WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. 721 



native grasses I And we have already tabulated one hundred and three 

 species. Our principal work has been with Great Palls and Helena as 

 centers of circles, with a diameter say of 50 miles, together with ex- 

 cursions occasionally made to more distant points. But could we give 

 our attention to the extensive plains of eastern Montana, the water 

 courses running northward and emptying into the Yellowstone, or the 

 rich and distant flora of the Bitter Boot Mountains and the Flathead 

 Eeservation, we could increase our list very materially. Yet, for the 

 purposes of this article, our experience is such that our list undoubtedly 

 includes the principal forage grasses. Dr. Anderson has already made 

 a valuable report to the Government, which published his results in 

 the report for 1888. 



One of the best grasses of Montana for sheep is what is called 

 "grama," or " gramma" {Bouteloua oUgostachya). A very good illustra- 

 tion of this grass when luxuriant, and as it grows in the south land, is 

 found in Plate XLi, of "Grasses of the Southwest," by Dr. Geo. Vasey, 

 Botanist of the U. S. Department of Agriculture. With us the grass 

 averages say 8 inches in height and has one or two spikes of flowers. 

 Yet in favorable places ours will grow to 18 inches. It loves dry, 

 arid plains; the whole plant above ground is rich in food material, 

 eatable by cattle, horses, and sheep close to the ground. The ripened 

 seeds are numerous and valuable. In all stages of its growth and 

 maturity, even after our hot summer suns have cured it standing on 

 the plains, and until the winter snows have covered it so that cattle, 

 horses, and sheep have to "rustle" to reach it, this grass is a treas- 

 ure of inestimable value. There is no waste to it. As a grass to 

 cultivate, this native Western plant calls upon Americans to try its 

 virtues which have proven so rich for buffalo, cattle, and sheep. Dr. 

 Geo. Vasey, in his valuable work on " The Agricultural Grasses and 

 Forage Plants of the United States," gives a very natural picture of 

 this estimable grass in Plate LXii. 



Along side of the Boutelouas in value for sheep, must be placed our 

 several varieties of Poa, of which we have in Montana ten species: 

 Foa andina, P. cenicia, P. GusicMi Vasey, P. Galifornica, P. Icevis, P. 

 nemoralis, P. Nevadensis var. glauca Scribner, P. pratensis, P. serotina, 

 and P. tenuifolia. All these are of great value to the grazing industry 

 of the country. The taller varieties would well repay cultivation, but 

 all of them grow in such manner as to be especially valuable as for- 

 age plants, and yield themselves without any waste whatever. P. an- 

 dina, P. Galifornica, and P. tenuifolia are especially valuable to the 

 sheep industry. Go where one will in Montana, from the damj) mead- 

 ows of the streams to the high bench lands and the plains, even to the 

 peaks of lofty mountains, and he is ever greeted by these welcome Poas, 

 wliich like the gramma grasses, are eaten by sheep without any waste. 

 Mingled with the Poas is to be found the " June grass " (Koeleria 

 cristata), and like them is nutritious, delicate, and agreeable in its en- 

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