Mountain brome {Bromus polyanthus paniculatus). — This is a native brome 

 of considerable promise often found growing wild from southern Colorado to 

 Arizona and New Mexico. It grows luxuriantly in moist meadows and pro- 

 duces large crops of hay. It will also endure considerable drought. 



Macoun's rye-grass (Elymus macounii). — This grass is one which grows 

 naturally in arid, alkali soils, and is an excellent species for both hay and 

 pasture. Its cultivation has never been attempted, but observations in the field 

 lead to the belief that it may be successfully grown, especially under conditions 

 similar to those in which it is found. 



Red fescue (Festuca rubra?). — This is a very promising native plant of the 

 northern and northwestern Rocky Mountains. It has been in cultivation for a 

 year or two at Walla Walla, Wash. , and has given indications of having much 

 value. Sufficient seed has been grown to give it a thorough trial at one or more 

 of the experiment stations. This is a native form, different in some respects 

 from the plant sold under the same name by dealers. 



Prairie June-grass (Koeleria cristata). — This grass is one of great value, not 

 only on account of its broad distribution, as it ranges from the plains of eastern 

 Nebraska and Kansas to near the summits of the Rockies, but also on account 

 of its early appearance in the spring, for which it is highly prized by stockmen. 

 It is about the first grass to furnish forage on the range in the early part of the 

 season. It is not only valuable, however, for pasturage, but also produces, 

 under favorable conditions of moisture, an excellent crop of hay of high nutri- 

 tive value. As to its behavior under cultivation, only careful experiments will 

 decide. 



Sprangle-top (Leptochloa dubia). — From the few trials of this grass already 

 made it seems probable that it will prove a very valuable addition to the 

 meadow grasses of the South and Southwest. It produces with a comparatively 

 small amount of moisture a heavy crop of excellent hay. 



Alkali saccaton {Panicum bulbosum). — This grass has been grown in the 

 grass garden at the Department for several years, and was grown last year on 

 the Potomac Flats, near Washington. It has shown itself to be easily adapted 

 to cultivation. It produces a very large amount of excellent and nutritious 

 forage, and as it grows with a very slight amount of moisture, it gives promise 

 of being one of the most valuable grasses yet secured for the South and 

 Southwest. 



Grapevine mesquite (Panicum obtusum). — This species is most abundant in 

 New Mexico and Arizona, but is found in the southern part of Colorado, where 

 it grows luxuriantly on some of the bottom lands, and produces a considerable 

 amount of excellent hay, and if it can be successfully cultivated it will prove a 

 valuable addition to the meadow grasses of the Southwest, especially for pasture. 



Native blue-grass (Poa sp.). — This is one of the very valuable range ami 

 meadow grasses of the western slope of the Rockies, which gives promise o\' 

 great value for cultivation in soils which arc too dry to grow Kentucky blue 

 grass successfully. 



Dropseed (Sporobolus cryptandrus). — This is another valuable native oi the 

 plains. We were fortunate enough to secure a good supply of seed of this from 

 particularly thrifty and robust plants. It is a bunch grass, valuable not only 

 for rjasture, but also for hay, which is produced in abundance under favorable 

 conditions. It thrives with very little moisture, and has a seed which is very 

 easily harvested, all of which favors its introduction into cultivation. 



WET MEADOW SPECIES 



Canadian rye-grass {Elymus canadensis).— This is a species which is some 

 times objected to on account of the long awns on the seeds. It. however, grows 



IB 



