GRAJ.IIRSAE 



while the same species from the Kofa Mountains is much smaller in 

 every way but is still a vigorous bunch grass. A second species 

 from the Baboquivari Mountains which is possibly only an annual, 

 is very promising under cultivation. 



The above discussion must reveal the fact that our Setarias 

 are badly in need of careful taxonomic work. 



Spor obolus airoidos. This is variously called Alkali Grass 

 and Alkali Sacaton. It is much more resistant to alkali than any 

 of the other Sporoboli and occupies hundreds of acres of low bottom 

 lands which receive overflow during flood time but which often be- 

 come very dry during a portion of the year. Commonly, however, the 

 material lowering of the water table as occurs from severe erosion 

 where deep channels arc cut through the meadows, is sufficient to 

 completely kill the sacaton. For this reason largo areas formerly 

 occupied by this grass have become denuded or have come up to mos- 

 quito* 



The palatability of alkali sacaton is rather low but it 

 frequently constitutes a largo part of the available grass during 

 dry years and it is frequently mowed for hay. 



The collection of seed is usually a problem because of the 

 roughness of the land, the grass forming large bunches which in 

 turn collect debris. If the ground could be given a little pre- 

 liminary attention, the hummocks disked or dragged down and a 

 little irrigation applied, the grass could bo harvested with mower 

 or binder and afterward threshed. With this in mind wo have planted 

 eighteen acres at Albuquerque. The threshing of all the Sporoboli 

 is easy in any thresher with the proper screens. In Y-)yo some of 

 the seed was collected with power strippers but much had to be 

 gathered by means of hand strippers. The crop in the summer of 1937 

 was exceptional and was collected by mowers, rakes and power 

 strippers » 



Alkali Sacaton is widely distributed throughout the west. 



S porob olus contractus, Spike Dropsecd, is easily confused 

 with two other species. Often the spikes are long and narrow and 

 are mostly enclosed in the sheaths. In this case it can be mis- 

 taken for S. orypta ndrus . If the culms are stout and the spikes 

 thick, it can bo confused with S. gigant eus . It is very similar 

 to S. oryptan drus in site and soil requirements and can be planted 

 in practically any place whore the latter will grow. Further work 

 is nocossary before it can be definitely determined which is the 



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