REPORT OF THE ENTOMOLOGIST AND BOTANIST. 



189 



AWNLBSS BEOMB, AUSTRIAN BEOME 



(^Bromus inermis, Leyss). 



This grass which has sprung rapidly into favour with most who have tried it, 



has now been under cultivation at Ottawa for 6 

 years. It has been reported upon favourably two 

 or three times (C. E. F. Annual Report, 1890, p. 185; 

 1891, p. 213; 0. E. F. Bulletin 19, p. 10.) and all 

 reports which are now being received, particularly 

 from the North-west Territories, are almost univer- 

 sally in praise of it. In order to get it known as 

 soon as possible in those districts where such a grass 

 was urgently needed, samples were distributed to 

 farmers in all parts of Canada in rather larger 

 packets than those which were included in the col- 

 lections of desirable grasses sent out for testing. 

 From such reports as are to hand, I am therefore 

 able to speak more confidently of the value of this 

 grass than if the opinion were formed only upon 

 my experience with it here at Ottawa. 



It is a perennial with a running rootstock. It 

 is conspicuous for its free leafy growth and tall 

 stems which bear an abundance of good seed. It 

 has proved itself to be very hardy, earlier than 

 most of the grasses in cultivation, and a heavy 

 cropper. It flowers at Ottawa in the last week of 

 June. On good rich moist soil it har? produced over 

 3| tons of hay to the acre, and later a heavy after- 

 math of succulent leafy shoots. It has great power 

 to withstand drought, as has been observed by my 

 Fig. 27.— Awnless Brome Grass. western correspondents. Prof. S. M. Tracy, Director 

 of the Mississippi Experiment station and one of the leading specialists of economic 

 grasses in the United States, says of it: "This is nearly I'elated to the well-known 

 'rescue grass,' but is decidedly superior in its more permanent character and ability 

 to thrive on drier and less fertile soil. It starts into growth with the autumn rains, 

 and is fresh and green during the winter months, being uninjured by our heaviest 

 frosts." (This is in Mississippi, but it is equally true in Canada. — J. F.) " It forms 

 a compact sod so firm as to prevent the growth of other grasses and weeds, and the 

 yield of forage is larger than from any other winter grass we have tested. It is 

 eaten well by all kinds of stock." {U.S. Dept. of Ag. Rep., 1892, p. 209.) 



On the whole we consider this one of the most valuable of the introduced 

 grasses, both from its feeding qualiiies as evinced by the following analysis made by 

 Mr. Shutt, in which it is shown to be rich in albuminoids and at the same time low 

 in fibre, and also for its free luxuriant habit of growth, its earl iness, heavy aftermath 

 and hardy nature. The seed is light and should be sown by hand when there is a 

 slight breeze. It may be sown from 28 to 35 lbs. to the acre """ 

 lbs. to the bushel. 



The seed weighs 14 



Analysis of Awnless Brome. 



Water 63 



Ash. 3 



Protein (albuminoids) 4 



Fibre 11 



Carbohydrates , 17-27 



Fat 0-42 



Green 

 Plants. 



02 



12 



99 



18 



100-00 



100-00 



