IMPORTANT RANGE PLANTS. 25 
the Hudsonian zone, though there it is of little forage value. It 
makes its best growth on shallow clay loam soils, where, notwith- 
standing its shallow roots, it remains green throughout the summer. 
External hairy contrivances protect the plant from transpiration. 
Wilting beyond recovery does not take place until the soil moisture 
falls to or slightly below 5.5 per cent, a condition which very few 
herbaceous species can withstand. Owing to its ability to succeed 
in dry soils and to withstand long periods of drought, and because of 
its good seed habits and aggressiveness, soft cheat is valuable as a 
binder for exposed soils. 
On the higher ranges in the Canadian zone, and in those parts of 
the Hudsonian where it occurs, the flower stalks are mostly produced 
by July 15. The seeds are usually matured by August 10. In the 
Transition zone the seeds are ripened a month earlier. Seed col- 
lections made on the upland ranges at an altitude of 6,000 feet 
yielded an average germination of 48.2 per cent, while seed grown in 
the Transition zone during the same seasons averaged 78.5 per cent. 
This wide difference is doubtless due to the more favorable tempera- 
ture in the lower zone. 
Since the forage of soft cheat is produced exceptionally early, it 
is of special value at that season, and the leaf blades are then eagerly 
eaten. There is diversity of opinion among stockmen as to the 
nutritive qualities of this grass. Many claim that it is a valuable 
feed when supplemented with other species of grasses and weeds, 
but owing to its "washy," succulent nature in the spring of the year, 
it is not conducive to putting on solid fat. Miners say that their 
pack animals fatten quickly upon it when left at leisure, but when 
grazing upon it exclusively they are unable to work without excessive 
loss of flesh. After the seeds have ripened the plant is of very little 
forage value. 
Tall Meadow-Grass. 
{Panicularia nervata.) 
The genus Panicularia belongs to the same tribe as Kentucky 
bluegrass and mountain bunch grass. It contains about 20 species, 
most of which are found in North America. As its common name 
implies, tall meadow-grass usually attains a good height. The leaf 
blades are flat, smooth beneath, and rough above, and the sheaths 
are rather rough throughout. At maturity the somewhat purplish 
panicles with long flexible branches are usually drooping. 
This species is, closely confined to moist situations, and is able to 
thrive in rather deep shade. It is almost invariably associated with 
slender reed-grass and various species of sedges and rushes of high 
water requirements. It occurs rather extensively in moist situa- 
tions in the Canadian zone, and is often the chief species in favorable 
spots in both the Hudsonian and Transition zones. 
85154°— Bull. 545—17—4 
