244 SUCCESSFUL FARMING 



used for hay it should be cut as soon as in full bloom. The stems become 

 woody if it stands longer. It is usually about three weeks earlier than 

 timothy and is advantageous on lands infested with ox-eye daisy, flea-bane 

 and other weeds that do not ripen seed before time of harvesting it. It 

 yields about as well as timothy, and yields reported from several experi- 

 ment stations range from three-quarters of a ton to two and one-half tons 

 per acre, the average being 1.4 tons. 



It is considered valuable as a soil binder and serves to prevent soil 

 erosin on land subject to washing. 



It is recommended as a constituent of mixed pastures. It is valuable 

 in this respect because of its early growth and its ability to grow during cool 

 weather. It succeeds best under heavy grazing, and is admirably adapted 

 for shady pastures and in orchards that are to be grazed. 



Brome grass. — Brome grass is of comparatively recent introduction. 

 It is a long-lived perennial, spreading both by seeds and root stocks. It 

 forms heavy clumps, frequently twelve inches in diameter, but when seeded 

 abundantly these join and form a compact sod. It is quite deep rooted and 

 is adapted to a wide range of climatic conditions, both from the standpoint 

 of temperature and rainfall. It is especially important, both as a hay and 

 pasture grass, for the Great Plains region and the Pacific Northwest. 



The method of seeding is similar to that for timothy. It is especially 

 valued for hay during the first two years after seeding. There is then a 

 tendency to become sodbound, after which it serves better for pasture. It 

 is both palatable and nutritious, whether used as hay or for pasture. 



Tall Oat Grass. — This grass has a climatic adaptation very similar 

 to orchard grass. It is fairly drought resistant and does poorly on wet 

 land. It does best on rather loose, deep loams, and succeeds well on calca- 

 reous soils ; also does well on sandy and gravelly soil, but is not adapted 

 to poor land. It is a perennial and is strictly a bunch grass. 



When used for hay it should be cut promptly while in bloom. After 

 this period the stems rapidly become woody. It yields well, but is of low 

 quality, the hay being somewhat bitter in taste. For this reason it is 

 generally best grown in mixtures. 



The Fescues. — There are a number of fescues, among which may be 

 mentioned meadow fescue, tall fescue, reed fescue, sheep's fescue and red 

 fescue. None of these are of much importance in American agriculture. 

 They have about the same range of adaptation as timothy. 



Sheep's fescue is a fine-textured, small-growing species adapted for 

 lawn grass mixtures. Sheep eat it quite freely, but cattle avoid it if other 

 grasses are available. 



Red fescue makes a dense growth under favorable conditions and may 

 attain a height of two feet or more. It makes fair yields of hay, but is not 

 equal to many of the better species for this purpose. 



Rye Grasses. — Perennial rye grass is a short-lived, rapid-growing 

 perennial, living usually only two years on poor land, but somewhat longer 



