SEEDING GRASSES. 271 
unmixed with grasses. In some regions it is almost 
deadly in it effects. It causes bloat or hoven. In 
other regions it seenis a safe enough pasture. It is 
very noticeable, however, that where it is safe pas- 
turage there is usually found a considerable admix- 
ture of grasses with the alfalfa. Animals grazing 
alfalfa get a superabundance of protein in their diet. 
This makes them long for some grass or other car- 
bonaceous diet. When grasses are mixed with al- 
falfa the animals will eat alternately of each. Thus 
a more healthful ration is compounded by the very 
instincts of the animals. 
In using an alfalfa pasture that had in it a con- 
siderable admixture of brome grass I never had a 
serious case of bloating with either cattle or sheep. 
On other alfalfa pastures with no grass I had more 
or less trouble and some loss from death. Further- 
more, I saw very remarkable results in growth and 
fattening of animals grazing these plants, better 
than I had ever seen on any other pastures in the 
world, considering the areas of land used. 
Brome grass is not broom sedge, as some southern 
readers might infer; it is a grass coming to us from 
eastern Europe. 
Brome grass thickens up fast by underground 
stems or roots, very much as Kentucky bluegrass 
does. <A thin stand of it soon becomes a thick stand 
if the soil-is fit. It ultimately crowds out alfalfa, 
yet for a few years they grow well together and 
‘make an immense amount of grazing. All animals 
_ relish it exceedingly. Even Kentucky bluegrass is 
