WESTERN RYE GRASS. 269 



great producer of seed. It will thrive under a great 

 variety of conditions and will produce relatively large 

 quantities of -hay. Moreover, like timothy, the hay is 

 easily handled ; the seed is easily sown and the crops of 

 hay and seed are easily managed. 



While it is a good pasture grass, the season of abun- 

 dant growth is not of very long duration. If pastured 

 before the heading out stage, it is much relished by 

 stock but not so much at a later stage of growth. The 

 hay is eaten readily by stock, if cut early, -but is not 

 highly relished, if harvested later; and it produces but 

 little aftermath. 



Compared with Russian brome grass, its great rival in 

 the entire American Northwest, the Russian brome 

 starts earlier in the spring, produces a more abundant 

 leaf growth through the season and especially in the au- 

 tumn and furnishes hay that is better relished. But the 

 Western Rye produces somewhat heavier yields of hay 

 under like conditions; especially under dry conditions, 

 it grows somewhat better on soils more or less impreg- 

 nated with alkali; furnishes -seed that is more easily 

 secured and gives no trouble as the Russian sometimes 

 does by remaining in the land. Both are strongly 

 drought resistant, but in this respect the rye grass prob- 

 ably excels ; both will grow well in moist conditions but 

 in this respect the Russian brome excels ; both are good 

 soil binders but here again the Russian brome is some- 

 what ahead. 



Distribution. Western rye grass is indigenous to 

 America. Although it has doubtless grown wild on 

 the Western prairies during forgotten centuries, it was 



