CHAPTEE VIII. 



RUSSIA!^ BROME GRASS. 



Russian Brome grass (Bromus inermis) is also 

 known in America by the names Austrian Brome, Hun- 

 garian Brome and Awnless Brome, but more common- 

 ly it is designated simply Brome grass, or Bromus. The 

 name Austrian Brome grass was given to this grass in 

 the earlier references made to it in the reports of the 

 experimental farms of Canada, where it was first tested 

 and from which it was first distributed to any consider- 

 able extent in America. It was so given doubtless be- 

 cause of the extent to which it has been grown in Aus- 

 tria during recent years, and because of the high adapta- 

 tion which it has for the light soils of that country. 

 Similarly, doubtless, the origin of the name Hungarian 

 Brome grass is to be accounted for. The term Awnless 

 Brome grass is owing to the absence of awns on the 

 panicles. But the name Russian Brome grass would 

 seem to be more appropriate because of the longer period 

 during which it has been grown in Russia. 



Russian brome grass grows to the average height of 

 about 24 inches, but under some conditions it will reach 

 the height of fully 5 feet, and under others it will not 

 come into head at all. The leaves are medium large 

 and the leaf growth is very abundant for a considerable 

 distance from the ground. The leaves furnish a dense 



