HAY AND PASTURE CROPS IN DRY AREAS 349 



It is ready to cut for seed in about three weeks after 

 coming into head, or when the seeds are full of meat, but 

 not more advanced in growth than the dough stage. 

 More commonly the crop is harvested with the binder 

 set so high in some instances as to take only the seed 

 stems, thus leaving a leafy residue that may be cut for 

 hay. The seed is threshed with the ordinary thresher 

 but owing to its lightness the wind must be shut off from 

 the machine, or the seed will be blown away. From 300 

 to 400 pounds of seed are frequently produced per acre 

 from the first cutting of the crop, but as a rule the yields 

 grow less with advancing age in the growth of the plants. 



Combinations for brome grass. In humid areas 

 these are many. In dry areas one of the best combina- 

 tions for brome is western rye grass (see p. 343). The 

 presence of the brome tends to thicken the stand. The 

 yield of the combined mixture is, therefore, greater, for 

 hay or for pasture than either grown alone. But in dry 

 areas yields must not be looked for so large as those fur- 

 nished in humid areas. 



GROWING HAY FROM GRAINS 



In dry areas hay from grains is sought for to a much 

 greater extent than in humid areas. This is owing (1) to 

 the larger relative yields that may be obtained; (2) to 

 the fact that the hay is frequently fed without first thresh- 

 ing the crop, and (3) because a more complete ration 

 may be obtained by feeding it thus. The larger relative 

 yields result chiefly from cultivation given to the grain 

 while it is growing. In the newer areas, it is more con- 

 venient to feed the crops than to thresh them, as it may 

 not be easily possible to secure a machine to do the work. 

 When grown in combination, it is possible to produce a 

 ration suited to the needs of different classes of stock. 

 The chief of the grain crops thus grown are rye of the 



