40 



Chenates I saw at several points burros loaded with wood or hay, "be- 

 ing driven by Mexicans down the mountain sides. Such is a common 

 sight during winter in these mountains. The value of these mountain 

 grasses — in many localities consisting entirely of the Gramas — with 

 their esteemed qualities of self-curing, can be seen not only in the 

 pasturage they afford in the winter, but in the amount of hay that is 

 cut. Immense quantities are cut for hay in the fall, and in a climate 

 that continues dry and clear the first half of the year, can be kept 

 through the spring and early summer without the protection of barns 

 or other buildings. Stockmen say that horses and cattle are fond of 

 the blooms of the Gramas ; the " heads or tops " as they call them. In 

 the fall, when the grasses are fresh, stock often prefer the tops to the 

 foliage. 



While passing through some of the gorges and on the lower mesas 

 (on our way to Presidio on the Eio Grande) the Grama-grasses could 

 be seen in great abundance. But descending to the bottom-laud, that 

 stretches for some distance till it reaches the river, I saw only scanty 

 growths of grass, only slight patches here and there, often only a stray 

 plant or tussock. The few specimens I gathered in the neighborhood 

 of Presidio I have noted in the list. Arriving at Marfa, on our return 

 trip the last day of October, we started on the 2d of November for a 

 three days 7 trip over to Musquis, by way of Paisano, returning by way 

 of Fort Davis. Though late in the season, I gathered several specimens 

 and seeds. 



The following grasses were collected during my whole trip : 



Panicu m fascicu lain m. 



Dhferent forms of this grass I found growing in the gravelly soil 

 on the craggy slopes. I saw it nowhere in abundance, generally 

 in scattered tussocks. It seemed to be more common in the 

 Liropia region than elsewhere. 



Panicum ciliatissimum. 



This I saw in a few places in the Limpia region. Less abundant 

 than the preceding. 



Panicum autumnale, var. 



This is frequently seen on the lower ridges and in gravelly soil 

 near the creeks. 



Panicum bulbosum. 



This I saw in several places at Limpia Canon, on gravelly slopes 

 near the creek, and in like situations in Musquis Canon. 



Panicum laclinanthum . 



Frequent on many of the lower ridges, more common on slight 

 elevations in the valleys. On some of the bottom-lands, where 

 the soil is sandy or gravelly, it is seen in great profusion. 



