22 



CIRCULAR 491. U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



Galleta grass occurs in the western parts of the central and south- 

 ern Plains but has not yet invaded the eastern portions, which indi- 

 cates that its usefulness may be limited to the western sections, al- 

 though it should respond satisfactorily to more favorable conditions 

 prevailing in the eastern Plains. Wooton and Standley (76) refer 

 to this species as probably the second most valuable range grass in 

 Xew Mexico. Its method of spreading by aggressive rootstocks con- 

 tributes to its grazing endurance and value as a soil binder. James 

 E. Smith reports having observed this grass growing on a wide 

 range of soil types. It is described by the Forest Service (68) as 



being highly regarded 

 for summer use but 

 of less value in the 

 winter-cured stage. 



Seed of galleta is 

 not available commer- 

 cially, but has been 

 harvested by strip- 

 ping in considerable 

 quantity by the Soil 

 Conservation Service. 

 The chaffy seeds have 

 been weaker in ger- 

 mination, fewer per 

 pound, and require 

 thicker seeding rates 

 than blue grama (fig. 

 10). 



In 1937 an attempt 

 was made at Wood- 

 ward to cross galleta 

 grass with curly mes- 

 quite with the object 

 of combining in the 

 progeny the fine qual- 

 ity and vigorous 

 stolonif erous habit of 

 the latter with the 

 superior cold resist- 

 ance, greater drought 

 endurance, and heav- 

 ier production of the 

 former. A total of 

 140 florets were included in the attempted cross. It is too soon to 

 evaluate the results of this attempt at improvement. 



Figl'kk 10. — A typical plant of galleta gr; 

 selection nursery at Woodward. Okla. 

 colored sections on rule are 3 inches Ion; 



The bi- 



PLAINS BRISTLEGRASS 



Plains bristlegrass, or perennial foxtail, appears in limited trials 

 to be promising. It survived prolonged heat and drought about as 

 well as any strain tested at Woodward in 1937. The growth was 

 vigorous, green, and abundant all season, and many stems and seed 

 spikes were produced. The seeds started maturing early in August 

 and continued to ripen until frost. They matured nonuniformly 



