. Bulletin. Gramineae -- United States; Forage plants -- United States. 39 confined to the valleys of the larger streams, the prairies and hilly conutry being given over to grazing. Occasionally a rich plateau or <'bench'' may be found with a sufficient sujiply of moisture to produce a growth of grass luxuriant enough for hay, but these are rare. The grasses of most importance in the meadows in the lower valleys are wheat-grasses {Agropyron spp.), meadow-grasses {Poa spj).), manna- grasses {I'anieularia spp.), sand-grasses or blue-joints {Calamagrostis spp.), and wild rye-grasses {Elymus sp
. Bulletin. Gramineae -- United States; Forage plants -- United States. 39 confined to the valleys of the larger streams, the prairies and hilly conutry being given over to grazing. Occasionally a rich plateau or <'bench'' may be found with a sufficient sujiply of moisture to produce a growth of grass luxuriant enough for hay, but these are rare. The grasses of most importance in the meadows in the lower valleys are wheat-grasses {Agropyron spp.), meadow-grasses {Poa spj).), manna- grasses {I'anieularia spp.), sand-grasses or blue-joints {Calamagrostis spp.), and wild rye-grasses {Elymus spp.). Of these the wheat-grasses are by far the most valuable. A great many species occur in this region, but there are three which are of special importance as hay-producing grasses. These are Western wheat-grass {A[/ropyron spi- catum), known also as Col- orado blue-stem, slender wheat-grass {Agropyron tene- rum) (see fig. 8), and false quack-grass {Agropyron ). These grasses are very generally distrib- uted over the region, and grow naturally on a great variety of soils. All respond readily to cultivation. Usu- ally all that is necessary to convert a piece of good sage- brush or valley land into a wheat grass meadow is to clear off the brush and large stones, keep off the stock, and water the land. The grasses will soon take complete possession. On nearly every well- kept ranch in the eastern Rocky Mountain region can be seen fine natural meadows made in this manner. Western wheat-grass is usu- ally more abundant than either of the other sorts, and it is not an uncommon thing to see a meadow of 40, 80, or more acres composed almost exclusively of this grass. Without irrigation it is rarely possi- ble to cut more than one crop in two years, as the grass requires time to recuperate. Even with irrigation it is seldom possible to obtain good crops for many consecutive years without cutting up the sod to over- come its "hidebound" condition and give opportu
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