WESTERN RYE GRASS. 269 



great producer of seed. It will thrive under a ij^reat 

 variety of conditions and will produce relatively large 

 quantities of hay. Moreover, like timothy, the hay is 

 easily handled ; the seed is easily sown and the crops of 

 hay and seed are easily managed. 



AVliile it is a good pasture grass, the season of ahun- 

 dant growth is not of very long duration. If pastured 

 before the headini>" out stace, it is much relished bv 

 stock but not so much at a later stage of growth. The 

 hay is eaten readily by stock, if cut early, but is not 

 highly relished, if harvested later ; and it produces but 

 little aftermath. 



Comr)ared Avitli Kussian brome grass, its great rival in 

 the entire American Xorthwest, the Russian brome 

 starts earlier in the spring, produces a more abundant 

 leaf growth through the season and especially in the au- 

 tumn and furnishes hay that is better relished. But the 

 Western Rye produces somewhat heavier yields of hay 

 under like conditions ; especially under dry conditions, 

 it grows somewhat better on soils more or less impreg- 

 nated with alkali ; furnishes seed that is more easi^)- 

 secured and gives no trouble as the Russian sometimes 

 does by remaining in the land. Both are strongly 

 drought resistant, but in this respect the rye grass prob- 

 ably excels ; both will grow well in moist conditions but 

 in this respect the Russian brome excels ; both are good 

 soil binders but here again the Russian brome is some- 

 what ahead. 



Distribution. — Western rve crass is indigenous to 

 America. Although it has doubtless grown wild on 

 the Western prairies during forgotten centuries, it w^aa 



