FORAGE CROPS FOR THE SAND-HILL SECTION OF NEBRASKA. 7 



prairie muhlenbergia (Muhlenbergia pungens) , Hall's beard-grass 

 (Andropogon hallii), little bluestem (Andropogon scoparius) , west- 

 ern stipa (Stipa comata), hairlike eragrostis (Eragrostis trichoides) , 

 and Oryzopsis hymenoides. These are common on the ridges of both 

 the wet-valley and the dry-valley regions. Besides these grasses two 

 species of Psoralea and two of Euphorbia are common. The sand 

 cherry (Prunus besseyi) is also widely distributed and is a prominent 

 feature of the sand-hill flora. 



In the hay meadows of the wet-valley region the most valuable 

 grasses are the following: Big bluestem (Andropogon furcatus), 

 switch-grass (Panicum virgatum) , western wheat-grass (Agropyron 

 smithii), Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans), wild timothy (Muhlen- 

 bergia racemosa), sleuder wheat-grass (Agropyron tenerum), por- 

 cupine grass (Stipa spartea), and nodding wild rye (Elymus cana- 

 densis). 



In the moist soils adjacent to the lakes these better grasses are 

 mixed with or superseded by sedges (Carex spp.) and rushes (J uncus 

 spp.), several species of each being prominent. Where the ground is 

 marshy in such situations, the tall marsh-grass (Spartina cynosu- 

 roides) and several species of Equisetum are also abundant. In the 

 better soils of the dry valleys are found, besides a great many of the 

 hay grasses named, patches of the side oats and blue gramas (Boute- 

 loua curtipendula and Bouteloua oligostachya) and sometimes buffalo 

 grass (Bulbilis dactyloides) . 



The sand-hill vegetation is very rich in species of grasses, and no 

 attempt will be made to enumerate them further. During the spring 

 and summer months these grasses are quite succulent and are efficient 

 in producing both beef and milk, but in the fall and winter, with the 

 exception of the buffalo and grama grasses, they are killed by frost 

 and are not equal to the pasturage on the hard soils farther south, 

 where the percentage of the last-named grasses is larger. 



The hay secured in the wet-valley region is abundant and if cured 

 properly makes a good roughage for cattle and horses, but it lacks 

 the protein element necessary to sustain strength and produce growth 

 when fed without grain. 



CROP LIMITATIONS. 



The extremely sandy character of the soil precludes any extensive 

 system of small-grain or corn farming, such as is carried on in the 

 eastern and southern parts of the State. This region is, therefore, 

 and doubtless will remain essentially a stock-growing section. Pro- 

 spective settlers should understand this point and make their plans 

 accordingly. 



Where a settler can obtain a large body of land, including some 

 hay flats, he may profitably engage in the production of beef cattle 



[Cir. 80] 



