BLUE GRAMA. 333 



tion may be given and which are underlaid with peat. 

 It is possible, that under conditions more dry than 

 those where it now grows at its best, it would not en- 

 dure long. Notwithstanding it is certainly worthy 

 of further investigation. 



. Blue Grama (Bouteloua oligostachya) . — This grass 

 belongs to a somewhat numerous family, which have 

 special adaptation for warm, dry range conditions. It 

 has also been called Mesquit of Mezquite. It is the 

 most promising of all the grama grasses, although the 

 variety Tall Grama (Bouteloua racemosa) has been 

 well spoken of. Blue grama grows to the height of 

 6 to 18 inches, but seldom exceeds the height of 12 

 inches, under range conditions; under cultivation it 

 grows higher. The leaves are numerous, narrow and 

 firm. The spike is 1 to 5 inches long. It has strong 

 rhizomes and forms a dense turf. 



It is a tardy grass and specially drought resistant. 

 It is much relished by live stock as pasture or as hay. 

 It seeds freely and has the property of growing when 

 rain falls and then seeding and curing as the weather 

 becomes dry. 



This grass extends from the Mississippi to the Pacific 

 and from British Columbia to Mexico. In Montana 

 it is called Buffalo grass and frequents the bench lands 

 at elevations from 3000 to 5000 feet above sea-level. 

 It grows at its best between latitudes 36 deg. and 42 

 deg. north. 



It has great power to grow under dry conditions, 

 but will also grow better where moisture is more abun- 

 dant. Its .highest utility will likely consist in re-cloth- 



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