170 GRASSES AND HOW TO GROW THEM. 



that of timothy^ but the latter is more marketable be- 

 cause of its greater weight in proportion to the bulk, and 

 it is also preferred in the meantime for feeding horses. 

 The greatest weakness of Russian brome grass probably, 

 is the tendency which it has to thicken to such an extent 

 that growth is checked in consequence. 



Distribution. — Russian brome gi'ass is indigenous to 

 Asia and Europe, ranging from the Atlantic to Siberia. 

 In Europe it has been cultivated for more than a century 

 and for a long time to a greater extent in Russia than in 

 other divisions of that continent. During the last half 

 of the nineteenth century, it was introduced into Hun- 

 gary and by a long series of experiments its superior 

 adaptation for light lands in that country was demon- 

 strated, as also its ability to withstand well, long periods 

 of drought. In both Europe and Asia it was first grown 

 northward rather than southward, and on soils light 

 rather than heavy. Since it has been introduced into 

 North America it has shown at least equal adaptation 

 for like conditions. There is probably no grass among 

 the hundreds that have been tried on this continent 

 which may be grown successfully over a wider area and 

 under a greater variety of conditions. 



Russian brome grass was first introduced into the 

 United States in 1882 by the experiment station of Cali- 

 fornia. It w^as first introduced into Canada by Dr. 

 William Saunders, director of Experiment Farms in 

 that country, in 188G. In experiments conducted with 

 it at stations in the various provinces, it was found pre- 

 eminently adapted to the conditions of the northwestern 

 provinces of that country. The general distribution of 



