GRAINS AND FORAGE CROPS 57 



Sheep Like "Soft Chess". 



Please give the name of the grass of which I am sending seed- 

 heads. Sheep like it and it runs out foxtail. Where can I get the 

 seed of it? 



The grass from Mendocino County is the Soft Chess (Bromus 

 hordeaceus), which has taken large areas in California, particularly in 

 the south Coast Ranges, within the last few years. It is there con- 

 sidered to be very undesirable since it has crowded out better forage 

 plants and is itself eaten by cattle and horses only when they are 

 actually starved to it. It is probable that sheep would eat it under 

 almost any conditions, as indicated by your correspondent, but it 

 certainly is no grass for other grazing animals. The seed is not 

 listed in the catalogs, but one should have no difficulty in harvesting 

 seed, where the grass has spread so rapidly Dr. H. M. Hall, Uni- 

 versity of California. 



Reinforcing Winter- Growing Corn. 



What is best to plant between corn rows for winter pasture in 

 Coachella Valley? There will be considerable second crop corn in small 

 heads that will be desirable to allow the stock to "hog off." We have in 

 mind some variety of vetch, peas, rape or barley for feed, also for plowing 

 in in the spring. 



As soon as the ground is moistened enough by rain or irrigation, 

 scratch in between the rows barley and vetch together, use it for winter 

 pasture and plow in the refuse and shallow roots deeply for the follow- 

 ing crop. This practice is based on the fact that the corn is apt to keep 

 on growing in your valley and to forget that it is winter by the calendar. 



Rye Grass on Ditch Banks. 



How will perennial rye grass thrive on ditch banks? 

 It will hold on so far as the moisture reaches it, but it will summer 

 kill if the bank stands dry long. 



Vetch for Winter Forage. 



On land set out to oranges this year I wish to raise some sort of 

 crop for fodder and gotten off by May. I have been told that vetch would 

 be best. 



Oregon vetch or hairy vetch would probably give you most crop 

 either to haul away or plow under. But we should rather not see it there 

 as late as May. Get it off or under in March unless you get heavy late 

 rains. Cover crops held late are apt to make your land hateful all 

 summer. 



Rye and Vetch. 



I want to sow grain in my bean ground, for winter pasture for 

 hogs and cows. Which is best to sow oats, barley, rye or vetch? 



