266 GRASSES AND HOW TO GROW THEM. 



the resemblance wliich tlie long, slender and smooth 

 heads bear to those of wheat. It is the only grass 

 among the hundreds growing wild on the prairies of the 

 West or Northwest wdiich, up to the present time, has 

 been found of sufficient value to give it a place among 

 the cultivated grasses. 



Western Rye grass is a perennial. Properly speak- 

 ing, it is a bunch grass. It is the famous bunch grass 

 of the bunch grass ranges of the Canadian I^orthwest. 

 When growing on the ranges the height at maturity is 

 from 12 to 18 inches, but under cultivation it grows to 

 the average height of about 3 feet ; in some instances, 

 it attains to the height of 4 feet. When the plants do 

 not grow too closely, they produce many leaves around 

 the crown but these are not so numerous^ nor do they 

 grow as high as those of Russian brome grass. Several 

 stems rise from one plant. These grow erectly and 

 produce a head with an average height of about 6 

 inches but sometimes they are considerably longer. The 

 roots are fibrous and abundant; the long tendrils from 

 the same push aAvay far downward into the soil. It 

 is the root system of growth, doubtless, that gives the 

 plant the marked ability which it possesses of with- 

 standing drought. 



Western Rye grass is one of the hardiest of grasses; 

 none of the cultivated grasses excels it for growing un- 

 der dry conditions. Under very dry conditions it will 

 give better yields than Russian brome. It does not be- 

 gin to grow so early in the spring as some other grasses, 

 nor does it grow with much vigor in the autumn. It 

 comes into flow^er from July first and onward and is a 



