GRASSES FOR CANAL BANKS IN WESTERN SOUTH DAKOTA. 29 



be seeded near the water's edge and where seepage water occurs, or, if 

 included in a mixture with other grasses, it will make a good growth 

 on all moist parts of the hank. 



THE FESCUES. 



The three species of Festuca tested, meadow fescue, tall fescue, and 

 red fescue, have not shown any particular value as soil hinders in 

 this region. None of them are able to endure the dry conditions of 

 the higher part of the banks, nor do they make a permanent sod, 

 even under more favorable conditions. 



OTHER GRASSES. 



The other grasses tested, namely, orchard grass, Italian rye-grass, 

 creeping bent-grass, and Canadian bluegrass, have not shown any 

 value for soil binding in this region. They are unable to endure 

 the trying conditions* nor can they compete with the more resistant 

 grasses when used in mixtures. 



MIXTURES TESTED. 



Several mixtures of grasses have been tested to determine if any 

 combination could be found which is better adapted to the purpose 

 than a single species. 



The following mixtures (by weight) have been used: 



Mixture No. 1 : 



Broine-grass 4 parts. 



Western wheat- 

 grass 4 parts. 



Meadow fescue lpart. 



Italian rye-grass lpart. 



Mixture No. 2 : 



Brome-grass 4 parts. 



Canadian bluegrass_ 2 parts. 



Italian rye-grass 1 part. 



AVliite clover lpart. 



Mixture No. 3: 



W e s t e r n w h ea t- 



grass 4 parts. 



Red fescue 2 parts. 



Alfalfa 1 part. 



Italian rye-grass lpart. 



Mixture No. 4 : 



Slender wheat- 

 grass 2 parts. 



Tall fescue 2 parts. 



Redtop lpart. 



Orchard grass 2 parts. 



Mixture No. 1 combines two hardy and permanent but rather slow- 

 growing grasses with others which quickly form a cover. The brome- 

 grass and western wheat-grass have survived since planting in 1909 

 and now form a good cover. The other species made a fair growth 

 during the first season and may be desirable to use in a lawn where 

 quick results are desired, but they have no permanent place on a 

 canal bank. 



In mixture No. 2 brome-grass is the only species that has survived. 

 The Canadian bluegrass did not do well at any time in this mixture. 

 [Cir. 115] 



