10 
attempts in this direction met with failure or only indifferent success. 
However, as the farmers are becoming more acquainted with th 
peculiarities of soil and climate existing in this region, better results 
are being obtained, and at the present time in many parts of both 
North Dakota and South Dakota may be found excellent pastures and 
meadows of tame grasses. In the rich bottom lands in the older set- 
tled regions Timothy, Red-top, Alsike, Red Clover, White Clover, 
mooth Brome-grass, Blue-grass, and several of the fescues give pay- 
ing crops. Millet is extensively grown in all the farming communities, 
and such recent introductions as Kaffir Corn, Lupines, and Sand-vetch 
seem likely to assume an important place among the forage crops of 
this region, already so bountifully supplied by nature with the “ grasses 
of the field." 
Wherever irrigation is practiced there is no difficulty in getting pay- 
ing erops of such grasses as Timothy and Red-top, and it is quite cer- 
tain that many other forage plants can be suecessfully grown in the 
artesian regions when the vast underground water supply can be 
utilized. 
GRASSES AND OTHER PLANTS OF THE DAKOTAS WHICH ARE 
MAY BE OF IMPORTANCE AS FORAGE. 
Agropyron. 
Of the several species of Agropyron, or Wheat-grasses, growing in the Dakotas, 
Western Wheat-grass (Agropyron spicatum) is the most common and the most 
valuable. Western Quack-grass a pse iive) "ud fienda Wheat-grass 
(A. tenerum) (fig. 1) are also valuable, but lry regions than 
Western Wheat-grass. "These im yrons are plentiful both on the * range" 
and in the agricultural regions, and are highly valued for both hay and pastur- 
age. They grow voluntarily on old plowings, and instead of attempting to 
destroy the plants, which would be difficult on aecount of the numerous under- 
ground stems, or rhizomes, many farmers prefer to leave such lands for meadows. 
The yield of hay is usually much better than on the unbroken prairie. In favor- 
able seasons three tons per acre are often obtained from these meadows. Wheat- 
grass hay is one of the most nutritious grown in the Northwest. Under prame 
circumstances a Wheat-grass meadow will not give a good crop every year 
usually the yield is light the third year. Many farmers overcome this demie 
by harrowing or discing the meadow, which breaks up the underground stems 
of the grass, and a fine growth of new shoots is the result. The Wheat-grasses 
cure on the ground in the grazing regions and furnish a large amount of very 
nutritious forage during the winter. From the middle of July there is little 
rain in the western cattle districts, and these grasses mature early and are the 
chief forage plants on which thrive the choice beeves, which command fancy 
prices in the eastern markets. They have few equals among the grasses of the 
western prairies in the quantity or Vani of forage produced, and should be 
eultivated and improved as much as poss 
Agropyron caninum. (See Bearded id 
Agropyron divergens. (See Bunch Wheat-grass.) 
Agropyron pseudorepens. (See Western Quack-grass and Agropyron.) 
Agropyron richardsoni. (See Bearded Wheat-grass.) 
