15 



During the years 1898 and 1899 blanks for reports were sent to all 

 those receiving seed from this Division for trial, containing the follow- 

 ing questions: 



(1) Kiiid, conditions, and preparation of soil? 



(2) Date and method of planting? 



(3) Cultivation, if any? 



(4) Date of harvesting and stage of maturity reached when harvestel? 



(5) Date of ripening? 



(6) Yield per acre (if practicable) ? 



(7) Quality of product? 



(8) Notes on growth, probable, value, etc.? 



It will be noticed that there are many varieties in the table which 

 have been reported on and yet are not included in this report, there 

 being 251 varieties sent out and only 10 discussed. The reason for this 

 is that the economic value of the others has not been sufficiently 

 demonstrated to warrant a report on them at this time. The number 

 of reports is given in the table on page 11, under the following divisions: 

 Excellent, 101; good, 607; unsatisfactory, 287; failures, 718. 



The largest number of reports have been received on the following 

 varieties: Smooth brome-grass, 284; hairy vetch, 206; red lump millet, 

 166; red clover, 152; alfalfa, 118; and meadow fescue, 101. 



VARIETIES OF SEED EXPERIMENTED WITH AND TESTIMONY OF 



EXPERIMENTERS. 



BUNCH WHEAT GRASS (Agropyron divergens) . 



(Plate I, figs. 1 and 2.) 



A slender, usually densel}^ tufted native grass, 1 to 2 feet or more 

 high, with very narrow spreading leaves and usually bearded spikes. 

 This grass is common in the Rocky Mountain and Pacific Slope regions, 

 extending westward to the coast. When grown upon good soil it pos- 

 sesses much agricultural value and is considered by ranchmen as a good 

 grass for winter grazing. As it will thrive in the semiarid regions of 

 the Northwest, its cultivation should be carried on more extensively. 

 Seeds of this variety were sent to 11 experimenters, but no reports have 

 yet been received. 



Our special agent at Walla Walla, Wash., from the results of experi- 

 ments carried on at the station, considers it one of the best grasses 

 for reclaiming the worn-out ranges, as it thrives under conditions of 

 extreme drought and affords excellent pasturage for all kinds of stock. 



WESTERN WHEAT GRASS (Agropyron spicatum). 



A rigid, upright, perennial, native grass, li to 2i feet high, with 

 foliage, spikes, and rootstocks closely resembling the common couch 

 grass of the Eastern States. The whole plant differs, however, from 



