340 FORAGE CROPS 



of lands, although it seems to do very much better 

 on light sandy soils, deficient in moisture. This 

 makes it a useful plant where others would not 

 grow well ; but it does not follow that it will not 

 grow much better on soils of higher fertility. This 

 brome grass is not well adapted to a rotation of 

 crops, because of the difficulty of cleaning the land, 

 although this is less difficult than in the case of 

 Bermuda -grass. It should not be allowed to grow 

 for a long period without breaking up, if used in 

 rotations. 



Fertilizing Bromus inermis 



In renewing either pastures or meadows of 

 Bromus inermis that are too thin, seed may be 

 added in the fall and lightly covered with a har- 

 row, although a thin stand will ordinarily thicken 

 up sufficiently, if the plant -food is ample. As 

 with other grasses, fertilizers or manures are 

 beneficial, and top -dressings of manure, either 

 in the late winter or early spring (four to six 

 loads per acre), or top-dressings of nitrate of 

 soda when the plants are well started, will usu- 

 ally pay well. When lands are rich and moist, 

 there is sometimes difficulty in destroying the 

 grass, when laud is broken for other crops; but 

 if plowed deep and followed by one or more 

 cultivated crops, there need be little anxiety on 

 this score. 



