58 STOCK RANGES OF NORTHWESTERN CALIFORNIA. 



becomes a valuable sand binder, rooting from the nodes. It fruits 

 freely in such situations, readily producing its kind. 



Bromus, sp., is a common grass on overgrown, sandy land at Samoa, 

 near Eureka, helping to bind the drifting sand. 



Convolvulus soldanella is not uncommon on the sand dunes, 

 growing in almost pure sand, but apparent!}' of little value as a sand 

 binder, as it does not mat on the surface; the sand freely blows away 

 from between the plants. 



Corethrogyne californica obovata is a common species on the sand 

 hills at Samoa, near Eureka, but of little economic value. 



Elymus sp. grows luxuriantly in drifting sand at Samoa, making a 

 promising sand binder. It is said to be eaten by stock while young 

 and until about 14 inches high, when it becomes too coarse for forage. 



Festuca fubra var. , grows luxuriantly though not abundantly in 

 drifting sand on the sand spit opposite Eureka. It might be used 

 with advantage in company with Poa douglasii, as the one would to 

 some extent complement the other. It also gives promise as a forage 

 plant, but we have no data as to its actual forage value. At Samoa 

 this variety seeds very freely, a quality lacking in many of our sand 

 binders. 



Juncus sp. is common in loose sand on the sand dunes of Humboldt 

 Bay. 



Poa douglasii (Sand-grass) is thoroughly at home in the drifting 

 coast sands from San Francisco northward, but on the California 

 coast is of little use as a sand binder, being too sparse in its growth 

 to cover the surface, and too short of stature to check the drifts, 

 which blow right over it, or out from under it, leaving the roots bare; 

 these when exposed quickly dry out and die. In company with the 

 variety of Festuca rubra mentioned above it might be used to advan- 

 tage, as the one species to some extent makes up for the deficiencies 

 of the other. 



Tanacetum camphoratum is a common species on loose, drifting 

 sand at Point Arena and Humboldt Bay. 



Salix sp., a species of willow, is also common in some places, and at 

 Inglenook has been planted as a check hedge, but with only partial 

 success. 



Elymus arenarius (Rancheria grass) occurs in sandy soils on 

 Drakes Bay and Point Reyes, but was not collected within our limits. 

 Though too sparse in growth to be of much value if used alone as 

 a sand binder, this grass will doubtless prove serviceable if planted 

 in company with other species. 



Lupinus chamissonis (Blue lupin) is commonly met with from 

 Point Arena southward and is of some use as a sand binder. The 

 yellow tree lupin (L. arboreus) was not found north of Point Reyes. 

 Collinsia bartsiaifolia occuring in drift sand near Cleone is an annual 

 plant. Several other plants of lesser importance grow on the sand 

 dunes. 



