HUNGARIAN BROMEGRASS 137 



length to warrant cutting it for hay; but on poor lands the leaves 

 and flower stalks are low. Seed production of Bermudagrass, 

 like that of most sodgrasses, is somewhat low. Seed in abun- 

 dance is produced only in hot, dry weather. Seed production 

 of the species has not yet been widely commercialized. 



Although the distribution of Bermudagrass is wide, extending 

 from Massachusetts and southern New York to Florida, Mis- 

 souri, New Mexico, and Arizona, along the Pacific slope from 

 Washington to California, and south through Mexico and South 

 America to Uruguay, it occurs in economic importance in this 

 country only in the South. This is due to the fact that the aerial 

 growth is readily killed by frost, and the roots die where the soil 

 freezes. 



As the seed is expensive, the ground should be thoroughly 

 prepared before sowing. From 4 to 6 pounds of seed is usually 

 sufficient to produce a good stand. It is best to resort to pure 

 seeding because Bermudagrass is intolerant of shade. Not un- 

 commonly the roots tocks, which are unusually persistent, are 

 scattered over the land in order to establish a sod. This is done 

 by breaking up the sod into small pieces and scattering these in 

 furrows 2 to 4 feet apart. 



Where Bermudagrass grows luxuriantly, in carrying capacity 

 it ranks very high among the grasses. The palatability remains 

 high almost throughout the season, though, to be sure, in late 

 summer the leafage may become somewhat tough. The plant 

 withstands trampling exceedingly well. 



Hungarian Bromegrass. — Hungarian bromegrass {Bromus 

 inermis) is also known as smooth, awnless, Austrian, or Russian 

 brome. It is a long-lived perennial, 2 to 5 feet high, with strong 

 creeping rootstocks by means of which a tough sod is formed. 

 The panicle is loose and open, and from 4 to 6 inches long. The 

 spikelets are erect, flattened, awnless, and about an inch long 

 (Fig. 40). Hungarian bromegrass is a native of the upland 

 plains of eastern Europe, being most abundant in Austria and 

 Russia. The plant was introduced into the United States in the 

 early eighties and is now widely grown throughout the Northern 

 and Western States. It is especially well adapted to the North- 



