TjiE We^i' Jl^z^izRil geiEpli'igi'. 



Vol. VI. JUNE, 1889. No. 44 



SOA/E NATIl'E FORAGE PLANTS OF SOUTHERN 

 CALIFORNIA. 



One would scarcely look at the Colorado desert to furnish any 

 valuable additions to the list of forage plants. The value of the 

 mesquite and allied trees has been mentioned in a former paper, 

 but we now have to treat of other plants which have borne the 

 test lor over three years. 



A portion of the month of April this year was spent on the 

 borders of this desert, where we were fortunate in making the 

 ac(iuaintance of Mr. Marion D. Haydon, whose hospitality we 

 enjoyed for several days. From this reliable observer we learned 

 many interesting facts, especially concerning the following plants, 

 which information may pro\e of great economic value in the arid 

 portions of the west. 



ALIILARIA. 



Alfilaria (Erodium cicutarium, L'Her.) was found abundantly 

 around Mr. Haydon's desert ranch, which is located on the Q^'g^ 

 of a sandy ])lain, surrounded by granite hills on several sides and 

 locally known as the Dos Cabesas from two hugh rocks above the 

 spring resembling human heads in their general contour. He 

 had a small band of horses and cattle which he proposed to pas- 

 ture all of this summer on the surrounding plains. To a stranger 

 the alfilaria might seem to have been the only food obtainable by 

 the cattle. While at this season it was doubtless relished by the 

 stock better than anything else, yet it will be seen later that it 

 was not the only available forage. Eight years ago not a plant 

 of alfilaria was to be seen growing on this desert where now it is 

 so abundant. It made its first appearance on the desert slope at 

 about that time around the old stage station at Mountain Springs, 

 where it is now luxuriant. Erodium moschatum was not ob- 

 served, although near the coast it is usually mixed with the other 

 species, especially in moist valley land. It will be seen how 

 easily the alfilaria may ha\'e been introduced from Europe and 

 have spread so rapidly as to be now considered by some as act- 

 ually indigenous to our country. 



' ' GiETTA ' ' Grass. 



Only one true grass was found growing on these sandy plains 

 "of the desert, although a few others grew among the rocks in the 

 canyons. This grass is Hilaria rigida, kno\yri tg the ranchmen 



