WESTERN RYE GRASS. 273 



with the harrow; it may be sown with some makes of 

 grain drill as, for instance, the "Superior" with a "ver- 

 tical feeder." To feed out well, the seed must be well 

 cleaned. It should be put in from 1 to 3 inches deep, 

 according to the soil and season; when sown on soils 

 that will drift after the grain is up, it is better to sow 

 across the grain rows than in the same direction. 



More commonly this grass is sown alone, and when 

 sown for seed, it must be sown thus. For hay, it may, 

 sometimes be preferable to sow it with Russian brome 

 grass as the latter aids in making a thicker stand by 

 growing between the bunches of the rye grass, while the 

 former aids in the quick curing of the hay. For pas- 

 ture, western rye grass may be sown alone but better 

 probably with Russian brome grass and in some areas 

 with the said grass and timothy. 



When sown alone, about 15 pounds of seed per acre 

 is the correct quantity to sow ; when sown with Russian 

 brome grass 7^ pounds of each may be sown for hay, 

 using a little more seed for pasture; when timothy is 

 added, the proportions would be about 6 pounds each 

 of Russian brome. and western rye and 4 pounds of tim- 

 othy. 



Pasturing. — Western rye grass furnishes pasture 

 abundant and nutritious in the spring and summer 

 months, but loses its succulence in the autumn, having 

 a tendency, like various other range grasses, to cure in 

 the soil. It is more nutritious than Russian brome 

 grass or timothy, either as pasture or hay. Some grow- 

 ers pasture their meadows for a time in the spring but 

 under some conditions this would be hazardous. 



