GENERAL REMARKS ON FORAGE GRASSES 21 



much coarser and is known as wire grass. Because of its 

 bad habits in fields of cotton and corn, Bermuda has 

 received an unsavory reputation and its real value as a 

 pasture plant is not always recognized or conceded. 

 Like some other aggressive grasses, it is a valuable plant 

 in its place. 



In the semiarid region there are no characteristic 

 pasture plants except brome grass, which is adapted only 

 to the northern portion. Much of the permanent pasture 

 of the Great Plains region is the native grassland. 

 Much grazing is also obtained from alfalfa, grain, and 

 sorghum. In the southern portion, Johnson grass attains 

 importance. In the eastern part of the semiarid belt 

 where the conditions are not too severe, orchard grass and 

 meadow fescue are utilized. 



In the northern part of the Great Plains, from Ne- 

 braska to Minnesota and Montana brome grass has been 

 grown successfully. It is the only cultivated grass that 

 can here withstand the conditions of drouth too severe 

 for bluegrass, timothy, and clover. South of the region 

 mentioned, the summer heat is too great for brome 

 grass. 



In the arid regions, the pastures are irrigated. The 

 plants used under irrigation are alfalfa, especially in the 

 more southern regions; various grasses of the cool humid 

 region, especially bluegrass and timothy, these more 

 particularly to the northward; and native grasses. Irri- 

 gated native pasture is likely to deteriorate if over- 

 irrigated, because of the intrusion of weedy species such 

 as wire grass (a species of rush) and foxtail or wild barley 

 grass. 



