12 THE CULTUKE AND USES OF BROME-GEASS. 



YIELD OF SEED. 



The yield of seed is so variable, depending on the climate, soil, lay 

 of the meadow, and other factors, that it is difficult to estimate the 

 average quantity produced to the acre. From 250 to 350 pounds is, 

 however, a conservative estimate. Records of the Saskatchewan 

 experimental farm show the yield of brome-grass seed there to range 

 from 250 to GOO pounds. Experiments conducted at the Manitoba ex- 

 perimental farm indicate that the harvesting of a mature crop of seed 

 materially lessens the yield of either hay or seed the following year. 



On account of the close sod formed by the grass after the first year 

 there are very fcAv weeds present in the fields, and consequently the 

 seed when harvested is practically free from impurities and in very few 

 cases are there seeds of any other grasses in it. There is occasionally 

 a very small amount of seed of the grain nsed as a nurse crop and a 

 trace of cheat {Bromus secaUnus) and slender wheat-grass {Agro- 

 pyron teveruyn). The seeds of Bromus inermis are very similar to 

 those of the above species, the seeds of chess, especially, often being- 

 mistaken for brome-grass seeds. (See PI. III.) 



STRAAV. 



'\Mien cut with a binder, the straw after thrashing is generally 

 stacked and used for feed. The quality varies largely with the 

 height at which the grass is cut, the length of time it stands in the 

 shock, and the care with which it is stacked after thrashing. If all 

 these conditions are favorable, brome-grass straw is about equal to 

 oat straw. At any rate, it makes very fair feed for wintering cattle, 

 horses, and sheep. 



USE IN ROTATION. 



One of the objections Avhich farmers have to brome-gras^ is that 

 it is comparatively short lived and will not remain productive for 

 hay in a meadow more than three or four years. This objection is 

 not serious from the standpoint of crop rotation, but. on the other 

 hand, is slightly advantageous, since there is a general tendency to 

 grow one crop on a field for too long a period. Bromus inermis, 

 however, is not looked upon by farmers as a valuable constituent in 

 a crop rotation. This is due to the fact that it is considered difficult 

 to eradicate, and when ordinary methods are employed it takes about 

 two years to get it out of the field. Farmers desire something that 

 can be disposed of easily in one .year or with one plowing, and con- 

 sequently are favoring slender wheat-grass {Ar/ropyron tenennn), 

 which is now coming into popularity on this account. 



Ill— V 



