NATIVE PASTUEE GRASSES OF THE UNITED STATES. 



29 



No. 8300 was collected near Banning, Cal., May 15, 1906. The sample was in early 

 maturity and was harvested 1 inch above the ground. Its percentage of moisture 

 was 6.70. Other constituents (on a water-free basis) were as follows: Ash, 6.86; 

 ether extract, 2; crude fiber, 35.99; nitrogen-free extract, 47.72; protein, 7.43; pen- 

 tosans, 26.84. 



KOELERIA CEISTATA (L.) Pres. 



Koeleria cristata (June-grass) furnishes very important grazing throughout the 

 Plains regions; it extends from British Columbia to Arizona and from the Alleghanies 

 to the Sierra Nevadas, according to the common acceptance of the species. It is very 

 doubtful, however, whether the prairie forms of the Dakotas and Montana should be 

 considered under the same name as the ones which grow in the mountains of the 

 Southwest. Upon the Plains, from the Dakotas to the Panhandle of Texas, it grows 

 in scattering bunches among other prairie grasses, forming often one-fourth to one- 

 eighth of the vegetation, mostly upon the rolling hillsides. In the mountains of the 

 Southwest it grows in scattering bunches, mostly in thin-growing scattering timber, 

 and matures its seeds in late September and early October; upon the prairies of the 

 Dakotas its seed ripens in early June. Its abundant root leaves, 5 to 10 or 12 inches 

 in length, and its early maturity upon the prairies are characteristics which render it 

 a valuable pasture grass. As a hay plant it is of only medium quality, because the 

 culms are mostly bare and many of the root leaves are lost in the cutting. 



No. 7120 (Wooton) was collected at Moorpark, Cal., April 18, 1913. The specimen 

 was just forming the panicle. No. 8839 was collected at Havre, Mont., August 13, 

 1907. This sample was cut close to the ground and represents the composition of the 

 plant when the culms are well dried up and only about half of the root leaves are 

 green. 





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. 7120 (E. O. W.). 

 Our sample No. 8839 



4.96 

 4.47 



9.26 

 9.65 

 7.18 



2.46 

 2.99 

 3.03 



34.45 

 34.32 

 33.90 



44.69 

 48.56 

 46.77 



9.14 

 4.48 

 9.12 



26.80 

 24.91 

















7.45 



3.03 



33.94 



46.98 



8.60 











1 Canada Central Experiment Farm Bui. 19, p. 28. Colorado Bui. 12. p. 110. South Dakota Bui. 40, 

 p. 116. Wyoming: Bui. 70, p. 44; Bui. 76, p. 48. 



LAMARCKIA AUREA (Dalech) Moench.i 



Lamarckia aurea (golden-top grass) is a handsome species that is native to the Medi- 

 terranean region of the Old World. It is widely introduced in southern California 

 where, together with wild oats, the brome-grasses, and other introduced weedy 

 annuals, it furnishes a large amount of grazing. It can not be considered a first- 

 quality grass, because, in the first place, it is an annual and, in the second place, it 

 is low in stature, seldom becoming a foot in height. It is, however, probably fully 

 as valuable as many of the brome-grasses, but is not to be compared with wild oats. 



No. 8314 was collected at Garvanza, Cal., May 19, 1906. The sample was at nearly 

 full maturity and was pulled up, the roots being then cut off close. Its percentage of 

 moisture was 7.40. Other constituents (on a water-free basis) were as follows: Ash, 

 25.79; etcher extract, 3.17; crude fiber, 29.90; nitrogen-free extract, 36.21; protein, 

 4.93; pentosans, 23.94. . 



1 Moro recently written Achyrodes aureum (L.) Kunze. 



