42 
MAY'S CATALOGUE OF NORTHERN GROWN SEEDS, BULBS, PLANTS AND FRUITS. ^ 
BROMUS INERMIS WSm®m 
Lb. 30c, 3 lbs. 85c, postpaid; 18 pounds, enough for one acre, 
:?3.00; 100 lbs. $14.50. 50 pound lots at 100 pound rates. 
DESCRIPTION It originated in Russia, and is recommended 
■on account of the manner in which it has stood on the Hungary- 
plains, where the dry, sterile nature of the country 1 and the long 
^continued droughts make so many plants succumb. This Bro- 
rmus, however, stands well, and has been known for thirty years 
to stand when such robust crops as alfalfa have been destroyed. 
Jt gives a luxuriant crop, particularly on fresh sandy loam soil, 
.and where the climate is warm. It is found that animals eat it 
.greedily, whether in the green or the dry state, so that it can be 
mown or saved for winter use. The seed is sown in the early 
spring. It is also useful in filling up gaps where alfalfa or 
■clover crops have failed. It will stand under favorable condi- 
tions for twelve years, and give as much food in one month as 
•alfalfa gives in three months. 
•CULTIVATION. — This grass is better sown alone; at least it 
should not be sown with grain crops. The grain takes too much 
moisture from the young grass plants. It is also desirable to 
sow the seed on soil that does not blow. Summer fallow would 
"be the best preparation, but on account of its liability to drift 
at is not safe in many parts of the extreme Northwest to use 
-this kind of land.> Stubble land, plowed 4 or 5 inches deep in 
.April or May, and well harrowed after the seed is sown, is found 
-to be quite safe from wind, as the stubble harrowed on top pre- 
sents all drifting. 
Fifteen to eighteen pounds of seed are required to an acre. 
More seed will give a better crop the first year, but less after- 
wards, as the roots thicken up each year, and in three or four 
years make better pasture. 
The seed being light, long and thin, seeding by hand is the 
•only practicable method. To seed properly, a calm day should 
be chosen, so that all parts of the land may be evenly sown. 
While the plants are young the weeds make headway, and it 
is necessary at least to keep them from going to seed. The 
•quickest way to accomplish this is to go over the field with a 
mower, cutting just above the grass plants. If the operation 
lias to be repeated it will be necessary to cut the tops of the 
grass, but this will not injure the plant — in fact, it is an ad- 
vantage in the way of giving the roots a better hold. The first 
•crop of hay can be cut the next year after seeding, and will, in 
■ordinary years, be ready in July. Bight or ten days after being 
Teady to cut for hay it will be ready to cut for seed, if so de- 
sired. Cut in first bloom for hay, and- ten days from this time 
is considered in proper state to cut for seed. 
Many inquiries have been received in regard to growing 
Bromus on lands which are flooded part of the year. Following 
we give the experience of S. A. Bedford, Esq., in charge of the 
Experimental Station at Brandon, N. W. T., Canada: 
A small area of the uplands of 
-the Experimental Farm, about an 
acre, is flooded from 2 to 4 feet deep 
«each year, the water remaining on 
until June. This was broken up 
<iaringthe summer of 1896, and sown 
tto Brotntts without a grain. Good 
The Wonderful Russian Forage Grass. Outyielding Al- 
. falfa. In nutritious qualities surpassing Timothy. 
{ , . L l - years. Succeeds on poor soils and yields from four to live 
tons per acre. For the arid regions this grass has no equal. 
We offer only one grade, the best. Do not be 
tempted by low offers. Cheap prices mean inferior seeds, onepound 
of good seed will go farther than two pounds of the lower grades. 
The seed we offer is from our own direct importation from Rus- 
sia, and can be relied on. 15 to 18 poundsissufficientforoneacre. 
TJu^heajjej^ra^sj-e^mreJ^^ 
stand was obtained and a magnificent crop of grass gathered. This 
experiment should be tried by farmers who have depression on their 
land known as pot holes, which are numerous in some parts of the 
province. 
RENEWAL AND ERADICATION of. Bromus Inermis, by 
Angus Mackay, In charge of the Experimental Station at 
Indian Head, N. W. T., Canada: 
Last fall, just before winter set in, one-half acre of 
3rome sod was plowed four inches deep, in as narrow fur- 
rows as possible. Four crops of hay had been cut from 
the plot, and the roots had become very thick. 
On the 6th of May, 1'898, Prince Albert peas were sown, 
harrowed- in and rolled. -Shortly after the peas were sown 
the grass commenced to grow 'very thick, and from that 
time it was a race between Brome grass and peas, with the 
result that peas were one-third crop and Brome grass a good 
catch. The peas and grass were cut by mower and the land 
left to see what results can be obtained in renewing Brome 
sod without re-seeding. Three-quarters of a ton of peas 
and Brome hay was cut from the one-half acre. 
On the 14th, 15th, 16th and 19th of April last seven acres 
of Brome sod was plowed two inches deep. By the time the 
sod was rotted sufficiently to back-set. quite a heavy growth 
of grass was covering the land. On the 16th, 17th, 18th and 
20th of June all but one-half acre of this land was back-set 
four inches deep. Brome roots continued to grow after the 
^"^k-setting, and the land was again plowed before winter 
set in. The one-half acre not back-set had, when the re- 
mainder of the plot was plowed the second time, a good catch 
of grass, which promises a crop of hay next year. 
Last spring, after seeding was finished, an old piece of 
Brome sod was gone over four times with iron harrows to 
determine whether or not it could be renewed without plow- 
ing. The result clearly demonstrated the impracticability 
of this method. 
As stated in the report of last year, several acres of 
Brome sod was plowed on the 18th, 19th and 20th of May, 
1897, and sown to peas at the time of back-set later on. That 
portion sown with peas was plowed last fall, and, together 
with part of the back-setting, was sown with red Fife wheat 
this spring. The balance of the back-setting was used for 
potatoes, corn, peas and roots. The wheat averaged 20 bush- 
els per acre, and the potatoes, peas, corn and roots yielded 
one-third less than the same varieties sown on fallowed and 
manured land. > , 
This grass, we firmly believe?; is the" greatest boon, espe- 
cially to our West and Northwest states, ever introduced. We 
have labored for 12 years in the introduction .of this famous 
grassland we are pleased to state our efforts have been suc- 
cessful, as will be seen by a few of the many •-hundreds of 
testimonials we have, and it is d oubt- 
ful if the supply of seed this year is 
going to equal the demand, so great 
has been the call already from Mon- 
tana, Washington and North Da- 
kota, where hay crops are the one 
essential among the stockmen. 
