HISTORY. 



Rescue grass was known to botanists in Europe in the latter part 

 of the eighteenth century. In 1806 it was described and figured by 

 Willdenow from specimens grown in the botanical garden at Berlin 

 from seed sent from Carolina, where it had apparently been intro- 

 duced. The grass is a native of South America, where it is quite 

 widely distributed. It also appears to be native in Central America 

 and Mexico and possibly southern Texas, but apparently became 

 distributed in our Southern States through the agency of the Euro- 

 pean settlers. The first attempt to introduce it into cultivation to any 

 extent, so far as we can learn from published records, was made by 

 B. V. Iverson, of Columbia, S. C, in 1853 and 1854. He wrote some 

 glowing accounts of it and was quite successful in introducing it in 

 various parts of the South at the rate of $5 per peck. He also gave 

 it the name, "rescue grass." It was also called in his honor "Iver- 

 son's grass." 



About this time it was also introduced into Australia, where it was 

 very popular for some time under the name of California prairie 

 grass, this name having arisen apparently from the erroneous idea 

 that it was a native of California. It is still used quite extensively 

 in Australia under various names, as Australian oats, Australian 

 brome, and prairie grass, and is highly regarded by writers on Aus- 

 tralian grasses. 



It was also introduced into France with very extravagant state- 

 ments, made mostly by people hoping to derive profit from its sale. 

 It was called Schrader's brome-grass, a translation of one of its bot- 

 anical names, Bromus schraderi. This name is also more or less 

 prevalent in this country. It has also been called arctic grass. 



CULTIVATION AND USE. 



This grass is adapted to cultivation in the Gulf States and has 

 been tried with success as far north as North Carolina. Its value is 

 in its use for winter pasture and hay. It has been tried at several of 

 the experiment stations in the South and spoken of very favorably. In 

 eastern Texas it is rather common as a volunteer crop and is spoken 

 of very highly by some of the farmers. It grows best on a rich, 

 loamy soil, and will do well in somewhat shady locations. On light, 

 poor soil it produces bat a scanty growth, and for pasture in such 

 soil it is inferior to rj^e. To secure the most satisfactory results, the 

 land should be well plowed and harrowed, and the seed drilled or 

 sown broadcast and harrowed in, using 30 to 40 pounds of seed per 

 acre. 



The seed is rather expensive at present. It is sold by most of the 

 larger dealers and is quoted at from 25 to 30 cents per pound, or 10 



