52 RANGE IMPROVEMENT IN CENTRAL TEXAS. 
from the range were sent to him from Callahan, Jones, and Shackelford 
counties. In the spring of 1898 Prof. Jared G. Smith, of the Division 
of Agrostology, secured roots and seeds from Collins County and 
northern Texas and planted them in one of the station pastures. But 
the roots soon died under the influence of the long, hot, and dry 
summer of that year, and none of the seeds germinated. In the spring 
of 1899 seeds were broadcasted in the grass garden, on a small square 
of low, moist land. There was practically no rain thereafter for 
several weeks, and only a few seeds germinated and none of them lived. 
Again, in 1900, some seeds were sown in drills in the garden, but 
nothing like a good stand was secured, and the roots that lived into 
the summer were never vigorous. It is officially reported to be a 
winter-growing grass, and from November to May furnishes an 
abundance of luxuriant pasturage in sections such as northern Texas, 
suited to its best development. The tests made with it in connection 
with the station work were disappointing. It can be propagated satis- 
factorily by means of its roots, which may be divided into bits and 
planted 12 to 18 inches apart in moist fallow lands. It may be well for 
central Texas stockmen and farmers to use the roots for improving 
their winter pastures. (See Pl. L.) 
WuitEe Tor Grass ( Triedia albescens). 
This is an excellent hay grass for central Texas. It is to be found 
pretty generally throughout the section, principally in the low- 
lands, where it grows from 18 to 20 inches high and produces an abun- 
dance of soft stems and leaves. No special tests were made with it in 
the grass garden, as it is well known and needs no special commenda- 
tion. It is easily propagated from the seeds, which may be gathered 
in the early autumn. It would pay those interested to cultivate it for 
hay purposes. 
Witp Rye (Elymus canadensis). 
This is by far the most valuable of all the first-class native hay 
grasses of central Texas, and since it is alsoa splendid pasture grass, it 
is only fair to say that it deserves the highest consideration at the 
hands of stockmen and farmers. In all the valley-land section it is 
found growing in rich soil near streams, but it will grow and do well 
on the higher levels. The writer’s attention was first attracted to it by 
the fact that in the early part of June, 1899, when no other range 
grasses of the section had begun to green out, he found it 4to 5 inches 
high in the valley of Indian Creek, in Taylor County. By arrangement 
with Mr. P. O. Forbus, on whose place the grass was growing, about 
an acre was cleared of brush and the former year’s weeds, and the 
surface of the ground was broken with an iron-tooth harrow. By the 
opening of spring a splendid stand of this grass had been secured two 
to three weeks in advance of others in the neighborhood. By June 5 
