38 



BULLETIN" 201, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



of the run-off of the desert during the rainy season. In such situations in southern 

 Arizona, often upon desert mesas, small crops of this grass are sometimes harvested 

 as hay. The prime importance, however, of this and closely related species is from 

 a pasture standpoint. It is a hard, brittle-stemmed, brash species, but the stems 

 are perennial, remaining green from year to year, the new growth springing from near 

 the base. On this account it furnishes a feed that is often more palatable to stock 

 after long periods of drought than even the gramas. Taking it all in all, it is not to be 

 compared as a feed with blue grama or with Hilaria cenchroides, but the perennial 

 character of the stems renders it exceptionally valuable after other feeds have become 

 desiccated so as to be of little value. 



No. 7014 (Wooton) was collected near Congress Junction, Ariz., February 18, 1912. 

 This sample represents the grass in its winter condition and was prepared by taking 

 the lower 4 or 5 inches of the stems and leaves, cut abcut 1 inch above the ground. 

 No. 8600 was collected near Deming, N. Mex., September 29, 1906. The specimen 

 was overripe, but all excepting the upper portion of the culm was still green. It was 

 so harvested as to include nothing but this year's growth. 





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. 7014 (E. O. W.). 

 Our sample No. 8600 



5.96 



4.37 



7.27 

 8.55 

 7.80 



1.17 

 2.06 

 1.26 



34.68 

 29.70 

 35.83 



52.68 

 52.17 



48.47 



4.20 

 7.52 

 6.64 



26.72 

 24.52 

















8.17 



1.66 



32.77 



50.32 



7.08 











i New Mexico Bui. 17, p. 37. 



POA ARIDA Vasey. 



In many respects Poa arida is one of the most remarkable species of this genus. It 

 bas methods of propagation exactly comparable to the common cultivated Kentucky 

 bluegrass, but its rootstocks are much longer and it is a salt-loving species of excellent 

 quality. In many situations in the Rio Grande Valley, especially north of El Paso, 

 and in the Pecos Valley, in the vicinity of Roswell, it is found abundantly mixed 

 with Distichlis spicata and Sporobolus airoides. It never makes a perfect stand, but 

 grows scatteringly, as indicated above, among other salt-loving grasses, and it is cer- 

 tainly relished by stock. It grows large enough to be cut for hay, and its seed habits 

 are as good as those of Kentucky bluegrass. 



No. 8363 was collected near Albuquerque, N. Mex., June 2, 1906. The specimen 

 was in a rather overripe condition and was cut off 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. 8363 



4.02 



7.02 

 7.20 



1.99 



2.87 



33.51 

 38.38 



51.88 

 45.92 



5.60 

 5.63 



25.43 













7.14 



2.58 



36.76 



47.90 



5.62 











1 Montana Report, 1902, p. 60; South Dakota Bui. 40, p. 28. 



