REPORT OF AN INVESTIGATION OF THE FORAGE PLANTS OF 



WESTERN TEXAS. 



Houston, Tex., January 17, 1888. 



Dear Sir: Iu accordance with the appointment receive) from the 

 Commissioner of Agriculture to make an investigation of the grasst-s ?u..(l 

 forage plants of the arid districts of western Texas, under your direc- 

 tion, I started westward from San Antonio on the 2d of May, having 

 secured a good teamster to accompany me. At that time the country 

 about Sau Antonio and westward showed the effects of the severe 

 drought that had prevailed for over a year. At San Pedro Springs and 

 in places along the San Antonio River, I noticed scattered growths of 

 Panicum sanguinale, Bleusive indica, Eatonia obiusata, Paspalum dis- 

 tichum, and Bromus unioloides, with patches here and there of the Buf- 

 falo or early Mesquite grass (Buchloe dactyloid.es). The system of water- 

 works in the city has induced fine lawns of the Bermuda-grass (Cynodon 

 dactylon) with luxuriant gardens. But all over the surrounding country 

 I saw no grass ; only at very rare intervals a dry-looking plant or two 

 of Buchloe. Between San Antonio and Castroville, 27 miles, the Mes- 

 quite is by far the most predominant shrub, with occasionally a zizypJvsS, 

 sometimes called Texas buckthorn, and still less frequently an Acacia. 

 The shrubbery and trees became much more varied as we advanced 

 west. The prickly pear (Opuntia) was conspicuous all along our route, 

 growing more plentiful as we journeyed on. Here and there were signs 

 that the Buffalo-grass had a range in this region. Before reaching 

 Castroville I saw at the dry beds of some of the creeks a few plants of 

 Bromus unioloides in bloom. Next to the Buffalo-grass it seems to with- 

 stand the drought better than any other grass. 



From San Antonio to Uvalde, 93 miles, we passed only one permanent 

 running stream, the Sabinal. As we approached the Hondo, while rid- 

 ing over the hills or slight elevations, I noticed the Acacia shrubs, Zizy- 

 phus, ParJiinsonia Tecoana, and a few other shrubs free!}' mixed with the 

 Mesquite and a few large trees of live oak and hackberry. The prickly 

 pear growths were also more abundant, and I gathered a few specimens 

 of the following grasses : Aristida purpurea, BoutelouaBurltei, Triad ia ac- 

 uminata, and Triodia Texana. On arriving at the Hondo we fortunately 

 found one of the water-holes that occur in places along the dry bed of 

 this and also of other watercourses. I collected three grasses at this 

 place: Panicum sanguinale, Chloris rerticillata. and Chloris cucullata. 

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