HAY AND PASTURE CROPS IN DRY AREAS 343 



the shock or stack, as may be found convenient. The 

 yields of seed run ordinarily from, say, 6 to 10 bushels 

 per acre. 



Combinations. While timothy may be sown with 

 various other grasses, the best combination is that of 

 timothy and common red clover on average soil, and 

 timothy and alsike clover on low land. The amounts to 

 sow may be put at, say, 5 to 6 pounds each of timothy 

 and common red clover per acre, and 5 to 6 pounds of 

 timothy and 3 pounds of alsike clover. 



Growing western rye grass. Western rye grass, fre- 

 quently designated slender wheat grass, is probably the 

 best grass, all things considered, for dry conditions that 

 can be grown. The seed has good germinating power. 

 The* grass is very hardy in standing heat, cold and 

 drought, and it is abiding. It makes reasonably good 

 hay and pasture, but for either use it does not rank very 

 high among the grasses. It tends to grow more or less 

 in bunches but not so much so as orchard grass. It is 

 indigenous to the prairies of the west and it grows in 

 highest perfection in those of the northwest. 



Soils. This grass will grow on nearly all soils found 

 in western areas, but of course in best form on those that 

 are reasonably friable, rich and moist. It will not grow 

 on alkali lands. It will grow better relatively on soils 

 lacking in moisture than any other useful grass that has 

 yet been introduced. Its adaptation for wet soils is low 

 rather than high. 



Place in the rotation. Western rye grass will be 

 surer to make a stand when it is sown after the bare-fal- 

 low, or after a cultivated crop. But since it has much 

 power to grow, in areas where the rainfall is more than 

 15 inches per year it may answer under some conditions 

 to sow it on other land. Usually it is sown with some 

 kind of a nurse crop. When the sod of this grass is 

 broken it may with much fitness be followed with flax or 



