40 
Chenates I saw at several points burros loaded with wood or hay, he- 
ing driven by Mexicans down the mountain sides. Such is a common 
sight during winter in these mountains.. The value of these mountain 
grasses—in many localities consisting entirely of the Gramas—with 
their esteemed qualities of self-curing, can be seen not only in the 
pasturage they afford in the winter, but in the amount of hay that is 
cut. Immense quantities are cut for hay in the fall, and in a climate 
that continues dry and clear the first half of the year, can be kept 
through the spring and early summer without the protection of barns 
or other buildings. Stoeckmen say that horses and eattle are fond of 
the blooms of the Gramas; the “heads or tops” as they call them. In 
the fall, when the grasses are fresh, stock often prefer the tops to the 
foliage. 
While passing through some of the gorges and on the lower mesas 
(on our way to Presidio on the Rio Grande) the Grama-grasses could 
be seen in great abundance. But descending to the bottom-land, that 
stretches for some distance till it reaches the river, I saw only scanty 
growths of grass, only slight patches here and there, often only a stray 
plant or tussock. The few specimens I gathered in the neighborhood 
of Presidio I have noted in the list. Arriving at Marfa, on our return 
trip the last day of October, we started on the 2d of November for a 
three days’ trip over to Musquis, by way of Paisano, returning by way 
of Fort Davis. Though late in the season, I gathered several peecinene 
and seeds. 
The following grasses were collected during my whole Sein: 
Panicum fasciculatum. 
Different forms of this grass I found growing in the gravelly soil 
on the craggy slopes. I sawit nowhere in abundanee, generally 
in seattered tussocks. It seemed to be more common in the 
Limpia region than elsewhere. 
Panicum ciliatissimum. 
This I saw in a few places in the Limpia region. Less abundant 
than the preceding. 
Panicum autumnale, var. 
This is frequently seen on the lower ridges and in gravelly soil 
near the creeks. 
Panicum bulbosum. 
This I saw in several places at Limpia Cajion, on gravelly slopes 
near the creek, and in like situations in Musqnis Cafion. 
Panicum lachnanthum. 
Frequent on many of the lower ridges, more common on slight 
elevations in the valleys. On some,of the bottom-lands, where — 
the soil is sandy or gravelly, it is seen in great profusion. 
a PS ls 
