SUMMARY. 57 



attempting to secure a stand of this grass all over the native meadows, 

 but the areas which now produce some of this species, and formerly 

 produced much more feed than they do now, might be greatly improved 

 in this way. The same would apply with equal force to areas which 

 produce bunch blue grass (Poa Icevigata) and giant rye grass (Elynius 

 condensates), although the habits of growth of these grasses are very 

 different. The seed of the giant rye grass is easily gathered, and, 

 when not too badly affected by ergot, grows well. In an ordinary 

 locality one man can gather a hundred pounds of clean seed of this 

 grass in a day, using no other implement than an ordinary grass hook 

 for the purpose. A vigorous man would have little difficulty in gather- 

 ing fifty pounds of the seed of wild wheat in a day in at least three 

 localities which we visited. It will be seen that this makes very cheap 

 grass seed compared with the ordinary commercial species. 



(4) Redtop (Agrostis alba), already established in places, could 

 without doubt be more extensively introduced in man}^ of the moister 

 bottom lands. Instances have been cited where it was making a good 

 crop, and it will without doubt grow well on the lowlands wherever 

 the native clovers abound. It is one of the most promising plants for 

 the improvement of portions of the bottom lands. No finer quality 

 of hay could be desired than that which is furnished in localities at 

 the present time by this grass and the native clovers. 



(5) Mention has been made several times of the peculiar ' ' patchy " 

 condition of the native meadows and of the fact that the largest yield 

 of forage is from plants which make hay of an inferior quality, such 

 as the rushes, sedges, and wire grasses. The cause of this condition 

 is in many cases absolutely beyond economical control at the present 

 time. It is due largely to the effect of a too abundant suppty of water 

 in the early spring with practically none during early summer. Being 

 located in the lower depressions in the basins, these lands can not be 

 drained except at prohibitive prices to the majority of the holders. 

 Where these lands can be drained without too much expense they 

 could without doubt be made to yield more forage of a better quality 

 than they do now. Either storing the spring flood waters and apply- 

 ing them later in the season or draining the low, swampy areas would 

 produce beneficial results. Several instances of drainage on a small 

 scale with beneficial results were called to our attention. The French- 

 Glenn Company was installing a large dredging machine to be used in 

 the Malheur basin when we were in the region. 



(6) There are several conditions which interfere with the culture of 

 alfalfa in this region, the first and foremost being too little water and 

 improper methods of applying it. Other difficulties, however, are 

 more under the control of the rancher and can usually be either avoided 

 or obviated, namely, poor drainage and too much alkali in the soil. 

 Usually there is an abundant supply of water in earty spring, and 



16370— No. 15—02 5 



