GRASSES FOR CANAL BANKS IN WESTERN SOUTH DAKOTA. 381 
RECOMMENDATIONS. 
From the results thus far obtained it seems safe to recommend 
brome-grass, western wheat-grass, and alfalfa as the best plants for 
covering the canal banks of the Bellefourche Project. Redtop may 
be seeded in a mixture with these or seeded alone where an abun- 
dance of moisture is available, as is the case near the water line on 
the inner slope of the canals. Western wheat-grass should not he 
seeded alone, on account of its slow early growth, but if seed can be 
obtained it should be included in a mixture with brome-grass or 
alfalfa. A mixture which can be recommended for all types of soil 
on the project is the following: 
Brome-grass iS) aap lap a 7 EO 6 pounds. 
Western wheat-grass____ =e ie = Teteed _ 6 pounds. 
PMeleteeaietreqae sees SS ae Tae EEE PIC R i ag ne hls CE SOUL CS: 
edto pes ee a sida lo ner eae agate 2 pounds. 
This should be enough seed, under ordinary conditions, for plant- 
ing 1 acre. If all of these species are not available a mixture of 
equal parts of brome-grass and alfalfa will in most cases give a 
satisfactory covering. Care should be used to secure a hardy strain 
of alfalfa seed, preferably one that has been grown in the neighbor- 
hood for a number of years. 
The seeding should be done early in the spring, during a rainy 
period if possible, and care should be taken to obtain a firm, moist 
seed bed, in order to insure rapid early growth. 
Grazing on the banks should not be allowed for a vear or two after 
seeding, and close grazing should never be permitted if a good sod 
is to be maintained. 
[Cir. 115] 
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