10 BULLETIN 545, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
The seed crop has a fair viability, the average for the three years 
being 27 per cent. The highest germination, obtained in 1909, was 
35 per cent. On the range this species is reproducing so abundantly 
that it is very probable that a much higher viability results when the 
seed is allowed to pass through the usual conditions after maturing. 
The seed, too, has an effective means of getting into the ground 
through the boring action of the awn, and this may account largely 
for the plant's rapid invasion of many situations. It is among the 
most promising species for restocking depleted ranges. 
Although not to be compared with mountain bunchgrass in pala- 
tability, porcupine grass is a good forage plant. It begins growth 
early in the season and continues growing until late in the summer, 
the leaf blades remaining green until September 1. Although their 
texture is somewhat harsh and their edges slightly scabrous, the 
plant is grazed with considerable relish by sheep, cattle, and horses, 
though considered most desirable for sheep. Both cattle and horses 
eat the flower stalks, even when- the seeds are approaching maturity, 
and the long, rather bristlelike awns are likely to make sore mouths 
or even to cause serious trouble in the throat, sometimes resulting 
in what is termed ''temporary lump jaw." Other grasses, however, 
may be more directly responsible for these bad effects. Sheep do 
not consume the flower or seed stalks, but graze the leaf blades 
closely. 
A species closely allied to porcupine grass is little needle grass 
{S. minor). It is very similar in general characters, ecological 
requirements, and distribution, and for that reason will not be dis- 
cussed in detail here. While as widely distributed as S. occidentalism 
it is not nearly so abundant. The plant is taller and may be dis- 
tinguished at a glance by observing the awns, which are less than 
hah the length of those of S. occidentalism and which, instead of being 
plumose, are very slightly pubescent or merely roughened. Because 
of its sparse growth, the plant is not especially valuable for grazing, 
though eaten with relish by most classes of stock. (See Plate V.) 
Mouxtaix Tdiothy. 
(Phleum alpinum.) 
The genus Phleum contains about 10 annual and perennial species, 
most of which are confined to the Temperate and Arctic regions. 
Among them is the cultivated timothy, generally conceded to be the 
most valuable forage and hay plant in the United States. 
Mountain timothy is occasionally mistaken for the cultivated 
timothy. While the two plants have somewhat the same general 
appearance (compare Plates II and YD, the cultivated species, P. 
prat ens e, usually grows from 2 to 4 feet high, while mountain timothy 
as a rule attains less than half that height; also the spike of the latter, 
