39 



vegetation at this season from that of June was very noticeable. I 

 gathered several interesting grasses in this region, which I have noted 

 in the list, giving the names and localities. October, it would seem, is 

 the best month in which to study the grasses of western Texas. I found 

 there all the species in their prime of bloom, though it was too early to 

 gather seeds. Leaviug Limpia Canon we next came to the broad plain 

 watered by Toyah Creek. Although in early Jnuc this region was barren, 

 it was now mostly covered with a good carpet of grass. After trav- 

 eling for some distance on the prairie we apj>roached the Pecos, where 

 the vegetation did not look so cheerful. The soil in the vicinity of the 

 river is so impregnated with alkaline salts that only a few grasses and 

 other plants can thrive. The Salt-grass (Sporobolus airoides) finds such 

 a soil congenial. Its green tussocks in October were scattered about 

 in abundance on the flats bordering the river. 



Crossing the Pecos at Pecos City (a village of three stores in running 

 order) we took an eastward course to the Sand Hills, which have been 

 characterized as u a dreary, chaotic belt of reddish sand tossed by the 

 wind into hillocks, cones, and ridges of various sizes and shapes." I saw 

 a topography similar to such a description, but at the time of my visit? 

 in October, I found a very luxuriant vegetation; though but few shrubs 

 beside the Mesquite, which was abundant. The numerous grasses and 

 other herbaceous plants were in their full prime of bloom. The species 

 of grass peculiar to this belt I have specified in the appended list. 



From the Sand Hills we passed on to the southern edge of the Staked 

 Plains, not going farther east than Odessa. At this point the surface 

 was covered in many places with large patches of grass, but it looked 

 parched and dry. I learned that in August and early September vege- 

 tation at this and other portions of the Staked Plains was at its best. 

 In the country surrounding Odessa the species of grass by far the most 

 abundant is the " White grama" (Aristida). It is valued for hay, and 

 seems to be the grass most esteemed at the southern edge of the Staked 

 Plains, keeping its nutritive qualities in the field through the fall and 

 early in the winter. 



We returned to Marfa on the same route — by way of Pecos City and 

 along Toyah Creek and Limpia Creek. I gathered some more specimens 

 and a few seeds. Arriving at Maria on Friday night, October 21, we 

 started the following Monday for the Chenate Mountains. Along our 

 route on the high j^rairies, varied here and there by swells or low ridges, 

 the surface was generally covered with good grass, mostly the Gramas. 

 But before reaching Cibilo Creek, riding about 40 miles, we passed no 

 permanent running stream; only at some of the arroyas, a water-hole 

 or tank, where the water is retained a long while after rains. On reach- 

 ing the mountains vegetation looked more advanced than in the Limpia 

 region. Many of the grasses were past their prime, but I collected 

 several good specimens as well as seeds. While passing through the 



