5D 
which are eight to fifteen in number, 2 to 3 inches long, and umbellate 
or fasciculate at the top of the clum or of the lateral branches. 
This is a common grass in the arid regions of New Mexico, Arizona, 
and further south and west. It furnishes a large quantity of foliage, 
but of its agricultural value we have no information. (Plate 15.) 
Baxteloes oligostach ya (Grama, mesquite grass). 
the commonest species on the Great Plains. It is frequently 
the 
cipal grass, and is the main reliance for the vast herds of cattle which 
are raised there. It grows chiefly in sinall, roundish patches, closely 
pressed to the ground, the foliage being in a dense cushion-like mass. 
The leaves are short and crowded at the base of the short stems. The 
flowering stalks seldom rise over a foot in height and bear, near the top, 
one or two flower spikes, each about an inch long and from one-eighth 
to one-quarter of an inch wide, standing out nearly at right angles, like 
‘a small flag floating in the breeze. Where much grazing prevails, how- 
ever, these flowering stalks are eaten down so much that only the mats 
of leaves are observable. In bottom lands and low, moist ground it 
grows more closely, and under favorable ciUcunstancss forms a pretty 
close sod, but even then it is not adapted for mowing, although it is 
sometimes cut, making a very light crop. Under the ast favorable 
cireumstances the product of this grass is small compared with the eul- 
tivated grasses. Itis undoubtedly highly nutritious. Stock of all kind 
are fond of it, and eat it in preference to any grass growing with it. It 
dries and cures on the ground so as to retain its nutritive Scotties in 
the winter. No attempt is generally made by stockmen to feed cattle 
in the winter. They are expected to “ rustle around,” as the phrase is, 
and find their living, and in ordinary winters, as the fall of snow is light, 
they are enabled to subsist and make a pretty good appearance in the 
spring. But in severe winters there are losses of cattle, sometimes very 
heavy. (Plate 16.) 
Bouteloua polystachya (Low grama-grass). 
his species probably does not reach farther north than northern New 
Mexico. It is an annual, from 6 to 10 inches high, growing in clumps; 
the culms are slender, branching, and bent at the lower joints. The 
culny terminates in a raceme-like panicle, 3 to 6 inches long, composed 
of five to seven alternate, narrow, one-sided spikes, which are about 1 
inch long and one-half inch to 1 heh apart. ere are several varie- 
ties or forms of this species, some smaller and some larger. It abounds 
near the banks of streams and furnishes excellent pasturage. (Plate 
17.) 
Buchloé dactyloides (Buffalo- grass). : 
This grass is extensively spread over all the region known as the 
Great Plains. It is very low, the bulk of leaves seldom rising more 
