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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

BOTANICAL DIVISION.
eee cE EIN IN Gy a

ive Orly 1

OF AN

INVESTIGATION OF THE GRASSES

eR DIS RiCTsS

OFr

KANSAS, NEBRASKA. AND COLORADO.

BY

Dr. GEORGE VASEY, Botanist.

PREPARED UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE,

WASHINGTON:
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE.

1886,
6078—Bull. 1

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INVESTIGATION OF GRASSES OF THE ARID DISTRICTS OF bed
SAS, NEBRASKA, AND COLORADO.

WASHINGTON, September 29, 1886.
Hon. NORMAN J. COLMAN,
Commissioner of Agriculture:

DEAR Sir: In accordance with your commission to make an investi-
gation of the grasses and forage plants of the arid districts of the
West, I have the pleasure of informing you that I have recently spent.
about six weeks in an examination of that part of the arid region em.
braced in the States of Kansas, Nebraska, and Colorado, and in the
northeastern part of New Mexico.

The eastern boundary of the arid region has been commonly fixed at:
the one hundredth meridian. It has been estimated that nearly one-half
of the land belonging to the United States, exclusive of the Territory of
Alaska, lies west of this line, and amounts to some 900,000,000 acres..
Much the larger part of this immense region consists of mountains and
arid Jand. A large part of the land on the Pacific coast is productive
without irrigation, and some of the finest land for grazing purposes lies
‘in the mountain valleys and parks, where there is an abundant rainfall.
The remainder of this great domain consists mainly of arid land, such
as the high mesas of Western Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Southern
California, Utah, Nevada, and Wyoming, in addition to those portions
of Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado, and New Mexico before mentioned.

Various estimates have been made as to the amount of this arid land;
probably two-thirds of all the territory west of the one hundredth meri-
dian may be considered of this class, and so far as it has been utilized,
has been chiefly occupied for cattle and sheep ranches, for which pur-
pose alone it was thought to be adapted.

NORTHEASTERN NEW MEXICO.

The time at my disposal only admitted of an investigation of the part.
of this region which I have mentioned, and I will first speak of the
northeastern part of New Mexico. This is separated from the great
plains of Colorado by an eastward projection of the Raton range of
mountains. This range rises to the height of about 8,000 feet at the
crossing of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fé Railroad. The town
of Trinidad lies at the base of the range on the northern side, at the

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elevation of 6,000 feet, and here the railroad begins the ascent of the
mountain, following the winding of a small stream. Near the summit
it passes through a tunnel, then emerges in New Mexico, and rapidly
descends to the town of Raton, which is at an elevation of about 6,700
feet. Here the plains recommence, stretching eastward to the east line
of the Territory, thence into the region called ‘‘ No Man’s Land” and into
the *“‘ Panhandle” of Texas. Southward they extend through the Terri-
tory, but undergo a considerable change in character after reaching
about the thirty-fifth parallel of latitude, or ‘about 140 miles from the
northern boundary. : 7 :

_ The western boundary is the base of the Rocky Mountains, which
trend somewhat to the southwest, thus giving a greater breadth in the
southern part, but the average breadth from the mountains to the east
line may be reckoned at more than 100 miles. This is the best large
body of grazing land in the Territory. The elevation along the base of
the mountains at the west is greater than it is in Colorado, and along
the railroad the altitude-is over 6,000 feet.

The mesa slopes eastward gradually to the line of the Territory, where
the altitude is about 4,000 feet. This region is almost entirely covered
by several Mexican land grants, particularly those known as the Max-
well and Mora grants, and is included in the counties of Colfax, Mora,
and San Miguel. Little or no agriculture has been attempted except
with irrigation, and that is generally pursued by the native Mexicans,
who are generally contented with a few acres each on the water courses.
In some of the valleys among the foot hills, however, are fertile spots
where some cultivation has been successfully attempted without irriga-
tion. According to the statement of Mr. Clarence Gordon in the census
report for 1880, there were in that year about 220,000 head of cattle in

these three northeastern counties, or over 60 per cent. of all that were
in the Territory. Mr. Gordon estimates that there are 11,500,000 acres
of available pasturage land in this portion of the Territory, which would
give an average of about 52 acres to the head of stock; but the ground
is also shared by a large number of sheep. Colfax County was the most
heavily stocked, and gave an average of 24 acres to the head, while Mora
Couaty gave 35 acres to the head, and San Miguel County 55. That
portion of the mesa near the Raton Range is so elevated as to be only
serviceable for cattle pasturage during five months of summer, and is
chiefly ocenpied as a sheep ranch.

The grasses of this region are mainly the same as prevail in Colorado,
viz, gramma and buffalo grass, in variable proportion, but the gramma
generally greatly predominating. Several other kinds occur in certain
localities, as on rocky hillsides and on bottom land, but form only a small
proportion as compared with those prevailing on the mesa. These will
be noticed in another place. The quantity of grass upon the grouad.
varies with the situation and soil. In the west part of the Mora grant
there is a wide stretch of most excellent grazing land. On bluffs and

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rocky ground the soap-weed, a kind of Spanish bayonet (Yucca angusti-
folia) frequently occurs, and occasionally may be seen a large, branch-
ing, thistle-like cactus (Opuntia arborescens).

Over the larger part of this mesa the capacity for supporting cattle
will probably average from 15 to 20 acres tothe head. There are, how-
ever, large tracts which cannot safely be utilized from the absence of
running water. This difficulty will eventually be overcome by the sink-
ing of wells.

Mr. Calhoun, of Watrous, a well-known stockman, remarked, ‘© ur
great want is a more productive grass. The quality is not so great an
object as the quantity.”

Mr. Gordon estimates that there are 11,500,000 acres in this region
available for stock-raising, and that in 1880 it was stocked on the aver-
age at the rate of about 52 acres to the head. But the full grazing
capacity of the land cannot be realized under the ranche system. In
order to do this the cattle ranges must be restricted in extent, with
provision for winter feeding, water, and shelter. If to this we add eul-
tivation of the land and pastures of more productive grasses, we may
expect greatly increased population and wealth. Mr. D. W. Brewster
has a section of land on the dry mesa about 12 miles east of Las Vegas,
where he has dug a well and this year broken 30 acres, and expects to
break 80 acres, on which he will try the experiment of cultivation. The
result of this experiment will be watched with great interest. In a deep
cafion, 28 miles east of Springer, M. W. Mills, esq., has 100 acres under
cultivation in frnit trees, and has had good success. Whenever these
land grants are arranged for subdivision at reasonable prices, a move-
ment of immigration will probably take place. The towns of Raton,
Springer, and Las Vegas are the principal ones on the railroad in a dis-
tance of 150 miles.

THE NORTHERN PLAINS.

We will now return to the arid region north of New Mexico. This is
bounded on the west by the Rocky Mountains, and extends eastward to:
the one hundredth meridian in the States of Kansas and Nebraska, a.
distance of more than 300 miles. The elevation at the base of the
mountains is about 5,500 to 6,000 feet. North of Colorado the high
mountain range breaks down into the elevated Laramie plains. :

This region is drained in the northern part by the Platte River, the
north fork in Nebraska and the south fork in Colorado; by the Repub-
lican River in Southern Nebraska, the Smoky Hill in Kansas, and the:
Arkansas and its branches in Southern Colorado and Kansas. It is am
immense treeless plain, sloping eastward at the rate of about 10 feet to
the mile. It is cut up in many places by dry channels, called arroyas,
which carry off the surface-water during rains and convey it to the
larger streams. In the central part of the Colorado plateau is an ele-
vated ridge, known as the * divide,” which separates the waters of the

6

Platte from those which make their way on the south to the Arkansas.
This ridge is about 100 miles from east to west and 60 miles from north
to south. The southward drainage slope toward the Arkansas River is
‘said to be about 40 feet to the mile. Occasional springs are found, but
Aarge areas occur without any water.

There are some extensive tracts of very sandy land, sometimes thrown
into ridges, and sometimes into small, shifting hillocks. But by far the
Jarger part of the surface of this great tract is a rich mixture of loam
-and clay, increasing in richness, for the most part, as the land descends
‘to lower altitudes. The same observations will apply mainly to the
eastern portions of the tract in Kansas and Nebraska, where, at the one
hundredth meridian, the elevation is about 2.500 feet.

Near Denver and northward on the Platte and its branches are some of
the bestagriculturallandsofColorado. They areirrigated by ditches and
eanals drawn from the mountain streams. In this part of the State are
the enterprising towns of Boulder, Longmont, Fort Collins, and Greeley.
In the southern part the Arkansas has been drawn upon for purposes
of irrigation. But the irrigable lands constitute but a small part of the
great plains. They are mostly elevated above the streams, and for a
supply of water must depend mainly upon wells and artificial reser-
voirs. The rainfall over this region is from 15 to 20 inches per year,
increased occasionally in the southeastern part to’4 inches. The piains
constitute about one-third of the entire area of the State of Colorado.

CATTLE ON THE PLAINS.

It is stated that in 1884 there were in Eastern Colorado about 800,000
cattle, occupying an area of some 20,000,000 acres, or about 40 acres per
head. Occupying the same territory there were also about 1,000,000
head of sheep. Some parts of this region have evidently been over-
stocked, but there are large areas in the eastern part of the State which
have been little utilized on account of the scarcity of water.

In Kansas and Nebraska west cf the one hundredth meridian the ele-
vation runs down from an average of 3,000 feet to that of some 2,500
feet in a distance of about 120 miles. I have not been able to obtain
any recent estimates as to the quantity of cattle on ranches in this dis-
trict. The number has been greatly reduced within two or three years,
partly by the removai of many herds to more northern ranges and partly
by means of the heavy losses of stock during the last winter from ex-
posure to an excessively severe occurrence of storms and blizzards, by
which some herds were alinost entirely destroyed.

There are some sections where the supply of running water is very
limited, and these have not been much occupied.

There is reason to believe that the unproductive character of much
of this region has been greatly exaggerated, and many portions of this
Territory have recently been the field of a great rush of immigration,
by which the larger part will soon be absorbed by homesteads and pre-

rf

emption claims for the purpose of general cultivation. The attempts
at agriculture which have been made here during the past two or three
years have been attended with considerable success, possibly owing to
favorable seasons, but the most sanguine expectations are entertained
by the settlers.

The scene of greatest activity has been along the line of the Atchi-
son, Topeka and Santa Fé Railroad. From Dodge City westward to
La Junta new towns are springing up as if by magic, and the surround-
ing conntry is being rapidly settled. Cimarron, Belfast, Pierceville,
Garden City, Hartland, Syracuse, Cooledge, and Lamar are some of
these new points of settlement. Several new and extensive irrigating
canals, drawn from the Arkansas River, have been carried through por-
tions of the country, which will enable much land to be brought under
irrigation. The bottom lands and second bottoms are flat and well
adapted to irrigation. The high lands have a rich soil, supporting a
good body of gramma and buffalo grass. On the Kansas Pacific Rail-
road there is also considerable activity in the way of settlement. Sor.
rento, Kit Carson, and Coronada are booming towns on this road in
Eastern Colorado and Colona, Collyer, Grinnell, Sheridan, and Wallace
on the same road in Western Kansas. The railroad through this see-
tion runs mostly on the divide or highest and least watered part of the
country. Wallace County seems to be particularly wanting in large
streams. Some of the first branches of the Smoky Hill River have
their rise in it, but the supply both of water and trees is small. There
has been little improvement or settlement in the county until recently.
The village of Wallace is built on the Government reservation of Fort
Wallace, which reservation is 2 miles wide by 7 miles long. The build-
ings of the old military post are about 2 miles from the village. They
are mostly in a state of dilapidation, but a portion are substantially
built of stone and are well preserved. |

A large and substantial dam which was built across the small stream
and utilized chiefly for an ice-pond still remains in a damaged condition,
and with some repairs could be employed for irrigation. The village
is on the high upland, and is supplied with water mainly from wells of
different depth. On the highest levels water is usually reached at about
150 feet. One-half the land lying along the railroad is owned by the
company, and is not yet offered for sale, and settlers have generally
gone beyond the railroad limits. The few attempts which have been
made at cultivation without irrigation have been principally for the pur-
pose of obtaining forage crops of corn and millet, and have been so ©
successful that trials are now being made of wheat and othe: farm crops.
At this village and in the vicinity the grasses are gramma and buffalo,
in variable proportions, the buffalo predominating on the highest levels,
but the gramma taking the lead elsewhere. The ground is well covered
and affords excellent pasturage, and is quite capable of affording sum-
mer pasturage for stock at the vate of 10 acres to the head.

8

On the Burlington and Missouri Railroad, in Northeastern Colorado,
new settlements are forming. Akron is a new town on the naked plain,
near no stream of water. The land is said to be rich; certainly it has
this season produced promising crops of corn and millet on newly-
broken sod. Water is obtained at the depth of about 75 feet. Half a
mile north of the station is the artesian well which was sunk by the
United States Government to the depth of 1,200 feet and then aban-
doned. The water now rises freely in the well to within 140 fees of the
surface, and is utilized to supply the wants of settlers in the vicinity:
The grasses of the prairie are the same as at Wallace and elsewhere, but
somewhat more sparsely covering the ground. On the same railroad,
in Southwestern Nebraska, Benkelman, Culbertson, and McCook are
thrifty towns on the Republican River, where the land is fertile and con-
siderable of it under cultivation. At McCook, on high ground north
and west of the town, fields of strong, promising corn and millet were
growing on the dry prairie. The gramma and buffalo grasses cover the
soil richly and afford excellent pasturage. The greatest difficulty away

from the streams on the highlands is the want of water, to obtain which

it is Sometimes necessary to sink wells 150 to 300 feet. Wheat has
yielded as high as 40 bushels to the acre without irrigation. In the town
are planted several kinds of trees, as ash, box-elder, elm, white maple,
and catalpa, which seem to be making healthy growth.

On what is called the Julesburg Branch of the Union Pacific Railroad
new towns are springing up, and land is rapidly being locatéd. Atwood,
Sterling, Lift, and Sedgwick are within the boundaries of Colorado, and
Ogallala, O’Fallon, and North Platte are in Nebraska. At the points
in Nebraska particularly there have been many land entries and con-
siderable cultivation commenced. At North Platte and many miles
west of that place the river bottom is several miles wide, and contains
rich meadow land, where great quantities of grass are cut annually
for hay. This consists of several coarse species, principally Panicum
virgatum, Agropyrum glaucum, aud Andropogon provincialis, intermixed
with sedges and rushes. In some places over large areas the principal
grass is that which is called alkali or salt grass (Distichlis maritima),
which makes a close, thick mat, looking like a pasture of blue-grass.

The highlands away frem the river are covered with the ubiquitous
gramma, with occasional buttalo-grass and blue-joint. On high levels,
200 feet above the river, on new breaking, are fields of corn, which give
promise of a good yield.

SUPPORTING CAPACITY OF THE ARID PLAINS.

There is a surprising difference in the estimates as to the supporting
ability of these plains, some stating that it requires 40 or 50 acres to
maintain one animal, others giving 20 or 30 acres, and still others 10 or
l5acres. All these estimates are correct as to certain localities, and
over the eutire region if may be considered probable that the average

3)

amount required would be about 15 acres to the head. In the Census
Report for 1880, Mr. Clarence Gordon says of Kansas west of the ninety-
ninth meridian: ‘* Where there is sufficient water, 10 acres of range will
support one head of neat stock. When we find that there were in esti-
mate 80 acres to each unit of stock, we have to remember that at least
one-half of the occupied area is scantily watered, and that the region is
not fully stocked.” Elsewhere he says that in 1880 there were in the
same region over 184,000 head of stock, and that the approximate acre- |
age for stock occupation was 15,782,880 acres. And in Nebraska, west
of the ninety-ninth meridian, there were 571,386 head of cattle, with an
approximate acreage of occupation of 26,000,000 acres, or about 48 acres
per head. -

It is impossible to realize the full capacity of these districts under
the ranch system. This can only be accomplished by limiting the ex-
tent of the range and the size of the herds, so that they can be properly
cared for as to water, shelter, and winter feed; and this would require
the cultivation of a part of the land. The question of water supply on
the high lands will in time be successfully solved, so that every fertile
acre can be beneficially employed. And with these conditions fulfilled
the supporting capacity of the country can be easily doubled and quad-

rupled.
A PASTORAL COUNTRY.

Sufficient time has not elapsed to determine what will be the ultimate
success of general agriculture in this section, but there can be no doubt
that the country is eminently adapted to pastora! uses, and the settlers
who are now filling up the country would do well to direct their efforts
to stock raising and to dairy interests.

Notwithstanding the great development of the cattle industry during
recent years, statistics show that the production of beef has not kept
pace with the increase of population, and to supply the great demand
for meat will require not only the usual product of the ranches, but
opens also an excellent opportunity of cattle farming, where the addi-
tional labor and care employed will not only increase the supply, but
find ample remuneration.

HOW TO INCREASE THE GRASS SUPPLY.

The inquiry will naturally arise in thoughtful minds, cannot the graz-
ing capacity of this region be increased by substituting more product-
ive grasses, those which will not only endure the aridity of the climate,
butalso clothe the ground more completely, and furnish a more abundant
growth? There can be no doubt as to the high nutritive value of the
gramma and buffalo grasses, but the yield is so light as to require a
large area for cattle to range over to obtain support. There can be no
improvement in this respect without cultivation of the soil.

It has been argued that in this arid region agriculture cannot be suc-
cessful from a want of sufficient rainfall. But it is now claimed by

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=

those residing on the soil that this is erroneous. It is said that in the
natural condition of the soil the full benefit of the rainfall is not obtained,
that the ground is so densely packed that it is impervious to moisture, so
that a large share of the rainfall rapidly runs into the arroyas and streams
as it would from a roof, whereas if the ground were plowed and pulver-
ized a large part of the rainfall would be retained for the gradual nour-
ishment of such plants as were on the ground. Nature has here done
the best she could under the circumstances. But nature never spon-
taneously presents us with great and luxuriant fields of grain or other
vegetables ready to the hand of man. But by means of agriculture
man directs and controls nature, and she willingly submits to his guid-
ance. Man has learned to select those plants, grains, and grasses
which are best adapted to his wants, and to grow them to the exclusion
of others. This is the essence of agriculture. Nature shows her will-
ingness even here to respond to the ameliorating influences of cuitiva-
tion. No sooner is the ground plowed, and corn, sorghum, or millet
planted, than a crop many times as heavy as that of the native soil is at
once produced. Even if nothing but such annual crops as those can be
raised on this soil the cultivation of an eighth part of the land would
be sufficient to make safe the keeping of twice the number of cattle
which could subsist otherwise. But it is reasonable to conclude that
nature will be as ready to help in the production of perennial girasses
as She is in the annual ones. There is every reason to expect that even
the gramma-grass may be made to double its yield by cultivation. But
there is a considerable number of grasses native to this district which
are much more thrifty and productive than the gramma and buffalo,
and if they were selected and sown upon the properly prepared land
there can be no doubt that a great improvement in the grass produe-
tion would be effected. Indeed weshould extend our inquiry to foreign
grasses cultivated in similar situations.

ESTIMATE OF RESULTS TO BE OBTAINED.

Between the thirty-seventh and forty third degrees of latitude, and
between the one hundredth and the one hundred and fifth degrees of
longitude, there are embraced not far from 120,000 square miles of sur-
face. There can be tittle doubt that one-half of that quantity is capable
of sustaining, under proper management, with provision for winter food
and shelter, at least 50 head of cattle to the square mile, or 3,000,000
cattle on the entire tract. By many of the residents this estimate would
be considered much too small. And can we not expect that the time is
advancing when we shall see all this vast area so improved as to fully
realize this estimate, not only for the limited area above mentioned, but
for many other sections of what are now called the arid lands? If also
we can gradually introduce more productive grasses we can readily an-
ticipate a still further development of the cattle industry.

Hal

THE CRUCIAL TEST.

I have stated my belief that many other grasses and forage plants
might be substituted for the prevailing ones on this arid tract which
would be more productive.

But this is a question which can only be settled by experiment. Such
erasses and forage plants require to be subjected to careful and pro-
longed trials in order to obtain proof of their relative values under dif-
ferent conditions of soil, moisture, and location.

Such experiments are difficult and expensive, and cannot well be made
by private individuals; hence it is highly important that the Govern-
ment should provide an experimental station in a central and character-
istic location, where all the commonly cultivated grasses and forage
plants, and also the most promising native ones, could be thoroughly
tried under various conditions. This would be greatly in the interest
of that large body of settlers who are now taking possession of the
country, and who, without the aid of such information as could thus be
obtained and communicated, will be exposed to many losses and dis-
appointments in prosecuting agriculture under the peculiar circum-
stances here existing. A properiy conducted and well-continued series
of experiments in this direction would result in important discoveries of
great value to the future residents in this arid district.

LOCATION OF A GRASS-EXPERIMENT STATION.

I have spoken above of the Government reservation of Fort Wallace,
and I am induced to recommend the utilization of this property for the
purpose of an experimental station. |

I recommend this because it is central, easy of access, and typical of
this large district of arid country. I recommend it also because here is
land presenting a suitable variety of elevation, moisture, &c., with all
the buildings which would be needed for the equipment of such a sta-
tion. I recommend it because its scope of work would be peculiar to,
and in the interest of a peculiar region of country, greatly needing the
information which it would secure.

A very moderate appropriation, expended under the Commissioner of
Agriculture, could here be made productive of a great amount of good.
The problem presented could not be solved in one or two years, but
would require a well conducted and continued series of trials under
varied conditions.

The editor of the Wallace County Register, in a recent issue, makes
the following very rational remarks:

There can be no good reason assigned why the old Government post, now fast fall-
ing into decay, but still capable, with small expense, of being fitted up for comforta-

ble residences and stabling, should not be utilized for the benefit of the whole country.
There is no finer belt of land anywhere in the great West than we have within a

oe

radius of 100 miles, taking Wallace as a center. All this great area lies in what has
been known as the Great American Desert. It is not desert, but the very richest of
soil, and possesses the finest climate in America. As yetit is undeveloped. Only one
thing is surely known of it; that is, it is a fine stock country.

Nearly one-fourth of all this land (not including the railroad grant) has been taken
up under the timber-culture act. One-half of this portion will be ready for planting
by the spring of 1888, the other half by the spring following. Nearly all of the re-
mainder has been taken up under the other acts of Congress governing the public
domain. There is but little of it left to be taken. These homesteaders know but
little of what the country will preduce. A farm of the character contemplated would
greatly aid them.

PPR NDT x

The native grasses occupying that portion of the arid region here in-
vestigated are numerous, but only two kinds play the most important
part in the support of animal life. These are, botanically, Boutelowa
oligostachya and Buchle dactyloide, commonly called gramma-grass and
buffalo-grass, respectively, but frequently called indiscriminately buf-
falo-grass. They are of low growth, forming patches of greater or
less extent, with spaces of bare soil between the patches. The leaves
are short and mostly crowded close to the ground. There are several
species of Bouteloua or gramma-grass, but the one above named is the
principal one on the great stretches of upland. The others occur lo-
cally, some on rocky ridges and some in what is called bottom land.
In valleys and bottoms near the mountains the dwarf gramma-grass,
Bouteloua prostrata, often carpets the ground over large areas. This
extends, at least, from Northern Colorado to Santa Fé, N. Mex. The
common gramma varies much in size and vigor, according to its loca-
tion. In rich moist bottom land it may grow 2 feet high and form a
pretty close sod, but on the elevated dry plains it becomes greatly re-
duced in size and productiveness. Wherever it is not too closely
cropped by cattle it seeks to send up its flowering stalks, sometimes not
more than 6 inches high, but usually a foot or more. Near the top of
the slender stalk are from one to two, or rarely three, flower-spikes,
which when mature stand out nearly at right angles, and are an inch to
an inch and a half long, with the flowers all arranged on one side of the
spikes. ;

The true buffalo-grass, Buchle dactyloides, forms extensive cushion-
like beds, covering the ground closely with its short, compact foliage,
which is of a lighter color than the gramma. This grass is very pecul-
jar in one respect. It is of a diwcious habit—that is, the two sexes
grow on different plants, or if on the same plant they are not on the
same stalk. Usually, however, they are wholly distinct and in different
patches. The male spikes resemble in appearance those of the gram ma,
but are much smaller, and the stalks never grow tall. The female flowers
are inconspicuous, generally being concealed among the leaves near the
ground, and seed is rarely formed, the plant being mainly propagated
by its short-jointed, creeping runners, after the manner of Bermuda-
grass. According to my observation the gramma-grass is much the
most common, but the two are generally associated in varying propor-
tions, but together forming from 75 to 90 per cent. of the whole grass

13

\

14

product. There are several different grasses, known under the names
of blue-stem, blue-joint, and blue-grass, all of which are different from
the blue-grass of the East.

One of these, sometimes called Colorado blue-stem, is botanically
called Agropyrum glaucum. It has a stiff, rigid stem and leaves, which
are usually of a bluish-green color. On hard, dry soil its growth is low
and sparse, only here and there a scattered stalk with a flower-spike
somewhat like a starved, beardless head of wheat, but in low, moist
ground it often grows with great vigor 2 or 3 feet high, and wherever
it is abundant it is considered valuable for hay, and isa common resort
for cattlein winter. It is most common near the mountains, but extends
into Western Kansas and Nebraska. Another grass, frequently called
the blue-stem, or blue-joint, of Kansas, is botanically called Andropogon
provincialis. On the prairies of Eastern Kansas and Nebraska this isa
conspicuous and well-known grass, very highly esteemed for hay. It
is said that it is gradually crowding out the gramma and buffalo
grasses. It is found, in some localities, quite to the base of the mount-
ains, anc is every where esteemed a good grass for hay. It grows
-erect, frequently to the height of 5 or 6feet. The leaves are long and
abundant; the stem has frequently a bluish color, and has at the top
a cluster of from 3 to 5 flower-spikes, each being 2 or 3 inches long, and
generally purplish in color.

There is another species much resembling this, which is botanically
called Andropogon Hallii, and it prevails in very sandy soil; its roots
are thick and penetrate deeply in the soil, keeping it fresh and vigorous
in the driest time. This is sometimes called sand-grass, and it is said
to be greatly sought for by cattle in winter. It grows from 3 to 5 feet
high; the flower spikes when developed are hairy, and have a white or
yellowish color, and the leaves and stem are commonly a light bluish-
green color.

Another species of this family, called Andropogon scoparius, grows in
dense tufts or bunches, generally on thin soil, or on bluffs and hills, but
frequently also on bottom land, and is called bunch-grass. Apparently
the same species in a somewhat different variety grows in the Hast, and
is one of the so-called sedge-grasses. It is probably what is referred to
by some Western writers as sage-grass. It is frequently cut for hay,
and serves a good purpose as winter forage. 3

Another important and valuable grass occurring in low or moist
ground, usually near streams, is Panicum virgatum, which is sometimes
called wild red-top, or sometimes switch-grass. It varies in height from
2 to 4 feet, with long leaves and a wide-spreading panicle of flowers.
It is abundant on the native prairies in Eastern Kansas, and forms a
good proportion of the wild grass there cut for hay. It also forms an
important part of the native meadow-grasses in the valley of the Platte
as far west as O’Fallon, and in smaller quantities to the base of the
mountains.

a)

Another species of this genus occurs in Texas, New Mexico, and South-
ern Colorado, which has the name of Vine Mesquit. It is botanically
called Panicum obtusum. I found patches of this growing in Southern
Colorado, making an even grassy surface about 2 feet high, and appear-
ing as if it would cut 2 tons peracre. I also saw it in considerable quan-
tity in hay brought into the Pueblo market. It frequently throws out
runners several feet long (6 to 8 feet sometimes), which at intervals form
thickened woelly knots or nodes, which sometimes take root. Itdeserves
attention with reference to its agricultural value.

One of the so-called bunch-grasses, botanically called Oryzopsis cus-
pidata, occurs near the mountains in sandy soil, but I did not observe
it over the eastern part of the arid district. In Southern New Mexico
and Arizona, however, it is said to be an important grass. Associated
with Andropogon Halli in very sandy districts is another tall grass, also
called sand-grass, which is botanically, Ammophila longifolia. It is
coarse and tough, and its principal value seems to be as a refuge from
starvation by cattle in the winter. It prevails on the sand dunes and
sand hills of the most barren districts.

Another grass of very different habit and growth is sometimes also
called sand-grass, salt-grass, and alkali-grass, botanically called Distich-
lis maritima. This is a low, very leafy grass, frequently forming the
principal part of the vegetation in alkaline soils, though not confined
to such. There seems to be a difference of opinion as to the value of
this grass, some regarding it as useful, others as of no value.

Wild rve-grass, botanically, various forms of Elymus canadensis, is fre-
quent in low grounds and borders of streams, and where it occurs in suf-
ficient quantity is cut for hay, and is esteemed one of the best kinds.

Among other grasses having some value, and occurring in some locali-'
ties, may be named Sporobolus cryptandrus, Sporobolus airoides, Chryso-
pogon nutans, Hilaria Jamesii, Bouteloua racemosa, Stipa spartea, Kele-
ria cristata, several species of Muhlenbergia and Munroa squarrosa.
Some of these may prove to be valuable in cultivation for this arid region.
Severai worthless annual grasses are often abundantly mixed on the
plains with the gramma and buffalo, such as Aristida purpurea, Festuca
tenella, Hordeum jubatum, and Elymus Sitanion. Some of these are in-
jurious on account of the barbed awns which cause sore mouths in ani-
mals and work into the wool and even into the flesh of sheep.

ACREAGE REQUIRED FOR THE SUPPORT OF STOCK.

Mr. H. M. Taylor, agent of the Bureau ot Animal Industry, in his
report for 1885 says, ‘‘from 40 to 50 acres are required to support one
cow or horse on the arid regions of the plains.”

Mr. 8. H. Standart, another agent of the same Bureau, says:

The amount of acreage it requires to support one animal on the range in this State
(Colorado) is 363 acres on the average in ordinary seasons. The reports are from 13
to 100 acres, according to locality.

16

The above estimates can only apply to the most barren parts of the
arid districts. I think it can safely be said that there is very little land
in Western Kansas and Nebraska where the native vegetation will not
give support to cattle at the rate of 10 acres per head, and the ability
of the land may readily be doubled by agricultural means.

AGRICULTURE ON THE ARID PLAINS.

The Akron (Colorado) Pioneer Press, August 20, 1886, says:

The office of the Pioneer Press resembles somewhat an agricultural hall at a county

fair. Corn, millet, blue-joint, potatoes, buckwheat, oats, flax, beans, &c., that will
compare favorably with any State in the Union. They were grown on sod in Col-
orado, the great American desert, by tenderfeet.

In the Homeseeker’s Guide, published at Potter, Cheyenne County,
in Southwestern Nebraska, are statements of the results of several in-
stances of farming in that county last year, in which corn, potatoes,
vegetables, turnips, &e., planted on sod land gave excellent results.

In the Denver Times, August, 186, is the following article:

The bountiful yield of agricultural products in Northwestern Nebraska is a matter

of surprise to all heretofore strangers to this locality. Many homesteaders whocame. -

here last spring doubting and timid, are now enthusiastic with the outlook. Why
should any one distrust a country where soil yields a plentiful harvest for the mere
planting, and where boundless grazing fields furnish pasturage for vast herds of cat-
tle the year round? (Sidney Telegraph. )

The above is a sample of the reports which are coming in from the arid region to
the east and northeast of Denver, along the Union Pacific and the Burlington Roads,
Not only Western Nebraska, but Western Kansas and Eastern Colorado are appar-
entiy moving forward in the agricultural line. Reports are to the effect that settlers
from the eastward are crowding the rangers in the eastern halves of Arapahoe, Weld,
and Bent Counties. They have generally settled upon the bigh lands, and have
planted crops which have had no water except that which has fallen from the skies.
Strange as it may seem to the average man, who has been taught to regard the plains
east of Denver as of no worth whatever, the crops are reported as prospering. One
man is represented as having a 10-acre field of corn which averages 8 feet in height.
The importance of such development cannot be overestimated. If good crops can be
regularly grown upon the plains Jands without irrigation, the question of securing
dense population in Colorado may be regarded as settled.

Surveyor-general Lawson, of Colorado, in a recent report to Commis-
sioner Sparks, says:

The lands upon the plains in the eastern section ofthe State are being rapidly
settled upon by a thrifty, determived class of farmers, who come with the avowed
purpose of making permanent homes, and who claim that the so-called ‘ Great
American Desert” is no desert at all, but a most fertile region capable of sustaining
a teeming population. They claim with apparent confidence that the notion that
agriculture cannot be profitably pursued in any portion of these plains except where
irrigation is practicable is altogether erroneous, and maintain that there is ample
rainfall to all the region east of the Rocky Mountains to secure abundant crops upon
the soil, which is rich and genial, and that the apparently arid and unproductive
character of these lands arise from the fact that in their natural state the water de-
posited by the snows of winter and the rains of spriug and summer have flowed from
the surface and been carried off by the arroyas and sandy ravines in the proportion
of at least four-fifths, whereas when the soil shall be plowed and cultivated it will

17

absorb and retain the moisture in the same proportion, not more than one-fifth of the
water flowing off into gulches and arroyas. They point with confidence, in illustra-
tion of this idea, to the fact that as the plowshare has advanced westward in the
States of Kansas and Nebraska the ‘‘ desert ” of the old geographies has disappeared.

LOSSES OF CATTLE UNDER THE RANCH SYSTEM.

The losses of stock on ranches, from starvation and exposure, varies
greatly in different seasons and in different localities, being seldom less
than five per cent.

Mr. J. N. Bradley, an inspector of the Bureau of Animal Industry, says
in his Report for 1885, page 427:

The ranchmen calculate to lose about 3 to 5 per cent. from exposure, and consider
it less expensive than providing shelter and winter food.

But these losses during some winters are greatly exceeded, in South-
ern Kansas the past winter amounting in many instances to the loss of
the larger portion of the herds. A similar condition existed in HKastern
Colorado, as will be seen from the following item from a Colorado paper:

A correspondent writing under date of July 23 from Apache to the Walsenburg
Cactus says: For the past two days the round-up has been in the Apache Valley.
The report of the 100 cowboys who comprise the force is anything but encouraging as
to the losses of the past winter. Many put the estimate of losses of acclimated stock
as high as 75 per cent.; the most hopeful say 50 per cent. - Among the dogies shipped
in last fall scarcely a remnant remains. One cattle company that turned loose 1,800
head of through Texas stock have found out, at a cost of 10 per cent. of their in-
vestment, that they have less than 100 head left. A cattleman of this neighbor-
hood who went into the winter with 1,000 head has so far been able to find less than
a dozen.

But the actual loss of life from starvation and exposure is not the
only consideration. Even among those cattle which survive the winter
there is always a great reduction of flesh and condition. Mr. 8. H.
Standart, agent of the Bureau of Animal Industry, says: :

The loss of flesh during the winter from want of shelter is 12 per cent. In Dakota
the loss of flesh during the winter is 174 per cent. (Report for 1885, p. 327.)

We would therefore hail with satisfaction such a change in the cattle
industry as would obviate these risks and losses and bring it into the
hands of land-owners, who, by better care and management, will make
it possible to raise twice as many cattle, besides extending the dairy
and sheep interests.

CHANGES ARE COMING.

Rapid changes are coming over our neighboring county of Bent. Though hereto-
fore recognized as a leading and almost exclusive stock-raising region, large ditch
enterprises have been projected there within a couple of years, and attention is di-
rected quite generally to farming. With the ditches, new people, that know nothing
of the range-stock business, have come in. Old-time ranchmen are considering how
they can bring their herds to the limits of a pasture, and how to provide feed to sup-
plement their abridged ranges. The town-boomers of Western Kansas have invaded
the eastern borders of the county this year, and are booming no less than three new

6078—Bull 12

18.

towns within a few miles of each other. At the same time the older towns of Las
Animas and La Junta have been infused with new energy and are making substantial
growth. (Review and Standard, Pueblo, Colo.)

From the New York Tribune:

Theodore Roosevelt has come from the West with a springy step and bronzed coun-
tenance, and the general air of buoyancy which is the result of contact with the free
air of Dakota prairies. He says that the days of excessive profits in the cattle busi-
ness are over, because there are too many people in the business, and the cattlemen
have to pay the penalty of crowding cattle more thickly on the prairies than the grass
will stand. Mr. Roosevelt thinks that the present system of cattle grazing will event-
ually cease and the business take a different form in different localities. The land
that is fitted for agriculture will be taken up by the farmers, and the grazing lands
will gradually be fenced in and the great ranches be broken up to make place for
smaller ranches.

Respectfully submitted.
GHO. VASEY,

Botanist of the Department.

ILLUSTRATIONS.

Boutelouaoligostachiya oe ei sche cael ois | oe itor, cole oe Gramma-grass, Pl. I
Buchloedactyloidessses as hetero okies oe Sete lo ne Buffalo-grass, Pl. II
ANUTOPOCONPLOVAN CLALIS 2 ee iite sce cle niccccio =: s/atrete ahs we ahve alain aie Blue-joint, Pl. III
Andropogon scoparius..-..-...---. Bee natin Sete at Wire-grass, Sedge-grass, Pl.. IV
PAnCMMuvATC ALUM ee oe ro ea a Switch-grass, Pl. V
BistichlissmariimMaee CC. Sees oe eel oh oa Alkali or Salt-grass, Pl. VI
Chrysopogon nutans ...25> so 02 oe. te 2 a ee Reed-grass, Sorghum-grass, Pl. VII
Mocleniagcristatacn. coo ce recs ae seme ec noel es Wild June-grass, Pl. VIII
Rislenber ol ayolOMerat age vas saliiee scene leet gers inoue marco) oars SING isto e eects Pl EX
AGT AT ea AME SU eye ey eer ree ores icine! Due cata eicrale ia alae cea ai oe aren Sun aca Pl. x
PPOLOMOMUS CLYPlLANGLUS) osctyoco sot Ce LM eee kl aioe cole ses ru ea aa ped sD.
SPOLODOMISPAILOIM ES sean ucla cc cleiaelics da cielceisiesecicesee vice Bunch-grass, Pl. XII
Eig mMuUs CaMAdensisn cc henicor sececseoselseecosectncscoden cece Rye-grass, Pl. XIII

19

Plate 1.

Ly ail

]
1th

BOUTELOUA OLIGOSTACHYA. GRAMMA-GRASS.

Piate Ii.

ros
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>
N Ss
LSS, -- =
= =

S==

==

S

BS = = ia
SS SS )
SN
S if
LS

WARXA "DELL

NCHOLS

BUFFALO-GRASS.

BUCHLOE DACTYLOIDES.

Piate ITI.

—

—S—
S—eS——_—_
—=SS=S——
————__-

| WON act.

ANDROPOGON PROVINCIALIS. BLUE-JOINT.

Plate IV.

ANDROPOGON SCOPARIUS. WIRE-GRASS. SEDGE-GRASS.

Plate V.

EZ

PANICUM VIRGATUM. SWITCH-GRASS.

Plate VI.

SALT-GRASS.

ALKALI-GRASS.

DISTICHLIS MARITIMA.

Crikae ay

Plate VII.

BZA 2 |||
BA i) \
LAA : Hi
ae A = =) Mz =)
—————— WE =—
= =
AZ ZF)
yf LZ)
fy Y LAA AZ
Uf LL ZZZ {
A Wy ZEEE
EEA EEA Yj Ni |
Aw }

CHRYSOPOGON NUTANS. REED-GRASS. SORGHUM-GRASS.
oi | ~~) t ;

ot

*
¥

rae
oer

Sci

Plate VIII.

SGN

Cine y cleanin
AA SAM

1 be,
hed bro. tnadeds

TARNNLOR De.

WILD JUNE-GRASS.

KOELERIA CRISTATA.

Plate IX.

WARK.DELL H.W.NIGHOLS .E)

MUHLENBERGIA GLOMERATA.

Plate X.

\S >S
SX
——
SSA \\ \
SN Qi
Se A
= A
WILE :

SSX

ae

Yj

HILARIA JAMESII.

Plate XT.

= ———

FL
NAN « by
Boe se
a

) ~

Ss > Sa = — > 4
es —_——— = 74 >
IAW Gy: >i SSS Se zz

AEE higve =9 oO bape ae

SS

SST

Sr
KN

\
SSF
j K
, SPOROBOLUS CRYPTANDRUS.

\
WN fy
\ N \ \\ \

FAY

SS ~

Plate XII. |)

SPOROBOLUS AIROIDES.

BUNCH-GRASS.

Plate XIII.

ELymus CANADENSIS. RYE-GRASS.

bg eye) Meee