GflliU'UNME 



better, S. contractus or 3, crytandrus. It often forms pure stands 

 in snail areas~"and produces an abundance of seed. Since it is de- 

 sirable, howex-er, to harvest it by machinery, we are planting six 

 acres for increase. 



The range of ^» contractus is Colorado to western Texas, 

 southern California and kexico. 



*Spor obelus cryptandrus, Sand Dropseed, occupies wide areas 

 across the "continent which are not outstandingly sandy. In fact 

 its value lies in part in its adaptability to a wide range of soil 

 conditions. It is much more drought resistant than either the alkali 

 sacaton or the giant sacaton and is frequently found on wide, dry 

 open flats. The grass is usually quite scattering. For this reason 

 it commonly is inferior as an erosion control agent to cither the 

 giant sacaton or the alkali sacaton where these will grow. Though 

 commonly it comes in as a result of overgrazing it is an exceedingly 

 valuable grass because of its ability to withstand heavy grazing 

 and because of its relatively high palatability. It not Infrequently 

 produces two crops of seed a season and often the character of the 

 inflorescence of the second crop is so different from the first as 

 to confuse one as to the identity of the grass. Not infrequently 

 the Inflorescence of the first crop is very long and narrow and 

 practically or completely enclosed in a sheath while the inflores- 

 cences produced later in the season are more or less exposed and 

 open. 



Considerable quantities of seed were collected in 1936 in 

 southern Utah on the kilford Experimental kange. 



This is probably the easiest of all our native grasses to 

 produce in the nursery and as It can be grown in much denser stands 

 than are found normally on the range, we arc growing twenty-five 

 acres in increase blocks. It should be remarked that in the nursery 

 this is inclined to become a weed because of its habit of readily 

 soeding itself. 



*SporoboIus f l exuosus* This is called the kesa Dropseed 

 though it is hardly more entitled to this name than S, cryptandrus. 

 It not frequently grows in drifting sand in such places us the 

 Shinnerioo cf How koxioo or the plains country east of El Paso. 

 It will, however, grow in flats where there is considerable alkali. 

 It is thus seen that it is adaptable to a wide range of conditions. 

 It is much more drought resistant than C. airoides or ij , wrightii, 

 even more than S, cryptandrus. It is not infrequent in the low 

 tushes in the extremely arid situation along Vermillion Cliffs, 

 Arizona, and the desert around Toqucrvillc, Utah. It is widespread 

 in the southwest. 



"JO" 



