98 NATIVE (iUASSKS OF NOKTIIKUN MEXICO. 



lu'sidc ilu'iii oil tlu'ir j)()iiit's. and tlu' woiikmi rurrv tlu'in on tlicir 

 hacks i>r liciitl.-, trui»(lliii<f jt; iiil'iilly lu'liiiul tlu' jtonics. How 

 iiiaiiy tinifs \ \in\" coiitciuU'd with tlie liorrid nu-sqiiitr Imslu-s to 

 piithcr an arnifiil of this ^rass to i-arry joyfully to my liun<rry 

 iind jaded horses. 



Miihlfnhrniia f/niri'lis-, Trin., thrives on eool, grassy t^nniniitt) 

 of niojintains, jterliaps tlie most important eh'inent in tlie jtastnr- 

 a<je of sucli ranges, Tt grows in small einmps ahont two feet 

 high, and is ratlu'r wiry and tongli. 



Sjxn'dhnhis Wriijlifu, Munro, grows along water eourses, form- 

 ing great elnmits. nearly cotitignons, four ti» six feet high. 

 These are hrowsed down liy slock within a ^'o<»t or two of tho 

 gronnd. The culms are stout and still" and the leaves long and 

 eons|iicnous. 'i'hey ap[»ear to he acci'ptahU' to animals. It i.s to 

 this s[)ecies notahly that tlu^ ^Mexicans ai)ply the nanu* Zamton 

 or Zttnttc (jniss, meaning great grass. The same mime is giveu 

 to other Kj)ecies. 



Bnutclond /iirsii/a is a common grass on rocky, dry soil of tho 

 hills and plains, with rather wiry culms. 'I'he quality is equal 

 to the most of the species enumerated, and furnishes an impor- 

 tant proportion of the forage of the region. 



IlonfrloKir. ohijOHtachjiii, Torr., var. jxdhihi, Scrih., is the most 

 ahundant species of the ]>lains, especially ahnndant, and forms a 

 elose sod in tho less arid jiortions. In amount of yield and in 

 quality it is surjiassed hy no common grass of the plains, and is 

 tho ouo native species adapted to permanent mowing. I helieve 

 it would hear tho oftects ot close grazing in enclosed areas. 



Bonteloua Ifavanli, Vasey, I tind to he the most valuabla 

 pasture grass of tho hills and mesas around the city of Chihiia- 

 luia. It is perennial and forms a sod more or less interrupted. 

 It is tender and nutritious, and is kept closely cropped during^ 

 most of the year. 



