4 
Bulletin 61. 
preparatory cultivation is required in order to get in suitable con¬ 
dition to receive any other crop. The disk harrow is the only 
implement known which will finally subdue this sod. As to the 
effect on soil fertility, nothing definite is known, although a fair 
crop of flax was grown upon a plot of this sod ground the past 
season. 
In Colorado Bromus inermis is specifically a pasture grass, and 
it may be truly said it is the only tame grass yet discovered which 
can, with any degree of success, take the place of the departing 
pasture grasses of the plains. The closest pasturing and severe 
tramping have had no effect in destroying the sod. After having 
been gnawed tight to the ground by sheep, it shows growth within 
a week after stock is removed, even in late fall when nights are 
frosty. In the spring brome grass affords pasture from two to three 
weeks earlier than any other grass known to this locality. 
Many complaints are heard from various localities respecting 
the worthlessness of seed, all of which, thus far, has been imported 
from Europe. The Kansas Experiment Station reports that about 
ninety per cent, of this seed fails to grow. Experience at this 
Station last season seemed to verify this statement, though it is too 
early as yet to speak with precision in the matter, from the fact 
that brome grass comes up very much thicker the spring after 
sowing than would have been expected from its appearance in the 
fall. Whether this is due to some of the seed lying dormant, or to 
an extension of the root system at some time between fall and 
spring, has not been ascertained. The fact has been noted else¬ 
where, and thoroughly proven here, that it is best not to be 
discouraged over a seeming light stand the first season, but wait until 
the grass has a chance to show up the following spring before plow¬ 
ing it up or adopting any radical measures. 
For spring sowing, brome grass should be sown early in this 
country if it is to be grown without irrigation. With irrigation it 
may be handled successfully by sowing at any time during the 
growing season. It requires a clean, well pulverized seed bed, such 
as wheat would thrive in, and should be covered from one to two 
inches in depth. Owing to the light, chaffy nature of the seed, we 
have been unable as yet to sow it evenly in an ordinary drill, 
though this would be the ideal way. It has been sown broadcast 
by hand and harrowed in. The condition of the soil is of more 
importance than the manner of sowing. 
It would not be safe to recommend this grass for indiscrimi¬ 
nate sowing. Farmers having portions of land above irrigation, or 
desiring permanent pasture on almost any kind of land that is not 
positively wet or boggy, would be justified in trying an acre or two. 
Sow fifteen to twenty pounds per acre. If successful, it produces a 
