22 



plowing and harrowing with a spring-tooth harrow. The crop was cultivated three 

 times. The vitality of this seed is remarkable; we had no rain to wet the grotmd 

 for six months — from ]\Iay to November — yet there was none of the grass that died 

 from drought. The grass made a growth of about 8 inches during the season . During 

 the autumn and early winter it has continued its development and is now in excellent 

 condition. 



A plot of this grass was sown broadcast on October 21 and harrowed in and is look- 

 ing very well at the present time. It has withstood some of our severest winter 

 weather without any ill effects. The food value has not yet been tested, but other- 

 v/ise it is a remarkable grass. 



Mr. P. H. Murphy, Perkins, Sacramento County: 



A clay loam soil was used which had been plowed and harrowed. The seed was 

 sown March 1, 1898, and then harrowed in. As the ground was dry, having no late 

 rains, it did not come up. This year (1899) the land where the brome grass was 

 planted in 1898 was flooded and there was a heavy crop. It grows about 3 feet high 

 and looks like chess or cheat which grows in wheat, only the seed is finer. It makes 

 a good hay for cows if cut when in full bloom, but I prefer oats or barley for hay. 



COLORADO. 



Mr. E. E. T. Hazen, Holyoke, Phillips County: 



The seed was sown broadcast April 28, 1898, at the rate of 3 bushels per acre. The 

 soil is a sandy loam of medium quality and fertility and was plowed 10 inches deep 

 and harrowed twice before sowing and once after. 



The seed was well up May 13, but when about 4 to 6 inches high Russian thistles 

 appeared among them and in a short time completely overshadowed them. The 

 brome grass then stopped growing in height and formed a perfect carpet-like mat on 

 the ground, retaining its fresh green color until December 1. A few stalks, however, 

 found their way up through the thistles and headed at the height of about 18 or 20 

 inches. 



Mr. Melvin Thompson, Lansing, Arapahoe County: 



The seed was sown broadcast on April 4, 1898, and covered by light harrowing. 

 The soil is light, sandy, upland loam, and was plowed, planked, and harrowed until 

 moist and in fine condition. The grass was kept down by "hoppers," but made a 

 fair stand, and at present date, November 6, is in good condition. 



Mr. W. AV. Lindsay, Gulnare, Las Animas County: 



The brome grass came up nicely, making a good stand, but owing to extreme 

 drought, the worst in this section for twenty years, I am afraid most of it is killed. 

 It may come up, however. I think in any ordinarj' season it would do well here, once 

 it became established, as it starts to grow earlier than even alfalfa, which is our main- 

 stay. It is said to do well in some parts of the State. 



Mr. M. McFarland, Villagrove, Saguache County: 



A sandy loam was used which had been in cultivation for several years. The seed 

 was sown broadcast in May, 1898, and irrigated immediately after sowing. Shortly 

 afterwards we had a heavy snowstorm. I did not get a good stand and did not har- 

 vest last year, as there was not enough growth. I harvested to-day (September 25, 

 1899) , however, with binder to save seed. The yield per acre is probably 200 pounds, 

 the seed being 100 per cent heavier and better than that sown. It withstands 

 droughts remarkably, and is the earliest grass green in the spring and latest in the 

 fall. It will furnish first-class pasturage after cutting for seed, and I think will be 

 valuable to sow in permanent pasture land. 



