Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1902-08-07

Native Pasture Plants, IncludfnE
salt and Whea Grasnes-

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Native Pasture Plants. IncladinE
Salt and Wheat Grasnes-
There are a number OF native grasses
that may be called salt loving species,
and their presence Is a sure indication
of an alkaline soil. One Of the most
characteristic Of these in the regions
OF the southwest and California is fine
topped salt grass. This is one of the
native tussock or bunch grasses, and
Is found throughout the desert lands
and regions of the southwest, extend
ing northward to Nebraska and Monta-
ma. 1t is one Of the important grasses
Of the Red desert of Wyoming and in
spite of it's harsh foliage and woody
culmi is usually kept well eaten down
by stock.
Rough leafed salt grass (Sporobolus
asperifolius) is common throughout the
region in question and will grow On the
strongest alkaline lands. 1t is a low,
spreading species, with comparatively
soft leaves and fine tops, and fur
nishes Il moderate amount of grazing
In many localities.
One of the wheat grasses already re-
ferred to, Agropyron tenerum, is COM
mon in the deserts OF Wyoming and
the northwest and in rare cases forms
a close, uniform growth that yields as
much per acre as an average field Of
timothy. 1t is probably one of the
best pasture and hay grasses of light
soils, and its cultivation has been at
tended with success. Other species of
wheat grasses, including the western
wheat grass, are occasionally found
wild rye grasses, including great bunch
grass (Elymus c~ondensatus) and Ely
mus simplex. The latter has COMPARE
lively low growth, but delights in
strong alkali lands.
Indian millet is found in desert
places where the soil is more or less
alkaline and is often seen growing in
the drifting sands of the desert. 1t
ranges from New Mexico and southern
California northward to the Canadian
line. All kinds OF stock relish it, and
the seed heads appear to be specially
palatable to horses.
The most widely distributed and
most abundant OF all grasses of alkali
soils is Distichlis martina, or what is
widely known as salt grass. This grass
Is not confined to the salt lands Of the
interior, but occurs on the salt marsh
es OF the coast from Maine to Texas
and on the west from British CoIum.
bia southwark. 1t will thrive even in
ground heavily impregnated with al
kali and other salts and where nearly
all other vegetation would perish. In
the interior it ranges from Montana
southwark to Texas and Arizona. ard,
although much inferior In quality to
the better pasture grasses OF the east.
in the region where it occurs it is Of
ten esteemed very highly. 1t will form
n good sod, and under favorable o n
ditions 1T makes a sufficient growth to
produce a good crop of hay. 1t is
probably the most abundant species in
the Rio Grande valley. in Texas, New
Mexico and In the valleys westward to
the Pacific ocean.
It's presence Is regarded as an in
fallible sign bf water neal the surface,
q fact taken advantage of By prospect
ors and miners. In the dry regions
the grass is valuable for the pasture
1t furnishes near the springs that serve
as watering places for stock on the
open range.-F. Lamson Scribner.