146 A MANUAL OF FARM GRASSES 



mountain meadows in this region, is a smooth erect 

 perennial with acute but awnless florets. 



WILD HAY 



Large quantities of wild hay are put up in the West 

 for use upon the farm or ranch. In the arid and semi- 

 arid regions this hay is procured from the valley lands 

 that can be irrigated or flooded, or from naturally moist 

 land along the water courses. The grasses that furnish 

 the hay are the species mentioned previously as growing 

 in the valleys. Commercial wild hay is produced in 

 large quantities in the United States lying east of the 

 Rocky Mountains and north of the Cotton Belt. By 

 commercial hay is meant that which is sold upon the 

 market, as distinguished from that which is consumed 

 upon the farm or ranch. The wild hay may be classified 

 as prairie hay, marsh hay, and salt marsh hay. 



Prairie hay is produced from the prairie grasses, the 

 most important of which are big bluestem (Andropogon 

 furcatus), little bluestem (Andropogon scoparius), Indian 

 grass (Sorghastrum nutans), and switch grass (Panicum 

 virgatum). Prairie hay is very nutritious and is valued 

 highly, especially for livery horses. The amount of 

 prairie hay produced is constantly decreasing as the 

 prairie is converted into farms. The region now produc- 

 ing prairie hay is the eastern portion of the Great Plains 

 from Arkansas and Oklahoma to the Dakotas. 



Much hay is produced in the drier portion of the Great 

 Plains from western wheat grass (Agropyron Smithii), a 

 harsh erect bluish grass with creeping rootstocks and a 

 slender wheat-like head. It grows especially in soil that 



