20 



BULLETIN 201, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



COTTEA PAPPOPHOROIDES Kunth. 



Cottea pappophoroides is a handsome species, growing in bunches of moderate size, 

 12 to 18 inches high, from western Texas to Arizona. It is not abundant enough to be 

 seriously considered, except as a filler which adds an occasional palatable morsel in 

 the general forage supply. At the present time it is much more abundant where pro- 

 tected by shrubbery than elsewhere, owing probably to the fact that it has been 

 largely killed out by overgrazing. 



No. 9617 was collected in the Santa Rita Mountains, Ariz., September 22, 1908. 

 The sample was nearly mature and was cut 1J inches high. Its percentage of moisture 

 was 2.54. Other constituents (on a water-free basis) were as follows: Ash, 5.90; ether 

 extract, 1.66; crude fiber, 33.21; nitrogen-free extract, 51.76; protein, 7.47; pentosans, 

 20.17. 



DESCHAMPSIA CAESPITOSA (L.) Beauv. 



Deschampsia caespitosa (tussock grass) is common in the wet meadows of all the 

 Northern States, and extends in the mountainous regions even into central California 

 and northern Arizona. While producing tussocky formations in some of the North- 

 eastern States, its habit is usually very different in the western moist mountain regions. 

 There tussocks are seldom formed, the grass growing scatteringly among other species 

 with no semblance of tussock formation. It is a handsome silvery-topped species, 

 which enters very largely into the composition of both hay and pasture meadows. Its 

 quality is good, and it is relished by stock. 



No. 8859 was collected at Summit, Mont., August 15, 1907. The sample was in blos- 

 som and was cut 3 inches high. 





Percent- 

 age of 

 moisture. 



Water-free basis (per cent). 



Material analyzed. 



Ash. 



Ether 



extract. 



Crude 

 fiber. 



Nitrogen- 

 free 

 extract. 



Protein. 



Pento- 

 sans. 





7.70 



7.29 

 7.20 



1.67 

 1.56 



32.31 

 36.12 



52.63 

 47.31 



6.10 

 7.81 



25.57 

















7.21 



1.57 



35.75 



47.84 



7.63 











i Canada Central Experiment Farm Bui. 19, pp. 28, 32. Colorado Bui. 12, p. 72. Wyoming: Bui. 65, 

 p. 34; Bui. 70, pp. 54, 57; Bui. 87, p. 44. 



DISTICHLIS SPICATA L. Greene. 



In some portions of the country, Distichlis spicata (salt-grass) is considered of no value 

 as a forage plant. However, upon large areas of alkaline soils throughout the arid West 

 it is the principal grass and furnishes continuous pasturage to thousands of stock through 

 the entire summer season. It is true that it is a tough, wiry species, but cattle eat it 

 readily and apparently thrive where they have no other feed . It is also grazed in the 

 dry condition, that is, after it is dry-cured upon the ground. What its value is in this 

 condition, as compared with other grasses which mature in the same way upon the 

 western prairies, no one has investigated. In spite of the fact that it is often tabooed 

 as of no value it must be considered as one of the important native grasses of the arid 

 West, and especially is it important, since it often inhabits soils upon which very few 

 other plants would live. This is one of several species of grass which has been noted 

 in recent years as secreting a gummy acid substance. This is very noticeable in some 

 situations in the arid West, and it is so abundant as to gum the clothing of a person 

 walking through it. 



No. 8725a was collected near Tampa, Fla., June 12, 1907. The sample was in full 

 blossom and was cut at the surface of the water in which it grew, about 3 inches above 

 the ground. 



