22 CULTIVATED FORAGE CROPS OF THE NORTHWEST. 



sagebrush land, and without previous preparation, a mixture of 

 alfalfa, timothy, red clover, and orchard grass were sown. Beyond 

 irrigation, nothing further was done. The pasture, now 3 3"ears old, 

 is in excellent condition and consists chiefl}" of alfalfa and timothy. 

 Under this treatment the sagebrush has gradually disappeared, though 

 the dead stems may be found on the ground beneath the growth of 

 grass. A meadow can be established in the same manner, hut it is 

 then necessar}' to level the land by some means, such as dragging the 

 surface with heavy railroad iron drawn by several horses. 



Gbain Hay. 



In central California and parts of the interior region, hay made from 

 cereals is an important product. Grain hay is made from wheat, which 

 is considered the best; from barle}", and, to a less extent, from oats, 

 though in many localities wild oat hay is commonlv preserved. As 

 previously stated, alfalfa is generalh^ consumed on the farm, while 

 grain hay supplies the city markets. For convenience it is usually 

 baled. It is often the case that the price of the grain determines 

 whether the crop shall be converted into hay or the grain be allowed 

 to mature. For ha}", the grain is cut when between the milk and the 

 dough stages. It is preserved the same as other hay, but is allowed 

 to cure in the bunch. It may then be stacked or, if possible, baled 

 from the bunch. As there is little or no rain in the grain-ha}" region 

 of California, there is little danger of injury from this cause by leaving 

 the hay in the bunches. 



On a large ranch near Lovelocks, Nev., an example was presented 

 of the use of wheat to supplement the alfalfa crop. The latter had 

 been seriously injured by the ravages of a variety of field mouse. 

 Wheat was sown in the spring to fill up the places left bare from this 

 cause and the mixed crop was converted into hay in the usual manner. 



Redtop {Agrostis alba). 



Redtop is frequently grown on wet meadows in the northern Rocky 

 Mountain region and to some extent in other localities. It is not con 

 sidered as valuable a grass as timothy, but from the fact that it thrives 

 in moist land and can be sown upon native meadow, Avhere under irri 

 gation it resists fairl}" well the encroachments of rushes (wire grass), 

 it is utilized both for hay and pasture. It is riot usually grown alone, 

 but with other grasses or clovers. 



AwNLKSs Brome Grass {Bromus inermis). 



Awnless brome grass" has been grown for man}" years in Europe, 



«For further information concerning this grass, see Circular No. 18, Division of 

 Agrostology, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture, "Smooth Brome Grass." 



