8 LEAFLET 104, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



fibrous root system especially adapts it for use in rotations. Because 

 it is a bunch grass, it is easily killed by plowing. The roots add a tre- 

 mendous amount of organic matter to the soil, which is so important 

 for good crop production, and water infiltration is increased. The sod 

 affords an excellent clean seedbed for flax in areas where that crop is 

 adapted. The grass is also useful for seeding rights-of-way along 

 highways and for farm roadsides where a permanent growth is needed 

 to control coarse weeds. 



Seed Production 



Crested wheatgrass has good seed habits. It yields well, matures 

 early, and can be harvested with machinery available on grain farms. 

 As the seed ripens while the plants are still green, the straw is of 

 considerable value for feeding. Because crested wheatgrass seed 

 shatters readily, harvest should begin when the seed reaches the stiff 

 dough stage. Much of the seed may be lost in windy weather, if the 

 grass is allowed to become too mature. A fair average yield of seed 

 when grown in rows is 200 to 300 pounds per acre, and under more 

 favorable conditions 400 to 500 pounds may be obtained. The crop 

 may be cut with a grain binder and should be shocked immediately. 

 Under normal weather conditions, 10 days in the shock is sufficient for 

 drying before threshing. The seed is easily threshed with an ordinary 

 grain separator. To avoid loss of seed in threshing, the speed of the 

 fan should be reduced or the air intake to the fan closed. With some 

 separators it is desirable to lower the rear of the machine so that the 

 seed may pass back to the delivery and the straw be handled more 

 satisfactorily. Under certain conditions best results in threshing are 

 obtained by reducing the speed of the cylinder somewhat, although this 

 is not always necessary or desirable. All, or practically all, of the 

 concaves should be removed. 



Crested wheatgrass seed can be cleaned with an ordinary farm 

 fanning mill equipped with the proper sieves. A top sieve having 

 oblong openings of % by % 8 inch and a bottom wire screen with a mesh 

 of 6 by 26 or 4 by 26 will, under most conditions, give the best cleaning 

 results. Larger sieves may be required for a preliminary cleaning if 

 the threshed material contains an undue amount of trash. 



A fair standard for crested wheatgrass seed is a bushel weight of 

 at least 22 pounds, a purity of 88 to 90 percent, and a germination of 

 85 percent. Choice seed will weigh 24 to 26 pounds per bushel. 



Anyone desiring further information on crested wheatgrass should 

 write to the nearest State experiment station for details especially 

 applicable to the locality. 



U. S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1941 



For sale by the "Superintendent of Documents, Washington, D. C. ------ Price 5 cents 



