IG 



grasses an improved form of Western Wheat-grass or Grama grass 

 can be introduced into the '' semi-arid" region which will give greater 

 returns than those already there, the live-stock industry will be put 

 on a better basis and its success assured. 



LIST OF THE MORE IMPORTANT GRASSES AND FORAGE PLANTS 

 OF IOWA, NEBRASKA, AND COLORADO, WITH ECONOMIC NOTES. 



Alfalfa (Me(J'iia<io mtiva) (lig. 1): This valuable legume is spon- 

 taneous only in the most favored ])laces in central Iowa, but is 



more frequent from Carroll 

 west, especially in the loess 

 soil along the Missouri. The 

 fact that it persists for some 

 years is evidence of adapta- 

 bility. As a cultivated plant, 

 it has met with moderate 

 success in a few places in 

 Carroll, Audubon, Monona, 

 Woodbury, Pottawattamie, 

 and Harrison counties. I 

 saw several good-sized lields 

 in the Missouri Eiver bot- 

 tom, near Sargent's Blutt", 

 in Woodbury County. The 

 first crop was ready to cut 

 by the 18tli of June. The 

 Missouri bottoms are favor- 

 able to the growth of alfalfa 

 because pernuinent water is 

 reached at a depth of 10 to 12 

 feet. The only difficulty in 

 the way is that these bottoms 



Flo. 1.— Alfalfa (MciHcafjo mtiva) -. a, seed pod seen from oi.g subicct to OVCrtloWS' the 

 the Hide; b, seed pod seen from ahove; c, seed.s. 



water during some seasons 

 stands for days on the soil in low ]»laces. It is possible that the 

 higher locations might be admirably suited for the growth of this 

 crop. In fact, good crops were observed on the higher lands. The 

 soil of the blurt's along the Missouri is commonly known as "loess." 

 It is not i)eculiar to western Iowa, but occurs abundantl}' along 

 the ^lississippi ami other Iowa streams. Loess is a line homo- 

 geneous soil, free from pebbles or other adventitious matter, very 

 friable, so much so that it may be turned with the spade. It 

 stoutly resists weathering, and stands in vertical faces for years. 

 Though the surface dries tiuickly, this soil retains water in a 

 remarkable manner. 



