270 GRASSES AND HOW TO GROW THEM. 



not until 1880 that attempts were made to improve it by 

 cultivation. In that year, Mr. Kenneth Mclvor of Vir- 

 den, Manitoba, Canada, gathered some of the seed with 

 a view to test its qualities under cultivation. It .was 

 Mr. Mclvor who first drew the attention of the public to 

 its merits. In this way the Canadian and American 

 departments of agriculture became interested in the dis- 

 tribution of the seed for experimental purposes in vari- 

 ous provinces and states. 



This grass will grow under a great variety of climatic 

 conditions but is relatively better adapted to cool 

 than to hot temperatures. Although it will grow more 

 readily and vigorously in moist climates, it has peculiar 

 adaptation for growing on the dry prairies of the West. 

 No amount of cold seems to injure the plants. 



Western Eye grass grows on the western prairies 

 from California and 'New Mexico on the south to Brit- 

 ish Columbia and Athabasca on the north. It has also 

 been found as far east as ISTew Hampshire. On the 

 plains of the western and more especially the north- 

 western prairies, it has rendered the best service in pro- 

 viding grazing for the live stock of the ranchman. Its 

 most congenial home in a state of nature is the foothills 

 and the bench lands of the Rocky mountains. In the 

 western states it has rendered excellent service on the 

 ranges from Nebraska northward. East of the Mis- 

 sissippi river other grasses, already introduced, so com- 

 pletely meet the requirement of farmers, that it is not 

 probably western rj^e grass will be much grown in these. 



In Canada although it will grow well under cultiva- 

 tion from sea to sea, it will be most helpful in the 



