39. 
vegetation at this season from that of June was very noticeable. TI 
gathered several interesting grasses in this region, which I have noted 
in the list, giving the names and loealities. October, it would seem, is 
the best month in which to study the grasses of western Texas. I found 
there all the species in their prime of bloom, though it was too early to 
gather seeds. Leaving Limpia Caiion we next came to the broad plain 
watered by Toyah Creek. Although in early Junethisregion was barren, — 
it was now mostly covered with a good carpet of grass. After trav- 
eling for some distance on the prairie we approached the Pecos, where 
the vegetation did not look so cheerful. The soil in the vicinity of the 
river is so impregnated with alkaline salts that only a few grasses and 
other plants can thrive. The Salt-grass (Sporobolus airoides) finds such 
a soil congenial. Its green tussocks in October were scattered about 
in abundance on the flats bordering the river. 
Crossing the Pecos at Pecos City (a village of three stores in running 
order) we took an eastward course to the Sand Hills, which have been 
characterized as ‘“‘a dreary, chaotic belt of reddish sand tossed by the 
wind into hillocks, cones, and ridges of various sizes and shapes.” I saw 
a topography similar to such a description, but at the time of my visit, 
in October, I found a very luxuriant vegetation; though but few shrubs 
beside the Mesquite, which was abundant. The numerous grasses and 
other herbaceous plants were in their full prime of bloom. The species 
of grass peculiar to this belt I have specified in the appended list. 
From the Sand Hills we passed on to the southern edge of the Staked 
Plains, not going farther east than Odessa. At this point the surface 
was covered in many places with large patches of grass, but it looked 
parched and dry. I learned that in August and early September vege- 
tation at this and other portions of the Staked Plains was at its best. 
In the country surrounding Odessa the species of grass by far the most 
abundant is the “White grama” (Aristida). It is valued for hay, and 
seems to be the grass most esteemed at the southern edgeof the Staked 
Plains, keeping its nutritive qualities in the field through the fall and 
early in the winter. 
We returned to Marfa on the same route—by way of Pecos City and 
along Toyah Creek and Limpia Creek. I gathered some more specimens 
and a few seeds. Arriving at Marfa on Friday night, October 21, we 
started the following Monday for the Chenate Mountains. Along our 
route on the high prairies, varied here and there by swells or low ridges, 
the surface was generally covered with good grass, mostly the Gramas. 
But before reaching Cibilo Creek, riding about 40 miles, we passed no 
permanent running stream; only at some of the arroyas, a water-hole 
or tank, where the water is retained a long while after rains. On reach- 
ing the mountains vegetation looked more advanced than in the Limpia 
region. Many of the grasses were past their prime, but I collected 
several good specimens as. well as seeds. While passing through the 
