44 



BULLETIN 201, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



more arid conditions, the plants, although scattering, may be fully as tall, although 

 bearing fewer culms. It withstands much abuse in the shape of close grazing and 

 trampling by stock, especially upon the bottom lands where soils are heavy and hard. 

 In sandy areas, of course, it is easier to kill out. In the Pecos Valley in New Mexico, 

 injury has been done to cattle by allowing them to graze upon this grass at certain 

 seasons of the year. It is the opinion of close observers, however, that the grass was 

 not at fault, but that the injury was done by the soluble salts in the soil, these salts, 

 by creeping up the grass stems during moist weather and by being eaten along with 

 the grass, produce the deleterious effects. 



There are very extensive areas of this grass in the Cheno Valley of northern Arizona, 

 which, owing to overgrazing, resemble the tussocky condition of Sporobolus urightii, 

 described later. It is evident that the condition produced by overgrazing, if con- 

 tinued, will gully out the valley to such an extent that the bottom lands will be as 

 unproductive as the hills surrounding. In the year 1908, 1 to 1^ tons of hay to the 

 acre of this grass could be cut upon the lands which had not become tussocky. 



No. 8324 was collected at Bakersfield, Cal., May 27, 1906. The specimen grew on 

 apparently nonalkaline, well-drained, sandy-loam soil, where the ground had been 

 disturbed somewhat, producing magnificent large bunches of the plant. The sample 

 was cut when the seed was in the dough, 2 to 3 inches above the ground, care being 

 taken to include all of the root leaves. No. 8575 was collected at Tempe, Ariz., 

 September 24, 1906. The sample grew in what appeared to be strongly alkaline soil. 

 It was a much smaller sample than No. 8324 and was cut close to the ground when the 

 seed was nearly mature. 





Percent- 

 age of 

 moisture. 



Water-free basis (per cent). 



Material analyzed. 



Ash. 



Ether 

 extract. 



Crude 

 fiber. 



Nitrogen- 

 free 

 extract. 



Protein. 



Pento- 

 sans. 



Our sample No. 8324 6. 10 



Our sample No. 8575 2. 79 



9.62 

 12.48 

 7.63 



1.63 

 1.62 

 1.83 



32.56 

 33.04 

 32.02 



48.20 

 46.17 

 49.41 



7.99 

 6.69 

 9.11 



25.92 

 24.04 











8.39 



1.78 



32.19 



48.92 



8.72 









i Colorado Bui. 12, p. 74. New Mexico Bui. 17, p. 36. Wyoming: Bui. 76, p. 60; Bui. 87, p. 89. 

 SPOROBOLUS ASPERIFOLIUS Thurber. 



Sporobolus asperifolius is a species that can be justly considered one of the salt- 

 grasses of this country. It is almost invariably found in salty bottom lands from the 

 Mississippi westward. Its habit of growth, by creeping rootstocks, and its partiality 

 for heavy adobe soils make it one of the most persistent grasses under heavy grazing. 

 It is not as much relished by stock as many species, but it probably is about equal to 

 the familiar salt-grass Distichlis spicata. It never gets tall enough, excepting when 

 growing among other grasses, to be cut for hay, and when in pure stands it is almost 

 impossible to cut it with a mower. 



No. 8819 was collected at Devils Lake, N. Dak., August 11, 1907. The sample was 

 cut close to the ground and represents the species in early blossom. • 



Percent- 





Water-free basis (per cent). 





Material analyzed. 



age of 

 moisture. 



Ash. 



Ether 

 extract. 



Crude 

 fiber. 



Nitrogen- 

 free 

 extract. 



Protein. 



Pento- 

 sans. 



Our sample No. 8819 



7.43 



&80 



2.92 

 2.00 



27.83 

 36.64 



52.84 

 49.04 



6.72 

 5.52 



28.94 

















7.76 



2.31 



33.70 



50.31 



5.92 











Mississippi Report, 1888, p. 33; South Dakota Bui. 40, p. 80. 



