OTHER GRASSES OF SECONDARY IMPORTANCE 219 



Ordinarily it is easily told from perennial rye-grass by 

 the awns. If these are absent, the two may be distinguished 

 by the palea, this being far more abundantly toothed on 

 the margin and more deeply notched in Italian rye-grass. 



The seed weighs 12 to 24 pounds to the bushel, and the 

 quality varies accordingly. One pound contains 270,000 

 to 285,000 seeds. 



SLENDER WHEAT-GRASS (Agropyron tenerum) 



258. Slender wheat-grass, known in Canada as western 

 rye-grass or Mclvor's rye-grass, is the only example of 

 a native North American grass that has proven valuable 

 under cultivation. It is widespread, but variable, occur- 

 ring abundantly from British Columbia to Manitoba, 

 southward to Arizona and Oklahoma and sparingly 

 eastward to Pennsylvania and Newfoundland. It is 

 strictly a bunch grass with numerous slender erect stems, 

 2 to 4 feet high and narrow, flat, rather stiff leaves. 

 The spikelets are crowded, scattered in a spike 4 to 6 

 inches long. Its root system was found at the North 

 Dakota Experiment Station to be quite as deep as that of 

 brome-grass, but with fewer roots. 



Slender wheat-grass was first brought into cultivation 

 about 1895. It is now grown to a considerable extent in 

 Manitoba, Alberta, Saskatchewan and the Dakotas, and 

 has given good results in Ontario and Washington. 



Slender wheat-grass is usually seeded in spring. A firm, 

 well-prepared seed bed is desirable. The seed may be 

 sown broadcast and then harrowed, but is better sown 

 with a drill. Good stands have been secured with 10 to 

 15 pounds per acre in Saskatchewan, the heavier seeding 

 being best. Elsewhere as high as 30 pounds an acre have 

 been used without the stand being too thick. 



