REPORT OF AN INVESTIGATION OF THE FORAGE PLANTS OF 
WESTERN TEXAS. 
Houston, TEx., January 17, 1583. 
DeAR Sir: In accordance with. the. appointment receive.! from the 
Commissioner of Agriculture to make an investigation of the grassesar.4 
forage plants of the arid districts of western Texas, under your direc: 
tion, I started westward from San Antonio on the 2d of May, having 
secured a good teamster to accompany me. At that time the country 
about San Antonio and westward showed the effects of the severe 
drought that had prevailed for over a year. At San Pedro Springs and 
in places along the San Antovio River, I noticed scattered growths ot » 
Panicum sanguinale, Eleusine indica, Eatonia obtusata, Paspalum dis- 
tichum, and Bromus unioloides, with patches here and there of the Buf- 
falo or early Mesquite grass (Buchloe dactyloides). The system of water- 
works in the city has induced fine lawns of the Bermuda-grass (Cynodon 
dactylon) with luxuriant gardens. But all over the surrounding country 
I] saw no grass; only at very rare intervals a dry-looking plant or two 
of Buchloe. Between San Antonio and Castroville, 27 miles, the Mes- 
quite is by far the most predominant shrub, with occasionally a zizyph ss, 
sometimes called Texas buckthorn, and still less frequently an Acacia. 
The shrubbery and trees became much more varied as we advanced 
west. The prickly pear (Opuntia) was conspicuous all along our route, 
growing more plentiful as we journeyed on. Here and there were signs 
that the Buffalo-grass had a range in this region. Before reaching 
Castroville I saw at the dry beds of some of the creeks a few plants of 
Bromus unioloides in bloom. Next to the Buffalo-grass it seems to with- 
stand the drought better than any other grass 
From San Antonio to Uvalde, 93 miles, we ped only one permanent 
running stream, the Sabinal. As we approached the Hondo, while rid- 
ing over the hills or slight elevations, I noticed the Acacia shrubs, Lizy- 
_phus, Parkinsonia Texana, and a few other shrubs freely mixed with ihe 
Mesquite and a few large trees of live oak and hackberry. The prickly 
pear growths were also more abundant, and I gathered a few specimens 
of the following grasses: Aristida purpurea, Bouteloua Burkei, Triodia ae 
uminata, and Triodia Texana.. On arriving at the Hondo we for ‘tunately 
found one of the water-holes that occur in places along the dry bed of 
this and also of other water-courses. I collected three grasses at this — 
place : 2 Panicum sanguinale, Chloris verticillata, and Chloris cucullatd 
