NATIVE (JUASSES OF NOUTIIEKN MEXICO. W 



Six or ei^lit other spocies uud varieties of JJoufcluua fiiruish 

 more or loss pasture. 



Uiplachm ihibiti, lU'iith, sends up hero luul tliere, over liills 

 from perenniiil slioots, a few hite, suoculent stems, especially 

 relished by animals. It seems ])robable that this grass would 

 suceeed under good cultivation without irrigation, ami. if so. no 

 species native to Mexico would be likely to yield croi)s of greater 

 amount or of superior cpiality. 



Diphtrline iinhrirata, Scrib., is similar to the last in habit and 

 quality, and would i)robably succeed as well, but ouly on rich soil 

 ■with copious irrigation. 



Arniido dona.r, L., grows on the banks of streams, und is 

 stripped of its broad leaves by cattle, which crowd upon the tall 

 canes, straddling them to bring the leaves within reach. 



f'Jntf/rosfis erosa, Scrib., Is a tall, soft, leafy bunch grass of the 

 mountains, than which none can be more acceptable to stock. 

 Ei'dijrodis Juf/cits. N'ees, is a closely related species, of similar 

 habit and (juality. 



Ill these notes I have said little about the possibility of tlio 

 species tnenticmed for cultivation, because it does not to me seem 

 possible that Mexican agriculture can in tliis generation, or in 

 several generations, attain to the cultivation of grasses. I can- 

 not say in what way their nu'thods are in advance of those of the 

 ancient Egyptians and Syrians; certainly one is astonished to 

 And numerous parallels between their customs and practices and 

 those of the ancients. 



In regard to other forage plants which interest stock growers, 

 I have seen a little lucerne or alfalfa grown there, but only a little. 

 The place it occupies in the American southwest is there filled 

 by barley, wheat, and corn. 



The clovers, native or introduced, are almost entirely wanting 

 in the southwest. Of course there are a large number of plants 

 of many natural orders which help to sustain animal life, and I 



