SIDE-OATS GRAMA WHEAT-GRASSES. 37 



During the second season, 1901, -which "was very dry during the late 

 summer, the grass continued in good condition in spite of the drought, 

 and produced a crop of seed on August 21 and a second crop October 

 16, after which it kept green during fall. This plot continued to give 

 good results during 1902 (see PI. VI, fig. 1), but as it does not form a 

 close sod it gives a chance for various weeds to become established 

 between the bunches. In 1903 the plot had greatl} T deteriorated and 

 the grass was finalty driven out by weeds. 



Taking everything into consideration this is a very promising grass 

 for the drier regions of Nebraska. It is a native of the plains and 

 furnishes excellent forage for pasture and also promises well for hay. 

 An important point in its favor is the fact that the plants seed abun- 

 dantly and the seed is easily gathered — of good quality, and easily sown. 

 On account of the tendency to grow in bunches it may be best to sow 

 this with some other grass, such as brome-grass, or even with alfalfa. 

 Much of the success in growing this grass depends upon securing good 

 seed. In the experiment noted above, the seed was obtained from a 

 plot previously grown upon the farm. Other plots of the same grass 

 sown with seed obtained from the Department of Agriculture were 

 failures on account of low vitality. The Kansas Experiment Station 

 reports good results in the culture of this grass (Bulletin 102). 



Wheat-Grasses. 



Western wheat-grass (Agropyron occidentals) is commonly found in 

 the western portion of the Great Plains, extending into the mountains. 

 It propagates by stout creeping rootstocks, but does not form a close 

 sod. In the west, from Colorado to Montana, it is called bluestem, 

 Colorado bluestem, or Colorado grass, and it forms the bulk of the 

 native hay of this region. It grows on bench land or bottom land, 

 and though the } T ield per acre is not large it furnishes more hay than 

 any other common grass of this region. The foliage is stiff and 

 harsh, but the quality of the hay is good and it is readily eaten by 

 stock. 



The trials on the plots at the Nebraska station were satisfactory. 

 Where a good stand was obtained the plant showed that it could with- 

 stand drought and produce a good crop of hay. One plot of one-fifth 

 of an acre, sown in 1901, and on account of the poor stand resown 

 the following } T ear, produced on June 23, 1903, 157 pounds of ha}% or 

 at the rate of 2,185 pounds to the acre. 



Wheat-g_-ass is in fact one of the most promising of our native 

 hay grasses. The seed is produced in abundance and is easily gath- 

 ered. Experiments at stations in the arid regions have usually given 

 good results. The rootstocks soon fill the soil and the field may require 

 rejuvenating. This can be accomplished by disking or harrowing to 

 cut up the rootstocks, as is often done upon the native meadows. 



