8 THE AGRICULTURAL GRASSES OF THE UNITED STATES. 



mountainous districts, frequently occupying extensive areas to the ex- 

 clusion of all other grasses. 



'^Alopemirus glaucus. — Very common along mountain streams and fre- 

 quently covering acres of the so-called mountain meadows. Its slender 

 but leafy culms grow to the height of 3 feet or more, and it is called in 

 some localities ' native timothy,' which it resembles in habit. It yields 

 to the acre a great bulk of fine, long, bright-colored hay, for which pur- 

 pose it is often harvested and highly valued. It has little value for 

 grazing. It grows most luxuriantly between the altitudes of 5,000 and 

 6,000 feet. Under cultivation I see no reason why this grass should not 

 become as celebrated on the great western plateau as is its near rela- 

 tive, the meadow foxtail, in the moist climate of England. 



'' Stipa comata. — Common on the bench lands, growing in soil too 

 gravelly and thin for Foa tenuifolia. In richer soil it grows tall and 

 produces a great abundance of forage. 



" jStq)a viridula. — This is the most valuable of the Stipas, growing in 

 light, sandy loam, frequently covering large areas to the exclusion of 

 other species. In favorable localities it attains the height of 3 feet. 

 The associated species are Stqya comatcij Foa tenuifolia,s^nd Kcehria cris- 

 tata. 



''- Eriocoma {Oryzopsis) cnspidata, abundant on the lower sandy bench 

 lands bordering the Missouri. It i%one of the esteemed ' bunch grasses' 

 and thrives on soil too sandy for other valuable species. 



^' Fhleum alpinum, called 'native timothy ;' it grows in mountainous 

 regions near streams, ascending to the altitude of seven or eight thou- 

 sand feet. At elevations between five and six thousand feet I have seen 

 this grass growing in rich oi)en woods along with common timothy 

 {Fhleum pratense), and it was the more luxuriant of the two — not so tall, 

 perhaps, but growing to the height of 2 feet, with larger and more leafy 

 culms. I see no reason why, in the region where this grass grows nat- 

 urally in such luxuriance, it may not take the place in cultivation of the 

 well-known and justly valued timoth^^ of the East. 



''^Afjrostis exarata. — G-rows onl}' along the rich, moist banks of streams 

 in the mountain districts. Apparently a valuable grass to introduce 

 into cultivation. 



^'' Deyeuxia Canadensis. — Common along streams. There, is a species 

 allied to Bey euxia neglecta, perhaps only a variety of it, that grows upon 

 the dry bench lands along with Foa tenuifolia and Kwleria cristata, and 

 so closely resembling the latter in habit that at a little distance it is 

 difficult to distinguish the one from the other. 



" Beschampsia cwspitosa is common in moist meadows even when the 

 soil is highly alkaline. It yields an abundant growth of stalks and 

 leaves, and may have some value, but it is not recognized as a forage 

 plant. 



" Bouteloua oUgostachya^ the ' buffalo grass,' of Montana. Abundant 

 on the lower benches at elevations of from 3,000 to 4,500 feet, and 



