198 FARM GRASSES OF THE UNITED STATES 
surface, these soluble substances collect in the soil 
until the quantity becomes so great as to be detrimental 
to plant life. This produces alkali soils. Where 
these salts are abundant in the soil they tend to collect 
in low places, where most of the evaporation occurs. 
Irrigation frequently causes alkali to rise to the surface 
on soils where plants grew readily at first, but which 
soon became too salty from the evaporation of the salt- 
laden water. 
Some species of plants have become adapted by 
nature to these strong alkali soils. Among cultivated 
crops there are varying degrees of resistance to alkali. 
Alfalfa will grow on rather strongly alkaline soils. 
Australian salt-bush thrives on decidedly strong alkali. 
Neither of these are, however, true grasses. None of 
the cultivated grasses is decidedly alkali loving, but 
several wild species of the West are not averse to it. 
The most useful of these are: 
Giant Ryvyx-crass (Elymus condensatus).—This 
grass produces an abundance of good seed which could 
easily be saved if a demand were created for it. It 
grows in the wild state in large clumps, but when the 
seed is sown at the rate of 25 or 30 lbs. per acre it 
makes a uniform growth, and gives a large yield of 
coarse but palatable hay. The hay is said, by those 
who have fed it, to be very nutritious, but it contains 
salts enough to make it decidedly laxative. It is, 
therefore, better adapted for cows than for horses. 
Yet some farmers who have grown it for horse- 
feed speak highly of it. It deserves attention as a 
hay grass on soils too strongly alkaline for alfalfa. 
(A typical view on ranges of the West, showing 
