NATIVE PASTURE (JHASSKS OK THE UNITED STATES. 



45 



SPOROBOLUS AURICULATUS Vasey. 



Such species as Sporobolus auriculatus are in the aggregate of considerable impor- 

 tance, as i hey add a great deal to the sum total of the pasturage. This one is never 

 abundant enough to give character to the vegetation. It is apparently of limited 

 distribution in southwestern Texas and southern New Mexico. It commonly occurs 

 on more or less alkaline soils. 



No. 7083 (E. 0. W.) was collected on the mesas near Las Cruces, N. Mex., October 

 3, 1912. Its percentage of moisture was 3.85. Other constituents (on a water-free 

 basis) were as follows: Ash, 10.46; ether extract, 2.26; crude fiber, 33.42; nitrogen- 

 free extract, 48.11; protein, 5.75; pentosans, 25.72. 



SPOROBOLUS BREVIFOLIUS (Nutt.) Scribn. 



Sporobolus brevifolius is a short-leaved, tough, wiry, low, drop-seeded grass, a 

 common and even conspicuous species upon dry second bottoms, hillsides, and 

 upland prairies, especially of the Great Plains region. It forms a complete ground cover 

 in only very limited areas, but is commonly scattered among other grasses and is an 

 important ingredient of the make-up of the forage cover of the rolling prairies. The 

 quality of feed produced by it, whether hay or pasture, is low, probably largely on 

 account of its tough, wiry nature. Under conditions of short pasturage, however, it is 

 always closely grazed. 



No. 8829 was collected at Williston, N. Dak., August 11, 1907. The sample represents 

 the plant in early maturity, cut at the surface of the ground. 





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. 8829 



5.76 



9.94 

 6.47 



2.83 

 2.29 



30.88 

 33.90 



50.87 

 50.24 



5.48 

 7.10 



26.83 

















7.16 



2.40 



33.30 



50.37 



6.77 











i Montana Report, 1902, p. 



Wyoming: Bui. 70, p. 32; Bui. 87, p. 



SPOROBOLUS CRYPTANDRUS (Torr.) Gray. 



Although tough and wiry, like the other species of the genus, S-porobolus cryptandrus 

 is of great importance, along with some of the closely related forms, especially upon 

 the sandy bench and mesa lands of Arizona and New Mexico. Its distribution, how- 

 ever, is very wide, extending from here to New England. It furnishes a great deal of 

 feed in the Southwestern States. 



No. 8395 was collected near Green, Tex., August 14, 1906. The sample was fully 

 mature, but only a little of the seed had shattered. It was cut about 2 inches high. 

 No. 9553 was collected at Prescott, Ariz., September 7, 1908. The plant was ripe, 

 but still green, and it was cut close to the ground. 





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. 8395 



6.59 

 6.43 



7.48 

 6.36 

 7.19 



1.38 

 1.30 

 1.80 



34.71 

 31.30 

 33.98 



47.66 

 54.09 

 49.17 



8.77 

 6.95 

 7.86 



23 07 



Our sample No. 9553 



20.09 



Average of 2 others ' 











Average of all 





7.05 



1.57 



33.49 



50. 03 



7.86 











i Montana Report, 1902, p. 66; Wyoming Bui. 87, p. 90. 



