GRASSES FOR CANAL BANKS IN WESTERN SOUTH DAKOTA. 31 



RECOMMENDATIONS. 



From the results thus far obtained it seems safe to recommend 

 brome-grass, western wheat-grass, and alfalfa as the best plants for 

 covering the canal banks of the Bellefourche Project. Redtop may 

 be seeded in a mixture with these or seeded alone where an abun- 

 dance of moisture is available, as is the case near the water line on 

 the inner slope of the canals. Western wheat-grass should not be 

 seeded alone, on account of its slow early growth, but if seed can be 

 obtained it should be included in a mixture with brome-grass or 

 alfalfa. A mixture which can be recommended for all types of soil 

 on the project is the following: 



Brome-grass 6 pounds. 



Western wheat-grass 6 pounds. 



Alfalfa 6 pounds. 



Redtop 2 pounds. 



This should be enough seed, under ordinary conditions, for plant- 

 ing 1 acre. If all of these species are not available a mixture of 

 equal parts of brome-grass and alfalfa will in most cases give a 

 satisfactory covering. Care should be used to secure a hardy strain 

 of alfalfa seed, preferably one that has been grown in the neighbor- 

 hood for a number of years. 



The seeding should be done early in the spring, during a rainy 

 period if possible, and care should be taken to obtain a firm, moist 

 seed bed, in order to insure rapid early growth. 



Grazing on the banks should not be, allowed for a year or two after 

 seeding, and close grazing should never be permitted if a good sod 

 is to be maintained. 



[Cir. 115] 



ADDITIONAL COPIES of this publication 

 -fi- may be procured from the Superintend- 

 ent of Documents, Government Printing 

 Office, Washington, D. C, at 5 cents per copy 



