170 FARM GRASSES OF THE UNITED STATES 
an ordinary grain-thresher with proper riddles and 
proper control of the draft. The straw, after the seed 
is threshed out, is readily eaten by stock. This grass 
produces rather abundant aftermath, which furnishes 
excellent grazing. On the approach of winter it turns 
brown, but does not lose its palatability, and it fur- 
nishes good pasture, even under light snow. 
Brome-grass is usually sown in spring, at the rate 
of 20 Ibs. of good, clean seed per acre. ‘The seed does 
not feed well through ordinary drills, and it is best to 
sow it by hand. Like most permanent grasses in the 
North, it makes very little growth the first year from 
spring sowing, though it makes good pasture from 
midsummer on. The next year it makes a fine crop 
of hay. On the best soils it makes a good crop still 
another season, but then begins to get sod-bound, after 
which its best use is for pasture, unless it is plowed up 
and harrowed in fall, as previously suggested. West 
of the Rockies it is best to plow the land for brome- 
grass in early spring, shortly before sowing. East of 
the Rockies fall plowing is advisable. In the sections 
where brome-grass is now well established it is not 
wise to sow it with a nurse crop. Farther east, where 
there is more summer rain, it could be sown advan- 
tageously with any kind of spring grain. East of the 
Dakotas it could be sown in late summer with excel- 
lent results. Sown thus, it ought to make a full crop 
the next year. 
Until recently most of the brome-seed sold by deal- 
ers was imported from Central Europe, where this 
grass has been a standard for more than half a century 
(Séuthern Russia and Northern Austria). On account 
