8 



well under cultivation and produces a large amount of excellent hay and pas- 

 turage. By cultivation and selection of short-awned forms the objection which 

 is sometimes raised on account of the awns, may be overcome. 



Perennial rye-grass (Elymus canadensis var.). — This is a very robust form 

 peculiar to the Southwest. It is spoken of very highly and appears worthy of 

 careful trial. It is said to grow some every warm spell during winter and makes 

 good hay. It does not require so much moisture as the common form and might, 

 perhaps, with equal propriety be placed in the list of dry meadow species. 



Manna grass (PaniculaHa americana). — This grass is particularly abun- 

 dant and thrifty in very wet meadows or about sloughs and along streams, pro- 

 ducing a great bulk of fairly good hay in such situations, and it may prove 

 worthy of cultivation in places which can not be sufficiently drained to grow 

 other species. 



SOIL AND SAND BINDING SPECIES. 



Beach grass {Ammophila arena via). — Three hundred and twenty-five pounds 

 of seed and a quantity of roots of this grass were collected near Provincetown, 

 Cape Cod. It has been planted quite extensively on the Province Lands of Cape 

 Cod by the State of Massachusetts and on the sandy shores of Europe for pre- 

 venting the shifting of the sands. It can, no doubt, be successfully used for the 

 same purpose in other localities. A sufficient quantity of seed has been secured 

 to give it a thorough trial. 



Indian millet (Eriocoma cnspidata) . — This is one of the native bunch-grasses 

 which is probably of most value for use in very sandy soils, for planting on rail- 

 road embankments and sand dunes, and in other situations where there is need 

 of soil or sand binders. It has also been recommended for forage. Only thor- 

 ough trial, however, will prove its possibilities in this direction. 



Seaside blue-grass (Poa macrantha). — This grass, which is native along the 

 Pacific coast and is particularly abundant on the sand dunes, was first secured 

 on account of its value as a sand binder, but one or two seasons' experience with 

 it has shown that it is probably also of considerable value as a hay and pasture 

 grass in very sandy soils even in the interior. Seed has been secured in sufficient 

 quantity to give the grass a thorough trial under various conditions in different 

 parts of the country. 



ALKALI-SOIL SPECIES. 



Nuttall's saltbush (Atriplex nuttallii). — This is a very abundant species in 

 strong alkali soils of the Red Desert of Wyoming and furnishes a considerable 

 percentage of the forage of that region. It is regarded very highly by stockmen, 

 especially for winter and early spring pasturage. The plant will endure much 

 hard usage and severe trampling, and we see no reason why it may not thrive 

 and improve under cultivation. 



Forage saltbush (Atriplex pdbularis) .— Like the former, it is very abundant 

 in strong alkali regions. It is a perennial, producing an abundance of green 

 forage which is relished by both sheep and cattle. It is a very promising species 

 for cultivation on strong alkali soils. 



Several of the grasses mentioned under the heading of ' ' Dry meadow and 

 range species," might quite as properly come in this list, as they thrive in strong 

 alkali soils. Of these, Western wheat-grass and Macoun's rye-grass may be par- 

 ticularly mentioned. 



SUBALPINE SPECIES. 



Mountain foxtail {Alopecurus Occident alis) . — This is a rather rare grass, 

 restricted in its distribution to wet meadows in the mountain regions of Montana, 

 Idaho, and farther north. It grows luxuriantly, producing a large quantity of 



