"WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. 723 



XXXVII. It gives every promise of encouragement for a good plant to 

 cultivate in arid regions. 



Of the Festucas we have three, F. tenella, F. ovina and F. scabrella. 

 Festuca ovina is especially a grass for sheep, being called "Sheep's Fes- 

 cue." (A fine illustration of it is given in Plate lxxxii, of Dr. Vasey's 

 "Agricultural Grasses," etc.) The fine, short leaves clustered at the 

 base, show it to be especially adapted to sheep. 



Eatonia obtusata, var. rohusta, is also abundant in Montana, and one 

 of our valuable grasses for hay or for grazing. 



The celebrated "bufi'alo grass" (Buchloe dactyloides) has been re- 

 ported from Montana; but the grass is either very scarce or unimpor- 

 tant, or those reporting it have been mistaken. The botanist now on 

 the field has never seen it in Montana. 



We sometimes meet with Danthonia Galifornica, and its variety 

 unispicata, also D. intermedia. Also several species of Deyeuxia; also 

 Phleum alpinum; several species of Agrostis, Ammopliila longifolia, 

 Munroa squarrosa, several species of Bromus and Elyinus. Oryzopsis 

 cuspidata is fairly abundant, and wherever found is very highly prized 

 as a grass for animals of all kinds. It has no objectionable quality, 

 and many characters which place it in the highest ranks as a valuable 

 forage plant. It also has this in its favor that it grows luxuriantly 

 in very poor soil. 



The grasses above mentioned are our chief grasses. Some of those 

 of minor importance are Beckmannia erucceformis, Spartina cynosuroides, 

 Phalaris arundinacea, Alopeeurus pratensis, var. alpestris, a very valu- 

 able grass; Gcetabrosa aqnatica, Distiohlis maritima and its variety 

 stricta, several species of Glyceria, Hordeum jubatum and H. nodosum, 

 Setaria viridis. 



Besides these grasses a few of the Carices are eaten by cattle and by 

 sheep, though they can not be looked upon with much favor as food. 



Our plains will be found decked as a general thing in the following 

 grasses : Poa tenuifolia, Bouteloua oligostachya, Stipa eomata and viri- 

 dula, Kmleria eristata, Agropyrum glaucum, Hordeum jubatum, and 

 Eatonia obtusata, var robusta. 



On the mountain slopes will be found several Poas, Agropyrums, 

 Festucas, Oryzopsis, Stipas, Banthonia, Phleum alpina. 



Sheep, horses, and cattle can graze on our hills, mountains, and 

 plains the year round; in summer on the rich, juicy, green grasses, and 

 in winter on the sun cured, natural hay, standing where it grew. As 

 the country fiUs up with a greater populace these natural ranges will 

 prove less adequate to the demands made upon them; but these native 

 grasses contain in themselves the potency of vast wealth to this great 

 State whose extensive plains will one day be weU watered from reser- 

 voirs built to retain the waters that now are allowed to flow off in the 

 spring and June freshets. Then the land will yield her fatness in a 

 way that will astonish all concerned and change the landscape from its 

 grey tints to an English green and make of Montana a center of agri- 



