 and tilled valleys as Avell as on the plains, and on the hills and 

 mountains of every geological formation in that State, and from 

 tiie beginning to the end of the season, I saw not a single plant 

 of the exotic grasses commonly cultivated in the United States ; 

 not a stalk of PJiJeuni prntrnso (Timothy), nor Poa prafcnsis 

 (June grass), nor A<jrostis vuh/aris (red-top), nor any other whose 



