The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-05-16


parks wo find a "mountain timothy.o o,
alopecurus pratensis, var, alpestris. Iti
reputation al valuable feed and hay Ia very
high, and where found is much priced. In
similar situations we have a true. native
timothy besides the tame timothy run wild
from seed dropped by miners and prospec-
tors and railroad builders. The scientific
names for our true timothy are; Phleum
alpinum. H., and phleum p~ratense, Il.
8, Needle and thread grass" needle
grass 'porcupine grass" We have three
kinds, stipa oomata, stipa spartsa and stipa
viridula. Prof. Scribner reports also stipa
ri~chardsonni. These stipas are peculiar
in their seeds. accompanied with q long
avn from four TO six inches, which IL
twisted Just above the seed into
several g,mblet twists, and serve
the purpose also of a gimblet.
Stipa spartea is a very obnoxious
grass having tho common name of .'The
DEVILS Darning Needle" which one deems
quite appropriate after he has suffered
from their getting into his flesh. having
worked their way through pantaloons and
bootlees. Horse . and cattle are put to 60
we're torture from these awns working their
way into the flesh and causing q fostering
wound. Hon. Warren Upham in the cele-
brated Catalogue of the Flora of Mime
sofa" says: ''The grain is prolonged below
into q stout osllus, or base, needle liks in
sharpness, and above in a long twisted avn.
both of which are infinitely barbed 80 that
when inserted in the wool of sheep or in
mems clothing, the seed works forward
readily, but not backward. Within u few
weeks later these seeds are our to have
bored into the hard, dry, clayey soil OF the
praili, to a depth of two or three inches,
having been pushed or impelled In some
way by means of the avn"
These grasses are a portion of our bunch
grasses, and very abundant on our hillsides
and low mountains. Some of the noun
tains ct the entrance to Prickley Pear can
on ara covered with this kind of grass. The
only objection to it is this troublesome
seed and avn; otherwise it is 4 highly valu-
able and nutritious grass. In early years
Mt. Helena had an abundance of them, a
few are still to be found there.
8. We have also as q bunch grass several
species of mountain rice, called Oryzopsis
cuspidata and Oryzopsis micrantha. Cat
tie and horses love both kinds. The whole
plant clear down to the ground is eagerly
devoured. These must be inestimable plants
for cultivation in Montana. They grow in
their native places from one to three feet
high. Several species of bent grass,''o r ''red
top 30 famous in the east, are to be found
native in Montana, as also the poas. one of
which is identical with the celebrated Ken
lucky blue grass and just as valuable.
June grass" or kHleria ~cristata is very
abundant and very valuable. "Eaton's
grass" Eatonia obtusata, var, robusta, is
a good grass of southern Montana, and ex-
tending in fair abundance to Helena. l
have gathered splendid specimens at Blu
Cloud. Wild rye grows in profusion near
water or on low meadows, and is sadly af-
ficted with a severe fungus called ergot. I
have sometime thought that the fields near
the fair grounds could supply the nation
with ergot.
These are but a very few of our numerous
grasses. Montana is no dry and dreary
waste of desert. Few lands can show such
a variety in grasses CT greater value in her
species. From three to five acres of cur
native grasses are sufficient to support a
horse or OK for q year; one acre supports q
sheep. Some people tell us our grazing in
dustry has reached its limit, whereas, the
fact is. we have but begun. 1t would be a
grand help to Montana if she could do for
her state what the United States govern
ment is now doing for the grasses of the
southwest, namely, issue volumes contain
ing accurate drawings of each of our grasses,
together with a scientific description of
4Lau, po%orv 1,oa too 0ftar haan ln0kaH
upon as a school girls play, instead of the
noble and profitable and necessary science
it really is. Botany is growing daily more
and more into prominence rs an econom-
ical science affecting the wealth of the
country. One of the most valuable
exhibits Montana could possibly make at
the great Columbian fair in Chicago would
be a large collection of her native grasses
on which once fed tha fat hosts of buffalo.
and which now support the herds and
hocks tina annually bring in many millions
of dollars into our rising and noble state.
Other states may boast their oranges,
plums, and cherries; but few fruit growers
gather in profits at a larger per cent. than
men who deal in hay, grain and grass.
Montana mines are justly our pride and
boast; but let 1t not be 1OrRObten, tAat &c
the average wage-sarner Montana grasses
are a surer and more safe return than
stocks and dividends in mines and smelters'
The tendency of mon in all professions.
trades, and industries is to follow in the
beaten track. HAPPY the man of brains
who experiments and introduces new pro-
cesses or new values. A rich field for easy
investigation lies open to any lntelll gem
and progressive ranohman or farmer to try
experiments upon our native grasses. Az
cotton. CON. wheat. oats, barley, flax, pota:
toes, tomatoes, beans, peas, pumokins anc
all sorts of cultivated grasses were oncf
wild insignificant weeds until SOM pro
gresslve and aggressive cultlvator expert
mented upon them and discovered theil
worth, SO many Montana plants await the
right man to bring them into notice an
vantage ground of blessing.