23 



good appearance, althougli of somewhat inferior quality. No attempts have 

 been made to cultivate it for agricultural pui'poses. It makes a vigorous early 

 growth on good soils and is recommended for propagation in wooded parks and 

 woodland pastures. 



No. 54. Bromus inermis Leyss. Smooth Brome-grass. (Fig. 20.) 

 An erect perennial, 2 to 5 feet high, with strong creeping rootstocks, and a loose open 

 panicle, 4 to 6 inches long. A native of Europe introduced into this country by 

 the Agricultural Experiment Station of the University of California about 1880, 

 which gives considerable promise of value both for haj^ and pasturage. It is 

 strongly stolon if erous, and quickly makes a thick, firm turf. It appears to 

 grow with equal vigor in Canada and in Tennessee, remaining green through- 

 out the winter season in the latter State. The strong perennial character of 



Fig. 19. — Small Quaking-grass (Briza 

 media). 



Fig. 20. — Smooth Brome-grass (Bromus 

 inerm^is) . 



this Brome-grass and its unusual drought-resisting powers are qualities which 

 recommend it for general cultivation, particularly in the semiarid regions of the 

 West and Northwest. It thrives well on dry, loose soil, but of course the better 

 the soil the greater the yield. Its nutritive value is comparatively low, and 

 before undertaking its cultivation the fact should be remembered that it is 

 somewhat difiQcult to eradicate when once established, although by no means so 

 difiScult as Couch-grass or Johnson-grass. In Europe it is classed among the 

 best hay grasses. The seeds are quoted in New York catalogues at from $20 to 

 $22 per 100 xjounds. A bushel weighs about 14 pounds. Sow two bushels to 

 the acre if sown alone. In this country the yield of seed per acre has been 600 

 pounds, which at the prices named would make it a very jirofitable crop. Pro- 

 fessor Fletcher, of Canada, reports a yield of 3f tons of hay per acre. 



