16 



BULLETIN 201, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



BROMUS RUBENS L. 



While not possessing the deleterious characteristics described under Bromus villosus 

 to quite as serious a degree, B. rubens nevertheless causes considerable injury in the 

 same way. On the whole, it is a grass of very little value. It is not as good feed as 

 B. villosus in either its early or its mature stages. The injuries caused by it are not 

 quite so pronounced, but the ranges would undoubtedly be better off without it. 



No. 8263 was collected near Colton, Cal., May 8, 1906. The sample was mature and 

 harvested about 1 inch high. Its percentage of moisture was 5.02. Other constituents 

 (on a water-free basis) were as follows: Ash, 4.16; ether extract, 2.07; crude fiber, 

 33.24; nitrogen-free extract, 55; protein, 5.53; pentosans, 28.20. 



BROMUS VILLOSUS Forsk. 



Bromus villosus, a weedy annual, popularly known as tucolote, is one of the many 

 species of Bromus introduced into the western United States. It is more abundant 

 and conspicuous in California than anywhere else, and its presence in such quantity 

 is undoubtedly a detriment to the California ranges. The feed produced by it when 

 young, before it is headed out, is equal to that produced by any of the other weedy 

 brome-grasses which have been introduced throughout the region, but as soon as the 

 seed has ripened it is of very little value as feed, and in many cases it is positively 

 detrimental to stock which happen to graze upon an area where it occurs abundantly. 

 It is an aggressive grass and has a tendency to drive out the other annuals that compete 

 with it. The injury done is mainly to the sheep industry. The sharp-pointed seeds 

 work into the fleece, the feet, and even the eyes of the animals, often causing them to 

 lose the eyesight entirely. On this account the herdsman considers it imperative that 

 his flocks be removed from the tucolote areas of the valleys and foothills before this 

 plant ripens its seed. The seeds also work their way into the feet of the animals, 

 causing them to become lame and in some cases unable to travel. Tins is the very 

 characteristic which enables the plant to obtain the mastery over other species. The 

 seeds are rather sharp-pointed and slightly barbed, so that they will work their way 

 into the ground. The sharp-pointed seeds are even more injurious to stock than 

 the awns. (PI. IV, fig. 2.) 



No. 8262 was collected near Colton, Cal.. May 8, 1906, and the sample was then 

 practically ripe. The seed was mostly in late dough, with the leaves fast turning 

 color, but by no means dry. The stems had turned color also, but were still full of sap. 

 The culms were cut off 1 to 2 inches above 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. 8262 



6.22 



5.20 

 13.82 



1.79 

 3.99 



29.14 

 28.18 



59.51 

 40.24 



4.36 

 13.77 



26.60 

















9.51 



2.89 



28.66 



49.88 



9.06 











1 South Dakota Bui. 69, p. 16. 

 BULBILIS DACTYLOIDES (Nutt.) Raf. 



Bulbilis dactyloides (buffalo grass) is strictly a pasture species, distributed from the 

 Dakotas to the Rocky Mountains and south into Mexico. Popularly, several other 

 species are confused with this one. Bouteloua gracilis, especially when not in head, 

 is very similar and frequently mistaken for it. On this account the true buffalo grass 

 is very much overestimated in importance, because there are so many things included 

 with it in the popular mind. Much of the credit given this species is due to the 

 gramas, which in age especially look very much like it. On the other hand, the 

 species is ^n important one throughout its range. Upon the Plains it is a very short 

 grass, seldom getting over 2 to 4 inches high, but in southern Texas, where conditions 



