Where the seed is grown is also in5)ortant since plants from seed pro- 

 duced in different sections of the country vary widely in forage pro- 

 duction and growth habits and in their ability to withstand drought 

 and winter-killing. Locally grown seed usually will produce plants 

 that are best adapted to the particular areas, although seed grown at 

 a considerable distance but under similar climatic conditions may be 

 entirely satisfactory. 



Seed of most species useful for range reseeding may be planted the 

 year of harvest with good results. Sometimes a higher germination is 

 obtained if seed is stored for one or two years but this storage is of 

 practical importance for only a few species, notably Indian ricegrass 

 ( Oryzopsis hymenoides ). On the other hand, seed of most grasses de- 

 creases rapidly in genaination after 3 to 5 years, and old germination 

 tests on seed may be worthless. Whenever there is a doubt as to the 

 age or gexmination of the seed a new test should be made* 



The value and purity of many light, fluffy, awned, or inconqpletely 

 threshed seeds can be greatly iiqproved by running them through a hammer 

 mill and such processed seeds are now available on the market. Where 

 these species are to be drilled, the slight additional cost for de-awning 

 is more than made up for in ease and uniformity of drilling and in having 

 chaff and poor seed removed. De-awning does not impair storage qualities 

 of seed. 



Seed Characteristics and Standards 



The quality of grass seed varies greatly depending on the species, 

 maturity, and the climatic and other conditions during growth and harvest. 

 Recognized standards of purity and germination of seed of most range 

 grasses have not been set up. The information contained in the following 

 discussions is based on the best available sources and shoxild serve as a 

 guide to seed quality. The photographs (Fig. l) will be of value in iden- 

 tifying the species. 



Bluegrass. big (Poa ampla ). Seed of this species is harvested from 

 native or recently planted stands in the northwestern United States. Sp?-^ 

 is small with 900,000 seeds per pound but should be bright anu well-filled. 

 A germination of 80 percent and purity of 85 percent can reasonably be ex- 

 pected. Seed will retain a good viability for approximately 3 years. 



Bluegrass, bulbous (Poa bulbosa ). This grass produces bulbils or minia- 

 ture plants in place of seed. Bulbils are produced on the seed heads 

 and harvested and planted as "seed." They vary considerably in size, but 

 average about 4.80,000 per pound. A purity and gemination of 90 percent 

 can reasonably be expected. In home germination tests bulbils may be 

 gezminated in the same manner as seed but they require low ten^eratures, 

 not over 68® F. , especially when freshly harvested. Bulbous bluegrass 

 "seed" is produced mainly in the northwestern United States. The bulbils 

 retain a good viability for 5 or more years. 



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