FORAGE PLANTS OF ARIZONA AND NEW MEXICO. 
In September, 1887, a circulur was sent to about fifty stockmen in 
Arizona and New Mexico, asking for Specimens of any plants used for 
forage, with notes on their value. Considerable valuable information 
Was thus obtained. The returns showed that many plants which are 
regarded elsewhere as useless weeds are of much value there for for- 
ige. The specimens sent were numbered to correspond with the ac 
companylug notes. These specimens were identified by the botanist, 
and their lames, together with other information, returned to the send- 
ers. The following notes, sent by Dr. J. Pool, of Benson, Ariz., will serve 
as un example of the replies. Further information on these and other 
forage plants of this region will be found elsewhere in this bulletin. 
Sporobulus Wrightii (Sacaton grass). 
Th 
is grass is adapted to the Valleys, and grows on any kind of © 
soil, good or poor, where there is a little moisture. It grows 
at all times of the year, attaining the height of 8 or 9 feet. 
Vhen there is plenty of rain in J tly and August it grows very 
fast, and in September it blooms. It grows in bunches or tus- 
socks, and finall y mats together. It grows from both the seed 
and root; is very hardy, and does not tramp out very easily. 
It is sometimes cut for hay. 
Trichloris verticillata (sometimes called Fox-tail grass). : 
‘his grass is very good forage, growing on the high land of the 
valleys. It comes from seed after the suinmer rains fall. It 
stows to the height of 4 feet, and is not easily tramped out. 
Bouteloua polystachya (Six-weeks grass). 
This grass starts after every rain, on the mesas and bottom lands, 
and comes to maturity in six weeks. It grows very thick, comes 
every year, and is relished by horses, cattle, sheep, ete. 
Muhlenbergia Texana (Grama grass). : 
This grass is adapted to the mesa lands, table lands, and hills, 
and grows to the height of 2 feet, and in bunches or clusters, 
matted together. It is very fine feed for cattle, horses, and 
sheep, and it also makes very good hay, of which a great 
many tons are cut every year. It Starts up after every rain. 
Seed, as you will see by the specimens. It 
Stands drougths very well, which we often have in this Terr J 
tory, and when the dry weather comes it dries and remains 
cattle run on the range. 
good all winter. But it tramps out in three or four years where 
