32 FORAGE CONDITIONS AND PROBLEMS. 
AWNLESS BROME. 
As is well known, one of the greatest brome-grass regions which 
has been developed in this country since seed of Bromusinermis was 
introduced by the U.S. Department of Agriculture some years ago is 
the Palouse region in eastern Washington, but the cultivation of this 
grass does not appear to have spread to the westward and northward to 
such an extent as one would expect. Awnless brome is grown ina 
limited way, however, in a few of the localities visited, and in all cases 
appeared to be promising. From the observations made, there seems 
little doubt that in the Pacific Northwest it will grow and make good 
returns wherever wheat can be raised for hay. Near the mouth of 
the Okanogan River a small area of this grass on irrigated land was 
seen that would cut at least 3 tons of dry feed per acre. An experi- 
ment conducted in the Okanogan hills, about 8 miles from the British 
border, was of much interest. An attempt was there being made to 
raise this grass on rather poor upland soil without irrigation. In the 
more favored spots in the field it made some hay, and nowhere in the 
inclosure did it fail to yield twice as much pasturage as could ever be 
expected on the native range pastures of the vicinity. Small areas of 
this grass were seen in several other places in this region, but they 
were usually in pastures, and sometimes this grass was considered by 
the ranchers of little value on account of its not being able to withstand 
close grazing well. It appeared to the writer, however, that in many 
eases the difficulty resulted from the fact that the stock preferred this 
to the native grasses, and that the poor development was owing to its 
not having sufficient chance to make a growth.“ 
Nowhere in the Blue Mountains was any awnless brome grass seen 
until Izee was reached. There Mr. C. W. Bonham was experimenting 
in a small but very intelligent way, having about an acre of it grow- 
ing in a corner of his garden, some with and some without irrigation. 
The experiment appeared very promising. Mr. Bonham reports that 
it is dificuJt to get the grass started, but he thinks that if sown at the 
proper time in a favorable year, and if irrigation were practiced, less 
difficulty would be experienced. He believes that it will make a good. 
crop without irrigation when once a stand is secured. Some persons 
in Bear Valley are said to be preparing to put in large acreages of 
this grass next season. There is little doubt that it will succeed In 
many places in these mountains, where a much poorer quality of hay 
is now raised.? 
« At the experiment station at Pullman, Wash., awnless brome grass was less 
injured by close grazing than any other grass.— JV. J. S. 
>This grass yields a large crop of hay the second year from seed, but thereafter is 
adapted only to pasture purposes.— JV. J. S. 
