GRASS CULTURE AND RANGE IMPROVEMENT 33 



replaced with more palatable species. Lamson-Scribner (il) re- 

 ported in 1896 that Redfieldia flexuosa (blowout grass) was valuable 

 for binding sands, and that it was a conspicuous grass and almost 

 the only one found on the sand dunes south of the Arkansas River, 

 near Garden City, Kans. 



VINE-MESQUITE 



Vine-mesquite, often referred to as panic grass, spreads amazingly 

 fast by extensive surface runners forming luxuriant, rather dense 

 mats on sandy bottoms and moist arroyos in the southern Plains 

 and southwestern semidesert region. Isolated plants of the species 

 have been observed on dry upland soils in the vicinity of Dalhart, 

 Tex., and Woodward, Okla., after prolonged drought, indicating the 

 possibilities of selecting a strain better adapted to dry conditions. 

 Seedling plants of this species were spaced 4 feet apart at Woodward 

 in the spring of 1937 and, despite dry conditions until late August, 

 had covered practically all intervening spaces by fall, some of the 

 stolons being 10 feet in length. This growth character enables the 

 plant to recover from grazing and indicates that this species would 

 be excellent for gully control in sandy localities. Hendricks (35) 

 reports upon the value of this grass for erosion control on south- 

 western ranges. 



OTHER NATIVE GRASSES AND INTRODUCTIONS 



A number of other native grasses and several species introduced 

 from Siberia, Australia, India, South America, South Africa, and 

 other countries are under close observation and show some promise 

 of becoming adapted to domestication in the region, although fur- 

 ther trial will be necessary before definite conclusions can be drawn. 

 Clements (74) offers a word of caution regarding the use of introduced 

 species by stating that the grasses of a particular climax were the 

 best adapted to its climate and had a distinct advantage in terms of 

 competition over introduced ones. 



Quackgrass, F. P. I. 58866, which has been erroneously referred 

 to as Agropyron pungens, is a special strain of quackgrass introduced 

 from the Kew Gardens in England and perhaps originally from 

 Siberia. It has been tested at Hays, Kans., since 1927 and shows 

 promise for early spring and late fall growth, forage production, 

 and seeding habits. It spreads in the same manner as the common 

 quackgrass and, consequently, might become difficult to eradicate in 

 humid regions. However, no difficulty was experienced at Hays in 

 ridding the land of this grass by tillage operations ordinarily used 

 in preparing for wheat. The strain has been less drought resistant 

 than the native short grass but has possibilities, particularly for use 

 in gully control and on other favorable locations. 



Weeping lovegrass, an introduction from South Africa, shows con- 

 siderable promise for prompt emergence, strong seedling vigor, rapid 

 vigorous growth, and resistance to heat and drought. Under favor- 

 able conditions this perennial bunch grass produces an abundance of 

 very small seed on rather tall erect stems (fig. 18), with a luxuriant 

 basal growth of extremely long, slender, pliant leaves, which appear 

 to be somewhat coarse and fibrous, but, when offered to livestock, 



