Till: (iKASSKS OK Tknnesskk. 119 



This is a j^^rass recently introduced from Europe, of considera- 

 ble promise both for hay and pasture. It is strongly stoloniferous, 

 and quickly makes a thick, firm turf. It has grown exceedingly 

 well in the grass plots at the Experiment Station, and young 

 plants from fall-sown seed survived the winter when many other 

 species were destroyed by frosts. The strong perennial charac- 

 ter of this Brome-grass, and its unusual drought-resisting powers, 

 are qualities which recommend it for many portions of the State. 

 It thrives well on dry loose soil, but, of course, the better the soil 

 the greater the yield. Its nutritive value is comparatively low, 

 and in undertaking its cultivation the fact that it produces long 

 underground stolons, which are somewhat difficult to eradicate 

 from the soil, should be kept in mind. 



Bromus erectus Huds., is a species closely allied to B. inermis, but is 

 readily distinguished by its very narrow and longer lower leaves, 

 more compressed spikelets and awned floral glumes. 



3. Bromus secalinus Linn. Chess. Cheat. 



Plate XLIII. Figure 170. 



An erect annual two to three feet high. Culms smooth or pu- 

 bescent at the nodes. vSheaths striate, smooth, scabrous, or some- 

 times pilose; ligule short, blunt; leaf-blade six to twelve inches 

 long, rather broadly linear, smooth beneath, more or less rough 

 and pilose on the upper surface Panicle four to eight inches 

 long, erect, the more or less compound branches spreading, even 

 in fruit. Spikelets six to ten lines long, oblong-ovate, turgid, six- 

 to twelve-flowered, pendulous in fruit; empty glumes oblong- 

 lanceolate, acute, the first three- to five-, the second seven-nerved; 

 rtowering glumes ovate-oblong, obscurely seven-nerved, smooth or 

 minutely downy along the margins and toward the apex, becom- 

 ing nearly cylindrical in fruit. Palea obtuse, strongly-nerved; 

 nerves toothed or fringed with distant bristles. 



This is an annual introduced from Europe, and is more or less 

 abundant in grain fields over the State, and should be classed as 

 a troublesome weed. The idea that Cheat or Chess is degenerated 

 wheat is without any foundation whatever in fact. Cheat seeds 

 will produce Cheat and only Cheat, and it is certain that wherever 

 these plants appear, they were preceded by the seed, which may 

 have been introduced with the grain, or brought by birds or ani- 

 mals from other fields. 



4- Bromus mollis Linn. Soft Chess. 



Plate XLIII. Figure 171. 

 An erect annual grass one to three feet high, with the sheaths 

 and leaves and the spikelets of the erect panicle softly pubescent. 

 Ligule short, obtuse; leaf-blade four to six inches long, two to 

 three lines wide, acute. Panicle two to three inches long, oblong, 

 compact, the short branches erect or a little spreading in flower. 



