24 BULLETIN 1345, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
to the mountains of western Texas. New Mexico. Arizona, and Cali- 
fornia. On the northern plains it is called white sage, probably 
because of its general superficial resemblance to other sagebrush 
of that region, ‘although it does not have a strong aromatic odor. 
Sheepmen in the southern part of its distribution area call it winter 
fat. It rarely grows in pure stands over large areas, but is widely 
scattered (Pl. ie fig. 2), being more common in cooler places. 
Department sample 8599 (G), the growth of the year, about 9 
to 12 inches of the stem-cearrying leaves and the nearly ripe fruit, 
was collected at Deming, N. Mex., September 29, 1906. Depart- 
ment sample 9714 (G), consisting of stems, leaves, and fruit after 
it had been frosted, when it is said to be good stock food, was col- 
lected near Williams, Ariz., November, 1908. 
Composition (water-free basis) 
Sample Moisture | 7 | 
Ash Ether .| Crude NINCEER Penton Pento- 
extract fiber extranet | sans 
= 
Per cent | Per cent | Percent | Percent | Per cent | Per cent | Per cent 
Department 8599 (G) ___-__----- Pathe! isd 2. 4 31.2 45. 4 13. 1 16. 2 
Department $714 (G)________--_- 3.9 | 4.1 3.7 PAT | 52. 0 1255 16.6 
Colorado (1) and Wyoming (19, ; 
BiyeAisamples)=2-- = as ee 8.1 8.9 2.5 29.9 44.2 | 145 Yeted See = 
VELAP ERE ee eee 6.5 | 7.9 Ded | 29. 8 45.7 1359 to eee : 
FE. lanata is recognized by stockmen throughout the range country 
as a very valuable ‘feed. The fact that it is “always browsed closely 
wherever livestock can get at it shows that cattle, sheep, and goats 
like it. In the southern part of its distribution area it is highly 
valued by sheepmen as a winter stock food. It is an excellent 
range forage plant, and its growth should be encouraged whenever 
possible. In one place in north central Arizona it is Coming in 
freely on overstocked short-grass range, showing unexpected char- 
acteristics which may prove “important. 
GRAYIA SPINOSA (Hook.) Mog. 
Grayia spinosa (P1. 1X, fig. 2) is a low, branched shrub, 1 to 3 feet 
high, with stiff, grayish branches that are often spiny. It is very 
hairy when young. The slightly fleshy leaves are 114 inches long or 
less, half as wide at the top, tapering ‘below, and soft-hairy on both 
sides when young. The fruit is a whitish or reddish pod, nearly cir- 
cular, one- fourth to half an inch in diameter, and sur rounded by a 
narrow wing. The shrub is common in alkaline soils throughout the 
Great Basin region. 
A sample analyzed at the Nevada experiment station (2) con- 
tained, on an air-dry basis, 7.9 per cent of moisture, and, on a water- 
free basis, 10.9 per cent of ash, 4.5 per cent of ether extract, 13.8 per 
cent of crude fiber, 50.6 per cent of nitrogen-free extract, and 20.2 
per cent of protein. 
G. spinosa is an important forage plant on the ranges of its area 
of distribution. 
Pe ee ee a 
