ORCHARD-GRASS, OAT-GRASS, BROME-GRASSES 197 



grown in the Dakotas and in Manitoba than in any 

 other region. 



212. Adaptations. Brome-grass is especially adapted 

 to regions of rather low rainfall and moderate summer 

 temperatures. High summer temperatures and humidity 

 are both adverse. In trial plots the grass has succeeded 

 well enough in the region of timothy and red clover, but 

 has not attained popularity. 



It prefers rich loams and clay loams, but has succeeded 

 well in sandy soils. No other cultivated perennial grass 

 has shown a higher degree of drought resistance. 



Brome endures winter cold remarkably well and no 

 instances of winter injury have been reported even in 

 North Dakota. At Kenai, Alaska, it succeeds fairly well 

 except in very moist summers. 



213. Depth of roots. Shepperd at the North Dakota 

 Experiment Station found that one-year-old plants had 

 roots 4 feet deep, and two-year-old plants 5J feet. At the 

 same station brome roots were found to be 5 to 6 feet 

 deep when timothy roots reached only 3J feet. 



Ten Eyck at the Kansas Experiment Station found roots 

 to a depth of 4J feet, at which depth solid rock prevented 

 further penetration, but the roots had spread over the rock 

 in a large mass. 



214. Method of seeding. In the regions where it is 

 most grown, brome-grass is nearly always seeded in early 

 spring on a well-prepared seed bed. Fall plowing in some 

 places is preferable as it insures a better supply of moisture. 

 The surface of the seed bed should be well firmed by harrow- 

 ing, and rolling is also desirable. 



Where the rainfall is sufficient the grass is often sown 

 with a nurse crop wheat, oats, barley or spelt. The 

 grass seed does not feed well through a drill, so it is usually 



