304 WEEDS OF AGRICULTURE* 



2. DRANK, or drauk (bromus secalinus). Smooth Brome- 

 grass. Panicle spreading, slightly subdivided below ; 

 spikelets ovate, about ten, distinct, somewhat cylin- 

 drical ; florets smooth ; awns wavy, shorter than the 

 glumes ; leaves slightly hairy. 



Bromus mollis. Soft Brome-grass, Panicle erect, rather 

 close, compound ; spikelets ovate, downy ; florets 

 g imbricated, depressed, ribbed ; awns as long as the 

 glumes ; leaves and sheaths very soft and downy. 



The former of these bromes is an annual plant, being 

 in growth and appearance similar to corn, until it puts forth 

 its characters of fructification. It really gives no trouble, 

 for it generally grows (where it does grow) thinly scattered, 

 and you cannot weed it out. It is true, that it is seldom 

 found but where it is sown with the seed corn; but where 

 you sow it you are sure to have it in the crop. The soft 

 brome-grass perfects its seed earlier than the drank, or 

 smooth ray brome-grass, and the seed, for the most part, is 

 shed before the harvesting of corn crops. 



About the time that corn comes in ear, or rather later, the 

 bromus throws out its flowering panicles, which, as the corn 

 ripens, droop, each spikelet with its heavy load of seeds ; 

 these drooping spikelets are somewhat short, and nearly 

 smooth, with the seeds thereon crowded, and the spikelets 

 flat. When ripening, the leaves drop away, and the straw 

 looks clear and handsome, much like good bright oat-straw. 

 The seeds resemble the boldest and best seeds of good ray- 

 grass, but are thicker and much heavier; they contain a 

 large quantity of nutritious flour ; and fowls, pigs, and horses, 

 are very fond of them. 



The objection to bromus, with the miller, is, that it grinds 

 tough, and perhaps somewhat soapy, so as to dull the stones. 

 A very plump and dry sample of wheat is readily saleable, 

 though with a little in it; but a sample rough in hand, is 

 lowered in value from a shilling to eighteen pence per 

 quarter. Great care ought to be taken not to sow these 



