28 



BULLETIN 201, U. S. DEPARTMENT OP AGEICULTTJEE. 



HORDEUM GUSSONEANUM Pari. (Hordeummaritimum With.). 



Hordeum gussoneanum, like H. jubatum, is an introduced weed, but it inhabits 

 lower, moister situations and is not so abundant and widely distributed in this country. 

 The situations in which it is found are mostly low, moist places where water stands for 

 a portion of the year, thus killing out other plants. Its feeding value is approximately 

 the same as II. jubatum. 



No. 8319 was collected near Stockton, Gal., May 26, 1906. The sample represents the 

 plant in the milk state. It was cut close to the ground. Its percentage of moisture 

 was 6.35. Other constituents (on a water-free basis) were as follows: Ash, 11.77 

 ether extract, 1.96; crude fiber, 33.02; nitrogen-free extract, 44.65; protein, 8.60; 

 pentosans, 26.19. 



HORDEUM JUBATUM L. 



Hordeum jubatum is the common squirreltail grass which inhabits saline, moist 

 situations as far west as the valley of the Little Colorado in Arizona. West of this it 

 gives place to H. murinum, or wall barley, discussed elsewhere. The quality of the 

 feed produced by H. jubatum is about the same as that produced by the other species 

 and approximately the same remarks apply to it. It is often a troublesome weed in 

 meadows in situations best adapted for its development. (PL V, fig.l.) 



No. 8356 was collected in cultivated irrigated fields and meadows on the bottoms 

 along the Little Colorado River near Winslow, Ariz., June 1, 1906. Here this grass 

 appears to gain a foothold in the lower, poorer tilled portions of alfalfa fields and 

 gradually spreads from here to occupy more and more of the field. The sample was 

 in early blossom and was cut 1J inches high. No. 8799 was collected near Fargo, 

 N. Dak., August 10, 1907. The sample was somewhat rusty and the seed nearly 

 ripe. It was cut close to the ground. 





Percent- 

 age of 

 moisture. 



Water-free basis (per cent). 



Material analyzed. 



Ash. 



Ether 

 extract. 



Crude 

 fiber. 



Nitrogen- 

 free 

 extract. 



Protein. 



Pento- 

 sans. 



Our sample No. 8356 



7.24 

 5.21 



15.08 

 12.11 

 10.41 



1.96 

 2.67 

 3.56 



28.23 

 32.49 

 32.13 



47.26 

 42.77 

 41.99 



7.47 

 9.96 

 11.91 



12.60 



Our sample No. 8799 



25.58 













Average of all 





10.83 



3.39 



31.90 



42.40 



11.48 











i Colorado Bui. 12, p. 118. Iowa: Bui. 30, p. 320; Bui. 56, p. 533. Montana Report, 1902, p. 66. South 

 Dakota Bui. 40, p. 156. Wyoming: Bui. 65, p. 25; Bui. 87, p. 56. 



HORDEUM MURINUM L. 



Hordeum murinum is a very persistent and pernicious annual weed, introduced from 

 the Mediterranean region. It grows in the most favorable places on uplands, as well 

 as lowlands, throughout California and extends eastward into Arizona. In California 

 it has found congenial conditions upon uncultivated lands. In Arizona, however, 

 where conditions are less favorable, it inhabits cultivated and irrigated areas, being 

 especially troublesome in alfalfa fields. On this account, it is a common practice of 

 the renter to require that the first crop of alfalfa be cut, in order to get rid of as much 

 as possible of this weed. While it may be classed among the weeds, it nevertheless 

 furnishes a large amount of quite valuable forage. It is readily grazed up to the time 

 that it heads out; after that time the awns are very annoying to stock. When it occurs 

 in hay, these work in between the teeth of horses and cattle and often cause consider- 

 able injury. Reports show that there is a way to feed it successfully, however. Some 

 have chopped it up with a hay cutter and moistened it for 12 or 24 hours, when the 

 awns are so softened that they produce no deleterious effects. Pasture meadows 

 having very much of this grass in them should be mowed about the time that it begins 

 to head out, thus getting rid of the awns and sharp fruit. 



