THE AGRICULTURAL GRASSES OF THE UNITED STATES. 19 



WASHmGTON TERRITORY AND OREGON. 



From Washington Territory twelve reports were received, and from 

 Oregon thirty-one. They are so mnch alike that we consider them to- 

 gether. 



NATIVE PASTURE GBASSES. 



Bunch-grass is found in the drier places and on the hills 5 wild pea- 

 vine and a fevv^ wild grasses in the timber; clover upon bottom-lands; 

 wild rye-grass, a species of elymus, upon lowlands, and a variety of 

 mixed grasses upon the prairies. 



Several species of grass are called bunch-grass, the principal of which 

 are Foa tenuifolia l!?utt, Festuca scahrella, Friocoma cuspiddta, and some 

 of the species of Stipa. 



Bunch-grass, which formerly was the j)rincipal pasture grass upon 

 the uplands, has become about extinct, partly from the land being taken 

 for cultivation and partly from overfeeding. Its place has been taken 

 by wild chess ( Bromiis secalinus) and other poor grasses. 



But little native grass is cut for hay; some little wild red-top, wild- 

 rye grass, salt-marsh grass upon tide- water, and, east of the Cascades, 

 a little bunch -grass is cut. 



CULTIVATED GRASSES. 



Timothy is found universally distributed throughout this section, and 

 has become so well established that some consider it indigenous. It 

 has so tenacious a hold upon the soil that it can scarcely be killed out. 

 As a hay grass, timothy has no superior ; for a pasture grass, it gives 

 out too early in July. 



Next in general diffusion come the clovers and orchard grass. Red- 

 top, also, is quite common. Kentucky blue-grass, though not so exten- 

 sively introduced, seems well adapted to some portions of this section. 



The soil and climate of Oregon and Washington Territory are ad- 

 mirably adapted to the culture of grass, and any kind will do well if 

 allowed a fair chance. There is a great diversity of soil ; and often on 

 the same farm all:kinds may be found, from the black sandy loam to 

 red clay. 



From some, come inquiries for a grass that will do well upon lands 

 worn out by constant wheat-cropping ; others say that they are sowing 

 clover on their exhausted lands to recuperate them, and no better ad- 

 vice can be given the former than to do likewise. By this means the 

 tired lands can soon be restored to fertility. 



, A better way, and one which the intelligent farmers will soon learn 

 to follow, is to avoid depleting the land at all, but by a suitable rota- 

 tion of crops, among which the clovers and grasses should have a prom- 

 inent place, the lands can be kept in a normal state of fertility, and, 

 being naturally rich, will yield a generous reward to the husbandman's 

 toil. 



