28 CIKCIJLAK 17 8, U. S. DEPARTMENT OP AGEICULTITBE 



has been tried out with fair success. The adaptability of the species 

 to adverse dry conditions under which few other grasses will grow 

 at all abundantly and its high forage value throughout the year 

 warrant more extensive trials to develop a better seed-producing 

 and grazing-resistant strain by careful breeding and selection. 



Bearded wheatgrass, although seldom occurring abundantly, is 

 one of the most widely distributed of the wheatgTasses, ranging 

 throughout the central and northern part of the United States into 

 southern Canada, where it occurs mainly in stream bottoms and on 

 moist slopes. It is valuable for all classes of livestock. The few 

 trials indicate also some promise for reseeding. 



Bluestem is very abundant in the Great Lakes and eastern Rocky 

 Mountain regions as far south as Arizona and Xew Mexico. It also 

 extends across the western part of the United States to west-central 

 California. It reaches fairly high altitudes but is more abundant 

 on well-drained bottom lands, open plains, bench lands, and hillsides 

 throughout its range. It is a very good forage plant while green 

 and cures well on the ground for fall and winter feed. In the 

 northern Great Plains region areas of bluestem are frequently re- 

 served for final use by cattle before shipment to market. Bluestem 

 is only a fair seed producer, but it spreads vigorously by means of 

 its creeping rootstocks. A considerable number of trials indicate 

 that it is well adapted to artificial reseeding. 



Streambank wheatgrass is naturally a frequent associate of slender 

 wheatgrass but is probably nowhere so abundant and apparently does 

 not occur south of Colorado. It is usually rather smaller than 

 slender wheatgrass and has smaller spikes. Its nmnerous rootstocks 

 serve further to distinguish it. 



Thickspike wheatgrass also occurs only as far south as Colorado 

 but has a wider range than most of the other wheatgrasses, espe- 

 cially in sandy soils. It is found on the lower dry plains in central 

 Idaho and up to at least 10,000 feet above sea level in the Wasatch 

 Mountains. 



Streambank and thickspike wheatgrasses are at least fair forage 

 plants, although their tendency to become wiry as the growing sea- 

 son advances lowers their palatability, especially for sheep. Once 

 established, they continue to spread by their creeping rhizomes or 

 stolons and thicken in stand. 



LITTLE-TRIED SPECIES 

 CULTIVATED BUNCH GRASSES 



Among other cultivated bunch grasses which may have potential 

 utility for reseeding on certain western ranges may be mentioned 

 Dallis grass {Paspalum dilatatum) for warmer regions ; the annual 

 Sudan grass (Andropogon sorghmn sudanensis) for semiarid condi- 

 tions; perennial ryegrass {LoJhim perenne) where soil is moist but 

 well drained; and meadow foxtail {Alopeciinis pratensis) and velvet 

 grass {NothoJcus lanafus) for regions both humid and cool, but in- 

 sufficient work has been done to determine their true range value. 

 Meadow foxtail often produces short rootstocks but is essentially a 

 bunch grass in its usual growth habit. There are indications that 

 velvet grass is an aggressive species in localities to which it is fitted. 



