332 FIELD CROPS 



except at high elevations. Its numerous deep roots enable 

 it to withstand drouth better than any of our other culti- 

 vated grasses, which explains its value in the Great Plains 

 and Intermountain districts. It has been cultivated for 

 many centuries in southern and central Russia, in a climate 

 very similar to our Great Plains region. 



420. Cultivation. The method of seeding is not different 

 from that which is common with timothy. It does much 

 better on loam or clay soils than on those of a sandy nature. 

 It grows fairly well on sandy soils, however, when once 

 established, the difficulty being to prevent injury from blow- 

 ing sands until a sod is formed. The usual rate of seeding is 

 from 15 to 20 pounds to the acre when sown alone; when sown 

 in mixtures, 6 to 10 pounds are sufficient. Spring seeding is 

 most commonly practiced, though the grass may be sown in 

 the fall with winter wheat if conditions are favorable. The 

 seed crop is cut with the binder and is shocked and thrashed 

 like any grain crop. Yields of from 400 to 500 pounds of 

 seed to the acre are frequently obtained. The stubble may 

 be cut for hay, as most of the leaves are near the base of the 

 stalk and are left by the binder. 



In permanent brome grass meadows, the sodbound con- 

 dition which is likely to develop may be prevented by 

 thorough disking without plowing at intervals of a year or 

 two. Pastures will also be improved by disking. There is 

 some complaint of difficulty in eradicating brome grass when 

 it is desired to plant the land to a new crop, but this is largely 

 due to poor plowing and indifferent cultivation. Turning 

 the sod completely over so that none of it is exposed to the 

 surface, followed by the growth of a cultivated crop, will 

 usually be effective in preventing the growth of this grass. 



421. Uses. As previously stated, the best use of brome 

 grass is for the production of pasturage in the Great Plains 



