10 



BULLETIN 201, U. S. DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTURE. 



ARISTIDA SCABRA Kth. 



Aristida scabra is closely related to A, scheidiana, but is a larger, coarser plant, com- 

 monly inhabiting the 4,500 to 5,000 foot levels of the mountains of southern Arizona, 

 where it grows mostly in large, isolated bunches. Inhabiting as it does rough, rocky 

 hill and mountain sides, it is not usually grazed as closely as the other species and 

 probably is not quite as good feed. 



No. 8590 was collected in the Santa Rita Mountains, Ariz., September 27, 1906. 

 The specimen was completely dried up with the exception of a small portion near 

 the base. It was harvested about 3 inches high. Its percentage of moisture was 4.62. 

 Other constituents (on a water-free basis) were as follows: Ash, 7.15; ether extract, 

 1.54; crude fiber, 31.59; nitrogen-free extract, 53.37; protein, 6.35; pentosans, 25.49. 



ARISTIDA SCHEIDIANA (T. and R.) Vasey. 



Aristida scheidiana, a species of needle grass, is abundant from western Texas to 

 Arizona. It inhabits, in Arizona especially, the upper foothill regions' and extends 

 in many instances into the mountains to an altitude of about 6,000 feet. Often the 

 amount of feed produced by it is unequaled in quantity by any other species over 

 considerable areas. It is at present invariably closely grazed, and in situations where 

 the ground is not too rough it could be made into hay of fair quality at the rate of a 

 ton to the acre. It is most abundant in the open foothills of the isolated mountain 

 ranges at an altitude of about 4,000 feet. It is now seldom conspicuous upon the 

 open range, because it appears to be quite easily injured by trampling and close 

 grazing. In the large inclosure made by the Department of Agriculture in the Santa 

 Rita Mountains several years ago it is exceedingly abundant and productive over 

 considerable areas, and it produces probably as heavily to the acre as any other species 

 which grows in as pure stands as this does. 



Although the whole genus Aristida is commonly referred to as poverty grass and 

 consists usually of species which produce a poor quality of feed, this one is a decided 

 exception. It is perennial in character, produces a good quantity of leaves, and, 

 although quite rigid and hard, is evidently relished by stock. However, it is not 

 grazed nearly as readily as the gramas with which it is commonly associated. 



No. 9521 was collected at Prescott, Ariz., August 31, 1908. The sample was in 

 blossom, and cut between 2 and 3 inches high. Its percentage of moisture was 6.93. 

 Other constituents (on a water-free basis) were as follows: Ash, 7.20; ether extract, 

 2.55; crude fiber, 34.89; nitrogen-free extract, 49.71; protein, 5.65; pentosans, 24.59. 



AVENA BARBATA Brot. 



Avena barbata is botanically a different species of wild oats from the one that follows, 

 but to the rancher this is unimportant, since no distinction is popularly made between 

 them in the California region. Both are known under the same name. This differs 

 in having a little stricter and narrower panicle and a smaller and narrower seed, while 

 the brown hairs with which both are clothed are somewhat less prominent and lighter 

 in color. 



No. 8264 was collected at Colton, Cal., May 8, 1906, when the entire plant was green 

 and most of the seed in the milk condition. The plants were pulled up and the roots 

 then cut off below the lower leaves, which were all preserved. The sample grew in a 

 rather favorable situation; consequently, it was greener than most of the plants upon 

 the native ranges. No. 8313 was collected at Garvanza, Cal., May 19, 1906. _ The 

 sample was cut about 3 inches high and was in about the same stage of maturity as 

 No. 8264. 





Percent- 

 age of 

 moisture. 



"Water-free basis (per cent). 



Material analyzed. 



Ash. 



Ether 

 extract. 



Crude 

 fiber. 



Nitrogen- 

 free 

 extract. 



Protein. 



Pento- 

 sans. 





5.26 

 6.45 



7.26 

 8.06 



2.69 

 2.68 



36.56 

 36.27 



44.78 

 47.38 



8.71 

 5.61 



24.58 



Our sample No. 8313 



25.16 









5.86 



7.66 



2.69 



36.41 



46.08 



7.16 



24.87 







