54 
eat. Without this grass miners and prospectors would find great difficulty in 
traversing the arid 3 and desert regions of the Southwest, since scarcel 
any other forage plan occur E the districts occupied by “the gietta.” 
(Oreutt.) The Due of w we have four species, are grasses penalise 
adapted for growth in the dele dl nonirrigable lands of the Southwest, and 
although they are, with the exception of Hilaria R, dod and tough, 
the forage they afford is very acceptable in the absence of m 
Holcus lanatus Linn. Velvet-grass; Velvet Meadow Soft-grass; Velvet Mesquit; 
elvet Lawn-grass; Meadow Bee grass; Woolly Soft-grass; White Timothy; 
Yorkshire White; Yorkshire Fog; Salem-grass; Feather- grass; Calf-kill; Hunga- 
rian Blue-grass. (Fig. 50.) 
A perennial, 1 to 2 feet high, with a creeping sootstock, clothed all over with a soft, 
whitish pubescence. This grass has been 5 into this country from 
Europe, and has become naturalized in many plac It possesses little nutri- 
tive value, and is not well liked by stock, pipi horses. It possesses 
some value, however, on peaty or sandy soils where the better grasses will not 
ow. Its cultivation, however, is not recommended. It is entirely unsuited 
for lawns. 
Holcus mollis Linn. Creeping Soft-grass. 
Closely allied to Velvet-grass, and said to be similarly well adapted to light, r 
forest lands. It is occasionally found in the Eastern States, the seed having 
been introduced with that of other grasses from Europe, as both Holcus mollis 
and Holcus lanatus are often used to adulterate the seeds of more expensive 
grasses, especially the so-called prepared mixtures of seedsmen. In Germany 
this =< is used on railway embankments, where on the poor, thin soil its 
eeping roots form a turf which holds the earth together, thus pre- 
venting it from being washed or blown away. 
Homalocenchrus sp. (See Leersia.) 
Hordeum decorticatum. (See Hordeum sativum.) 
Hordeum jubatum Linn. Squirrel-tail-grass; Foxtail; Wild Barley. (Fig.51.) 
A rather slender annual or biennial, — about a foot high, growing along the 
f the Gre 
lel 
and the head or spike is thus given the appearance of the “ brash” of the fox 
ence the common name, ‘‘foxtail.” This grass is sometimes recommended for 
cultivation for ornament, and if the tops are cut off before the awns have ex- 
panded they may be used for dry bouquets; but the heads soon break up, and for 
this reason the grass is of little value even for ornament. It has no agricultural 
value, and, in fact, where it has spread in the West, as it often does along the 
rigating 
with several long and slender beards, stick fast in the nose and mouth of horses 
and cattle, often penetrating ud flesh, and cases are reported where they have 
caused the death of these anim 
Hordeum murinum Linn. Squirrel-grass; Foxtail; Barley-grass (in California)? 
A coarse, tufted annual, 6 inches to 2 feet high, Sabes dense and somewhat flattened, 
bearded spikes 2 to 4 inches long. The beards or barbed awns are 1 to 
inches long and rather rigid. This grass is a native of Europe, and has been 
introduced along the Pacific Coast, 5 in California, where it has 
become a serious pest. At maturity, t ead or spike readily N up, and 
the groups of spikelets, which are iat pointed at the base, adhere to almost 
any passing object; they work up the nostrils of cattle and into + dien of 
