14 



and there a scattered stalk with a flower spike, somewhat like a starved, 

 beardless head of wheat; but in low, moist ground it often grows with 

 great vigor 2 or 3 feet high, and is considered valuable for hay. On 

 the borders of ditches and on irrigated ground it yields a heavy cut- 

 ting. It has great persistence in the ground on account of its strong, 

 running root-stock. Whether it will, in cultivated ground become as 

 difficult to eradicate as its Eastern namesake can not now be predicted, 

 but when a persistent, nutritious grass is the great want of a country 

 it is worth while to take some risks. 



13. Agropyrum tenerum. — Another species of this family is found in 

 Colorado, western Kansas, and Nebraska, which may prove valuable 

 for some qualities. It has a narrow, slim spike of flowers and stiff 

 culms. It does not have running root-stocks, but grows in clumps of 

 variable size. It furnishes a large quantity of foliage and matures 

 early, and for these qualities it may be desirable to cultivate it in a mixt- 

 ure of grasses for pasture. It is common on banks of ditches and on 

 the waste grounds in the city of Denver. 



14. Several species of Elymus, particularly Elymus canadensis and 

 E. virginicus, are common and known by the name of rye-grass. They 

 are considere d nutritious grasses, and are commonly cut for hay. They 

 are coarse and probably would not bear pasturage, but may be worth 

 cultivating for forage. 



The above are the principal native perennial grasses which have oc- 

 curred to me as having promise of utility for the arid districts which are 

 now under consideration. Other species will come in for attention, 

 particularly some whose range is more restricted to the neighborhood of 

 the mountains. 



I have already stated that the grama-grass should be placed under 

 cultivation, not only the most common species, Bouteloua oligostacliya, 

 but others, as the B. racemosa. There are also several strong-growing 

 species in Mexico which should be tried. The tall-growing bunch- 

 grasses ot Arizona might also be experimented with. These include 

 several species of Sporobolus and Epicampes. 



Panicum bulbosum, a vigorous grass of Arizona and New Mexico, hav- 

 ing thickened, bulbous root-stalks, should be tried, and if it would en- 

 dure the winters would probably be a valuable pasture grass. There are 

 also several species of Poa belonging to the mountain district which 

 might prove valuable in cultivation, as Poa tenuifotia, P. andina, P. 

 nemoralis, and others. There are also some native species of Festuca 

 which merit attention, such as Festuca scabrella, and several large forms 

 of Festuca ovina. Also several species of Bromus. 



Some attention must also be given to annual grasses suitable for for- 

 age and hay. The necessary supply of hay for winter feeding of cattle 

 may sometimes be more profitably procured from the annual grasses, as 

 millet, Hungarian grass, and the various forms of sorghum. In this 



