BROME-GRASS 



173 



There are several native species of the genus 

 Bromus which are more or less promising under culti- 

 vation, especially on dry lands west of the Rocky Moun- 

 tains. Two of these are worthy of attention — namely, 

 Bromus marginatus and Bromus carinatus. Both of 

 these wild species are very variable, and some forms of 

 them are undoubtedly valuable. Their possibilities 

 are being exploited by the experiment stations in the 

 West. As yet they have no satisfactory common 

 names. One farmer in a dry section of southwestern 

 Oregon grows Bromus marginatus under the name of 

 ' ' eight-dollar grass/' having secured his start of it 

 from the side of a mountain bearing that name. It is 

 hoped that suitable local names for them may become 

 well enough established to warrant their general use. 



Another representative of this genus is the well- 

 known cheat or chess {Bromus secalinus), Fig. 36, of 

 the grain-fields. In the Willamette Valley, Oregon, 

 and in the Blue Mountains of the same State, cheat is 

 grown for hay to a considerable extent. It is an 

 annual, adapted to sowing in the fall. It yields quite 

 well, but the hay is not of high quality. 



The rescue-grass {Bromus unioloides), Fig. 37, of 

 the South is another representative. This is also an 

 annual. In south central Texas this grass grows wild 

 quite generally. It is occasionally sown for winter 

 pastures throughout the South, for which purpose it 

 has some value, but it possesses few, if any, advantages 

 as a winter pasture in that section over the common 

 cereals. It would probably thrive a little farther 

 south than the cereals. In Georgia and adjacent 

 States rescue-grass is frequently sold under the name 



