BROME QRA88 



311 



high elevations. Its numerous deep roots enable it to with- 

 stand drought better than any of our other cultivated grasses, 

 which explains its value in the Great Plains and Intermoun- 

 tain districts. It has been cultivated for many centuries in 

 southern and central Russia, in a 

 climate very similar to our Great 

 Plains region. 



407. Seeding and Cultivation. 

 The method of seeding is not differ- 

 ent from that of timothy. It does 

 much better on loam or clay soils 

 than on those of a sandy nature. 

 It grows fairly well on sandy soils, 

 however, when once established, the 

 difficulty being to prevent injury 

 from blowing sands until a sod is 

 formed. The usual rate of seeding 

 is from 15 to 20 pounds to the acre 

 when sown alone; when sown in mix- 

 tures, 6 to 10 pounds is sufficient. 

 Spring seeding is most commonly 

 practiced, though the grass may be 

 sown in the fall with winter wheat, 



if conditions are favorable. The seed crop is cut with the 

 binder and is shocked and threshed like any grain crop. 

 Yields of from 400 to 500 pounds of seed to the acre are 

 frequently obtained. The stubble may be cut for hay, as 

 most of the leaves are near the base of the stalk and are left 

 by the binder. 



In permanent brome grass meadow, the sodbound con- 

 dition which is likely to develop may be prevented by thor- 

 ough disking without plowing at intervals of a year or two. 

 Pastures will also be improved by disking. There is some 

 complaint of difficulty in eradicating brome grass when it 

 is desired to plant the land to a new crop, but this is largely 



Figure 107. — Brome grass. 

 Note the running root- 

 stocks. 



