Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1903-02-12
GRASS ON ALKALl SOIL
Native Pasture Planta, Ineludtnv
Salt and Wheat GrasSex.

w@thve Pasture Plants, Ineludtnv
Salt and wheat Grasses.
There are q number OF native grasses
that may be called salt loving species.
ana their presence is u sure indication
OF an alkaline soil. One of the most
characteristic Of these In the regions
or 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 n of the important grasses
ot the Red desert of Wyoming and In
spite OF its harsh foliage and woody
culmi Is usually kept well eaten down
by stock.
Rough leafed salt grass (Sporobolus
a~sperifolius) Is common throughout the
region In question and will grow on the
strongest alkaline lands. 1t is a low,
spreading species, with comparatively
sort leaves II fine tops, and fur
nishes a 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
q 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
on alkali lands, as are several Of the
wild rye grasses, including great bunch
grass (Elymus c~ondenSatusl and Ely
mus simplex. The latter has compare
lively low growth. but delights in
strong alkali lands.
Indian miIlet 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. II
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 alkan
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 Column
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, and,
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
a good sod, and under favorable con
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.
Its presence Is regarded as an in
fallible sign bf water near the surface,
a 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. I.amsOn Scribner.