GPJLl'INEAE 



This grass is nearly as easily produced in the nursery as 

 S. crypt and rus . The ease with which it can "be handled, together with 

 its other qualities, recommend it. he have eleven acres for in- 

 crease, he have experienced difficulty in geminating seed, it being 

 in this respect similar to £^ giga nt ou s. kr. Downs of the Albuquerque 

 Nursery has been successful in geminating the latter by treating it 

 with hot water (about 150 degrees Fahrenheit for ten minutes). Seeds 

 of 3. flexuosus will be subjected to this treatment for trial, 



*3porobolus gigantous, the Giant Dropseed, is a close relative 

 of the Spike Dropseed (S. contractu:) but is much more robust, hav- 

 ing thick stems and wide leaves. This doe':; not form dense clumps. 

 It is at home in deep drifting sand and for this reason is well ad- 

 apted for use as a sand binder. It produces very long, dense spikes 

 and a heavy crop of seed. This and closely related dropsocds have 

 been used extensively in the past by the Indians and I Mexicans for 

 food. The seed habits of this species seem to make it more suitable 

 for this purpose than other species* In the pioneer days in Hew 

 I.:oxico and Arizona the dropceoda were .nixed with sugar, commonly 

 the unrefined pin echo, an: 1 carried in a pouch or sack and used as 

 a concentrated food. This was called "pinole", the term applied to 

 any mixture of grain and sugar* 



S. gigantous ranges from Texas to Arizona. 



Since there are no extensive stands of this valuable grass 

 we are planting twenty-five acres for increase, (Sec note on S. 

 fle xuosu s seed germination). 



Sporobolus wrightii, Giant Gacaton, is another large, coarse 

 dropseed. In contrast to the giant dropseed it forms very large, 

 dense clumps. The stems are not as coarse and the long seed tops 

 are open. The seeds of this species were probably more generally 

 used for human food than the seeds of other species because of the 

 abundance of the grass. The large dense clumps occupy rather nar- 

 row draws and flats, areas which receive overflow and which are not 



too alkaline. The clumps rot only prevent erosion but act as de- 

 silters of flood waters. 



Occasionally this grass is cut for hay but the extreme rough- 

 ness of the land after the large clumps form discourages land owners 

 from mowing the grass. Also, it is much less palatable than many 

 others even when young. It is possible that discing the land every 

 two or three years and using the hay for ensilage might make this 

 grass a profitable crop. 



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