12 



fortetn. In the Rocky Mountain region and on the west coast we 

 have abundant representatives of the Ceratochloa group, which is found 

 from western Alaska to Cape Horn, but is not represented, so far as we 

 know, on the Eastern Hemisphere, except by introduced forms of B. 

 unioloides. Our species in the Northwest show an intimate connection 

 with some of those in eastern Siberia. This is especially marked in 

 the case of Bromus lymnpellianus^ whose Siberian equivalent is B. 

 inermis. Unfortunately we have not sufficient material of Siberian 

 species at hand to carr}^ farther the comparison. In the South many 

 forms of the subgenus Ceratochloa are connected by way of the moun- 

 tains through Mexico and Central America with those of the Andes, 

 so that it will be necessary, in order to make a comprehensive and 

 satisfactory disposition of this group, to studv carefully representa- 

 tives from the Andes region, as well as from farther south. 



ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE. 



A number of species are of economic importance, either on account 

 of their value as forage or because of their weedy propensities. 

 Ranking first as a forage plant comes Bromus inermis (smooth or 

 Hungarian brome grass). This species, introduced from Europe, has 

 been extensively tried in the semiarid portions of the West and found 

 to be well adapted to the conditions prevailing there. It is excellent 

 for either hay or pasture. 



Broirms unioloides^ usually sold under the name of Schrader's lirome 

 grass, is another species which has been cultivated considerably in the 

 southern parts of the United States. 



Bromiis secalinus, cheat or chess, though usually regarded as a weed 

 in grain fields in the East, is cultivated for hay quite extensively in 

 western Oregon and Washington. 



Bromus pumpellkmus, a native of the northern Rocky Mountain 

 region, has been tried in cultivation and found very promising. It is 

 very closely related to Brom/m inermis and adapted to similar condi- 

 tions of soil and climate. 



Bromus marginatus latior has also been used for hay to some extent 

 in Oregon and appears worthy of further attention. 



Nearly all of the introduced species show decided weedy propensi- 

 ties and are quite troublesome, especially on the west coast. Bromus 

 Iwrdeaceus and its variety glabrescens have taken possession of vast 

 areas (see B. hordeaceus) of deteriorated range land in California, 

 Oregon, and Washington. Bromus sterilis, B. maxinvas^ and B. 

 madritensis are also common weeds in grain fields and waste places in 

 the same States. 



