PALMACEAE 



should be planted along our southwestern highways where the mean 

 annual temperature is high. Groves of the trees have a marked 

 erosion control value and the trees are possibly suitable for use 

 in other southwestern canyons, 



JUNCACEAE 



The Rushes resemble the Sedges but are not closely related 

 to thorn. The stems are commonly round or flat. Come are good 

 erosion control plants but hardly drought resistant. The most com- 

 mon one in the west is the wire grass, Jun e us balticus, so common 

 in meadows. It has a long thick rhizomatous base and is an excel- 

 lent soil binder. The stems arc tough chewing for the cow but they 

 have played a real part in the fairyland of childhood in the weaving 

 of crowns, rings and garlands* 



LILIACEAE 



Asparagu s officinalis, Asparagus, is not a native of North 

 America, but its use has become almost universal and in many places 

 it has escaped from cultivation. Where it will grow it is to be 

 recommended as both a forage plant and as an erosion control plant. 

 It requires too much water to be of much value except as a cultivated 

 crop or in sandy bottoms where there is considerable moisture, 



Dasylerio n wheele ri, Sotol, is abundant on dry, rocky slopes 

 from western Texas to southern Arizona and adjacent Mexico, It has 

 long, narrow, drooping leaves on a thick crown or short trunk. The 

 leaves have curved spines along the margins. These turn towards the 

 free end of the leaves. In some localities the plant is abundant 

 enough to have a noted effect as a soil binder. Since the plants 

 are very slow-growing and are valueless, or nearly so, as forage, 

 we are not using them in our program. The plants, however, have 

 been of economic importance in the past. The butts have been used 

 much as the butts of the Agave for food after being roasted in pits 

 in the ground. A very potent distilled drink was formerly, and 

 doubtless still is, made from, the sugary juice of those butts. The 

 plant makes an interesting ornamental , 



Dasylerion leiophyllum, also called Sotol, is very similar 

 to wheeleri. It is the most aggravating plant in the state of 

 Texas. The recurved spines on the leaves curve toward the butts 

 of the leaves and thus catch hold of the passer-by. The plants 

 thus become very hard on pants and likewise on a man's religion. 



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