11 



and scratched in lightly with a harrow or disk. It grows as a volun- 

 teer crop in grain fields, and makes a most valuable pasture for 

 cattle, sheep and hogs. 



GRASSES 



The grasses that will respond if the seed is sown in the rainy season 

 are: Italian rye-grass, English rye-grass, orchard grass, crested dog's- 

 tail grass, tall meadow oat-grass, red top and velvet grass. 



In order to get the best returns a clean, well-prepared, firm seed 

 bed should be made. Orchard grass prefers the shade, but the others 

 will do well both in the open and in the shade. Tall meadow oat-grass 

 is extremely drouth-resistant and will grow on poor soils, but the 

 leafage at the base is meager. Red top does well in the seepage areas 

 on the hillsides in the neighborhood of springs. Velvet grass delights 

 in fog. Orchard grass, rye grasses, crested dog 's-tail and velvet grass 

 are especially adapted to sowing in the ashes of burnt-over redwood 

 lands without treatment of the soil. The amount of seed to sow is 

 about thirty pounds per acre for all except velvet grass, which takes 

 ten, it being extremely light, weighing only seven pounds to the bushel. 



RYE 



The cereal rye may be sown in the fall on cultivated land and will 

 provide good sheep and hog pasture by mid-winter. 



BARLEY 



Barley may be disked into irrigated alfalfa fields in the extreme 

 southern counties and excellent sheep and hog pasturage provided 

 by Christmas. The alfalfa does not seem to be injured in any way 

 by this method of treatment. 



The use of one or another of the above forage plants on the 

 farm, together with a proper division of the range so as to permit 

 each part to get a period of rest, will enable us to utilize California's 

 winter rains and generally mild winter climate for an increased 

 production of feed for stock. 



