40 FOEAGE CROPS IN NEBRASKA. 



Western hrome {Bromus carinatus hooker iamis). — Three trials of this 

 gave negative results on account of the failure of the seed to germi- 

 nate, but one plot sown in the spring of 1902 with seed from the grass 

 garden of the Department of Agriculture at Washington gave good 

 results and showed that the grass is at least promising for the semiarid 

 regions. Trials at stations in the Northwest have also shown that this 

 species gives much promise. This grass is closely allied to B. 

 ma rgi natus. 



Western Trrome {Bromus marginatus). — Four trials of this grass 

 showed that it is well adapted to the conditions in Nebraska, giving 

 a good growth and resisting the dry weather of 1901. and that it is not 

 injured in the winter. The foliage is rather coarse and not as leafy as 

 would be desirable, but the grass is well worth an extended trial. 



Buffalo grass {Bulbilis dactyloides). — Buffalo grass is the common 

 "short grass'' of the Great Plains, and forms a close, thick sod hj 

 means of its numerous creeping stolons. It is entirely resistant to 

 drought, it is very nutritious, and it cures upon the ground, thus fur- 

 nishing winter feed to the range cattle. The grass forms the seed 

 close to the ground in little nut-like clusters that are likeh^ to escape 

 the casual observer. The staminate or male flowers are produced in 

 little spikes or flags, which are raised a few inches above the ground 

 and are much more easily distinguished than are the pistillate or 

 female flowers that produce the seed. The seed, however, is quite 

 fertile, but is so difficult to gather that it will never be practicable to 

 grow buffalo grass from the seed. If it is desired to produce a field 

 of buffalo grass it should be started from the cuttings. For this pur- 

 pose the sod should be cut into small pieces and planted upon prepared 

 soil. The pieces can be dropped upon the surface of the soil and 

 forced into the ground b} r stepping upon them. The distance apart 

 depends upon the desirability of obtaining a thick stand at once. If 

 the pieces of sod are placed 2 feet apart each way, they will thicken 

 up between fairly well in one season. In experiments at the Nebraska 

 Station the seed failed to germinate. 



Wild rye {Elymus canadensis). — A common grass in many parts of 

 the United States and extending over a larg-e part of Nebraska, where 

 it is found chiefly in draws and low places. It produces a large 

 amount of hay of good quality, though rather coarse. It resisN 

 drought quite well and seems well worth an extended trial as a meadow 

 grass. One plot on the station grounds, sown in 1901 (see PI. VI, 

 fig. 2), was cut on July 26, 1902, and yielded at the rate of 5,875 

 pounds to the acre (1,175 pounds on one-fifth acre). The same plot 

 yielded on July 23, 1903, at the rate of 3.700 pounds per acre. The 

 shattered seed from the plot germinated in the autumn of 1902 and 

 produced a good stand the following season. The cutting was made 

 after the grass had headed out. but for the best hay the cutting* should 



