26 CIECULAR 17 8, U. S. DEPAETMEI^T OF AGRICULTURE 



Seed of these native bromegrasses is not obtainable on the market 

 at the present time but may be produced with comparative ease and 

 little expense. Yields as high as 425 pounds to the acre have been 

 obtained under cultivation on mountain land without irrigation, 

 where the precipitation is about 30 inches per year. The seed has 

 been harvested for as low as 4 cents a pound, which, together with 

 the original costs of the parent seed crop and of planting, makes a 

 net cost of approximately 6 cents per pound, exclusive of transpor- 

 tation charges. Many sheepmen of central Utah have their herders 

 collect seed in the fall of the year on areas upon which grazing has 

 been deferred until seed maturity. About 20 pounds of seed should 

 be sown to the acre. 



At least one species {B. polyamthus) is attacked to some extent by 

 a smut {Ustilago hromivora) ^ which may or may not be a factor in 

 the use of plants of this genus. This disease destroys the seed, al- 

 though it does not appear to decrease materially the production of 

 leaves and stems on infected plants. Only a relatively small num- 

 ber of specimens were attacked in the native habitat of the plant in 

 central Utah, but about 60 per cent of the stand was infested when 

 grown under irrigation in the warmer drier valley at the Utah State 

 Agricultural Experiment Station from seed collected in its native 

 habitat. This smut undoubtedly attacks other species of Bromus 

 and is a problem needing additional study. 



VIOLET WHEATGEASS 



This species {Agropyron violacemn) ^ one of the most palatable of 

 the true wheatgrasses, is a member of a native genus famed for its 

 highly nutritive qualities. Although without rootstocks, vio- 

 let wheatgrass is persistent, as it is a deep-rooted, thick-tufted 

 perennial. Its stocky, leafy growth and freedom from awns or 

 beards enhance its range value. It grows naturally on fairly dry 

 sandy loam soils, usually in parks or open forests at high or medium 

 elevations in the western part of the United States, from Washing- 

 ton and northeastern Oregon to the Rocky INIountain region and as 

 far south as northern Arizona. It is ordinarih^ sparsely distributed 

 on the range but in some localities occurs in considerable abundance. 

 Although it is somewhat more exacting as to soil than the big 

 mountain bromegrasses, the two often occur together in the better 

 soils. In such sites violet wheatgrass will as a rule eventually domi- 

 nate the bromegrasses because of its more persistent growth, slightly 

 lower palatability, and greater resistance to grazing. Although in 

 its native state violet wheatgrass is usually but sparsely distributed, 

 it responds well to cultivation. (PL 2, B.) Where the ground was 

 plowed before seeding, yields of violet wheatgrass hay as high as 

 1.25 tons per acre have been obtained in a season on mountain range. 

 The seed crop is lighter than that of bromegrass, and consequently 

 the seed is more expensive. Seed has been produced for 16 cents a 

 pound, but improved methods of harvesting would doubtless result 

 in a material reduction of this figure. Fifteen to twenty pounds of 

 seed should be sown to the acre. 



