GILAKIKEA33 



preposterous at the beginning of our work. It may be stated at the 

 outset that it is doubted by many that our Rocky Mountain strain 

 of Poa pratensis is the true Kentucky Blue Grass. Be that as it 

 nay, "what we are calling by this name is spreading very rapidly 

 even under heavy grazing in our comparatively high altitudes of 

 southern Colorado and northern New Mexico. The true Kentucky Blue 

 Grass is an introduction from Europe. Its long rhizomes and numer- 

 our fibrous roots make it an excellent soil binder,- in fact one of 

 the best. It is highly probable next season's program will call 

 for the collection of a quantity of seed of our southwestern 

 grass to be grown for comparison with grass grown from commercial 

 seed. 



Another Poa worthy of mention is the Ganada blue Grass, Poa 

 compressa, also an introduction from Europe. While it is inferior 

 to the Kentucky Blue as a grass, it grows in sites where the latter 

 will not grow, in very poor and even alkaline soil. It is of simi- 

 lar habit to the Kentucky Blue. 



A Poa Bound on the north slopes of the Superstition Moun- 

 tains, probably P. f endleriana , has rhizomes similar to the Ken- 

 tucky Blue though somewhat shorter. It forms very large, dense 

 clumps with much leafage. It is vary drought resistant and may 

 prove worthwhile at some of our lower altitudes where Kentucky Blue 

 will not grow, he have very little seed with which to start our 

 observational work. 



R edf ie ldia f lexuosa , Blow-out grass, as this is called, is 

 comparable to the giant Calamovilfa. It is much smaller but has 

 very extensive rhizomes and is a good sand binder. It is a much 

 smaller grass and from this standpoint is not so effective an 

 agent in retarding the wind. It has about the same distribution, 

 not extending quite so far north. Our seed increase plot of two 

 acres is being established at Albuquerque, 



Schismus barbatus. "Be find very little mention of this 

 grass in grass" literature of this country. It was introduced from 

 the old world where it is widely distributed from southern Europe 

 through India and South Africa. In the United States it is re- 

 ported only from southern Arizona. From Tucson to Phoenix it is 

 very abundant in many places following mostly the draws in the 

 driest portions of the desert. It is seldom more than eight in- 

 ches tall. In Paradise Valley north of Phoenix it forms dense pure 

 stands covering large areas in the more or less sandy creosote land. 

 Whdre there are any winter rains this grass forms a good ground 

 cover and acceptable forage. By June it has commonly seeded and 



