Prima r slender wheatgrass, now being grown in Washington and Orison, 

 is described by the Soil Conservation Service as a :, rapid growing, 

 long-lived, high yielding, early maturing 1 ' strain. Though not 

 thoroughly tested in Montana , it should be a better risk than common 

 seed from an unknown source. 



Tall oatgrass (.Arrhenatherum elatius ) is a tall, vigorous, moderately 

 h3rdy, deep-rooted, perennial bunchgrass, which was introduced from 

 Europe. It is short-lived, but volunteers readily from seed, so under 

 moderate use can be reasonably permanent. It is palatable and on good 

 sites is very productive. It ha 3 been one of the more promising species 

 for range reseeding where precipitation is about 15 inches or above, and 

 does rather well on light or gravelly soil. Y/here adapted, it is quick 

 growing, and stands are obtained readily. It is shade-tolerant and has 

 done well on timbered sites, such as skid trails and burned-over timber- 

 land. The seed is difficult to handle in seeding equipment unless 

 processed to remove the awns. This is now being done commercially. 

 Processed seed is desirable, but must be fresh because it loses viability 

 rapidly after about 2 or 3 years. Purity and germination should be 

 above 80 percent. There are about 150, COO unprocessed seeds per pound. 



Meadow brome (Bror.us erectus ) , an introduced perennial bunchgrass of 

 medium height, bns shown considerable promise at Miles City, in Jurlith 

 Basin County, at Thompson Falls, in the Bitterroot Valley, and at the 

 Vigilante Experimental Range on the Beaverhead National Forest. At 

 Judith Basin it did better than crested wheatgrass when seeded in cheat- 

 grass. It seems very thrifty at 9,300 feet on the Beaverhead. Leaves 

 of the strain used in our tests are densely hairy and very soft. It is 

 a good seed producer, but seed is not yet generally available. 



Smooth brore (Bromus inermis) is a hardy, aggressive, long-lived, deep- 

 rooted, sod-fcrming grass introduced from Europe in about 18B4. It is 

 one of the best all around grasses in the northern states. It favors 

 heavy soils, but also does well on light soils if moisture is adequate. 

 It will net stand drought like crested wheatgrass, and is not adapted 

 to the ordinary run of abandoned farm land in Montana . Where moisture 

 is a little better than average, equal to about 16 inches or more per 

 year, it will usually thrive and produce abundant, highly palatable and 

 nutritious feed. It also ranks high among the grasses adapted to the 

 more favorable sites such as moist mountain parks or meadows at moderate 

 to high elevations. It is an excellent grass either for hay or pasture, 

 and withstands heavy grazing very well. It is best seeded in a mixture 

 with other grasses or legumes, as it is not so likely to become sod 

 bound under these conditions. Smooth brome grass seed will keep satis- 

 factorily for 5 years or longer. There are about 135,000 seeds per 

 pound. Germination and purity should be around 90 percent or better. 



Certified seed of several improved strains is now available. Lincoln 

 smooth brome, a southern strain, is being grown in the Central Great 

 Plains, and Manchar smooth brome, a northern strain, in Washington and 

 Oregon. Both are excellent strains with outstanding seedling vigor and 

 both will doubtless have a place in reseeding Montana ranges. 



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