1 62 FAKM GRASSES OF THE UNITED STATES 



ington, and northwestern California. Along the 

 Pacific Coast west of the Cascade Mountains orchard- 

 grass thrives remarkably well, and this is one sedlion 

 in which it vies with timothy in a timothy region. 

 The worst disadvantage which it posses.ses in this sec- 

 tion is its earliness. In all the region west of the 

 Rock}' Mountains the rains fall mostly in winter, 

 while the summers are dry. West of the Cascades in 

 Oregon, and more particular!}' in Washington, orchard-' 

 grass is frequently readj^ to cut before the spring rains 

 are over, and it is therefore not always possible to cure 

 the ha)'. Timothj^ comes on about ten daj's later, and 

 thus stands a better chance of finding favorable haying 

 weather. This objection does not hold east of the 

 Cascades and in the Rocky Mountain region. In the 

 Mountain States orchard-gra.ss is much prized as a 

 companion to alfalfa. It matures with the first cut- 

 ting of alfalfa, and improves the quality of the hay. 

 It is also a valuable grass to mix \^ith alfalfa for pas- 

 tures, greatly reducing the risk from bloat, and it has 

 no tendency to spread and choke out the alfalfa. 



Orchard-grass occurs sparingly throughout the 

 timothy region, but is nowhere an important grass in 

 that area, except in a few small sedlions previously 

 mentioned. It is used considerably in New England 

 and adjoining States as a constituent of meadow and 

 pasture mixtures, and probably deserves to be much 

 more generally used for pasture purposes all over the 

 Northern States. 



Orchard-grass seed, as found on the markets, is 

 usually of good quality. It weighs about 14 lbs. per 

 bushel. When grown for seed, it yields ordinarily .15 



