8 BULLETIN 728, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



that are not in bloom) a few people are confusing this plant with the 

 soap weed (Yucca data) already described, and differences of opinion 

 as to the length of time it will take these plants to grow a second crop 

 are already arising in discussions of the future prospects of this kind 

 of feed. 



In southwestern New Mexico and adjacent parts of Arizona from 

 Silver City and Clifton southward is an entirely different plant that is 

 known as " bear-grass." (PI. VIII, fig. 2.) It is a species of Noiina 

 (N. microcarpa) and closely resembles the sacahuista of the Marathon, 

 Tex., region. This plant nearly always occurs on the gravelly or 

 rocky foothills, though it sometimes spreads out over the land that 

 is more nearly level. It is common on the hills south of Silver City, 

 N. Mex., abundant on both sides of the railroad at Dragoon, Ariz., 1 and 

 a large area covered with it is found in the south end of the Animas 

 Valley in southwestern New Mexico. A scattering growth may be 

 expected on the foothills of the mountains associated with sotol from 

 the region of El Paso westward. 



SPANISH BAYONET, OR DAGGER. 



The name Spanish bayonet (or dagger) is applied pretty generally 

 to several broad-leaved species of Yucca and some near allies. The 

 Spanish word palma (palm) is also occasionally used for these plants. 

 There are several species that are hard to distinguish without flowers 

 and fruit. Some of them are illustrated in this bulletin (PI. VI, 

 figs. 1 and 2; PL VII, fig. 2). 



LECHUGUILLA. 



Lechuguilla is a Mexican name for a species of Agave 2 that is quite 

 common in the Big Bend region of Texas, especially in Brewster and 

 Presidio Counties, south of the Southern Pacific Railway (PL VII, 

 fig. 1). This plant is used as a fiber plant in northern Mexico. 

 Animals sometimes eat it during periods of drought, but stockmen of 

 the region are afraid of impaction from the abundant and strong 

 fibers it contains. The plant is said to be increasing in the region 

 mentioned, and stockmen would be glad to see it driven out, since 

 it kills out the grass and thus reduces the available feed. Its rigid 

 brown and black spines terminating the stiff leaves and its habit of 

 growing thickly all over the ground make land occupied by it almost 

 impassible for cattle or horses. However, it is easily cut with a 

 mattock, and the large cutter shown in Plate I, figure 2, chops it 

 into pieces that stock can easily masticate. With the fiber cut in 

 small pieces and most of the spines chopped off, this plant will furnish 

 considerable emergency feed, and its removal from the range will 

 favor the grasses. It is probable that it can be cut up by a lighter 



1 Trelease refers the plants about Dragoon and other places in eastern Arizona to Xolina caudata Treal. 



tAgave lechuguilla Torr. Other species of this genus occur in the region under consideration, but never 



in sufficient quantity to be important as feed. They are generally kno-mi by the name of mescal or maguey. 



