22 



BULLETIN 201, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



ELYMUS CANADENSIS L. 



Elymus canadensis is a familiar drooping, awned rye-grass which, like E. con- 

 densatus, has a very wide distribution and is an important forage plant, especially 

 throughout the Plains region. It inhabits commonly the moist situations of the river 

 valleys, where it forms an important ingredient in both hay and pasture meadows. 

 In pastures it is relished only while young, and to make the best quality of hay it 

 must be cut before it is woody. Its general habits are favorable for cultivation. . 

 Its seeds are abundantly produced, but the long, persistent awns would be difficult 

 to thrash out. It is, at best, a rather hard, coarse grass for either pasture or hay. 



No. 8801 was collected near Fargo, N. Dak., August 10, 1907. 





Percent- 

 age of 

 moisture. 



Water-free basis (per cent). 



Material analyzed. 



Ash. 



Ether 

 extract. 



Crude 

 fiber. 



Nitrogen- 

 free 



extract. 



Protein. 



Pento- 

 sans. 



Our sample No. 8801 



5.61 



* 9. 28 

 8.81 



2.28 

 2.22 



31.94 



34.77 



48.95 

 45.97 



7.55 

 8.23 



24.61 

















8.85 



2.23 



34.51 



46.24 



8.17 











i Canada Central Experiment Farm Bui. 19, p. 32; Colorado Bui. 12, p. 58; Iowa Bui. 11, p. 467; Montana 

 Report, 1902, p. 66; South Dakota Bui. 40, p. 158; Tennessee Bui. 3, vol. 9, p. Ill; U. S. Department of 

 Agriculture Report No. 32, 1884, p. 128; Wyoming Bui. 87, p. 48. 



ELYMUS CONDENSATUS Presl. 



Elymus condensatus is the giant rye-grass which extends from Montana to Arizona 

 and has a very wide altitudinal distribution. Like many other species it has two 

 distinct habits of growth. In some situations it grows in scattered, large bunches, 

 often 7 or 8 feet high. In other places it is scattered uniformly over the area in which 

 it grows and frequently makes almost a complete stand. It is a very coarse, rank, 

 smooth species, which, if used for hay, must be cut before it gets too woody. Like 

 many other species, the estimate placed upon it varies with the locality in which 

 it is found and with the general quality of the feed of that locality. In portions of 

 Montana and Wyoming it is pronounced absolutely worthless, and while it is not 

 used nearly so widely in those States as it is in the Great Basin, where extensive 

 areas of it are cut for hay, it is, nevertheless, usually considered of very good quality. 

 Its seed habits are very good, and it is quite probable that something could be made 

 of it under cultivation. It ergots very badly, however, and sometimes deleterious 

 effects upon stock are said to be produced on this account. Horses running in pas- 

 tures of it are very partial to the ripe seeds. It is a common thing to see them graze 

 off the heads and pay little attention to any other feed when the plant is mature. 

 These heads are commonly 6 inches in length and are almost a solid mass of seeds, 

 which, of course, are practically the same as grain. (PI. VI, fig. 2.) 



No. 8830 was collected near Havre, Mont., August 13, 1907. The sample was ma- 

 ture, but was all green with the exception of the head. 1 It was harvested about 4 

 inches high. 





Percent- 

 age of 

 moisture. 



Water-free basis (per cent). 



Material analyzed. 



Ash. 



Ether 

 extract. 



Crude 

 fiber. 



Nitrogen- 

 free 

 extract. 



Protein. 



Pento- 

 sans. 



Our sample No. 8830 



8.29 



6.41 

 8.34 



2.40 

 2.91 



34.95 



38.48 



48.40 

 40.31 



7.84 

 9.96 



25.45 

















7.96 



2.81 



37.77 



41.93 



9.53 











i Montana Report, 1902, p. 66. Nevada Bui. 62, p. 28. Wyoming: Bui. 70, p. 38; Bui. 87, p. 50. 



