Pasture and Hay Grasses Western Planting 
Prices on Field 
GRASSES do more towards conserving soils 
than any other crop because they tend 
to bind the soil and remove very little 
fertility. Grasses suitable for soil con¬ 
servation work are indicated by SCI, 
SC2, SC3 in order of preference. 
BROME GRASS (Bromus inermis) is also 
known as Hungarian brome, smooth 
brome, awnless brome, Russian brome, 
and Austrian brome. It is a sod former. 
Roots penetrate 5 to 6 feet into the soil. 
This makes it possible for Brome Grass 
to withstand drought conditions, close 
grazing, and trampling to a remarkable 
extent. It resists severe winters and is 
tolerant of considerable alkali, enduring 
up to 1 per cent white alkali. It is 
usually sown in the spring on well pre¬ 
pared land at the rate of 10 to 20 pounds 
of seed per acre. The yield of hay the 
first year is small, good the second, and 
best the third. By loosening the soil the 
yield will be increased. It is palatable. 
It starts growth early in the spring and 
remains tender and succulent late in the 
fall. SCI 
BLUE GRAMA GRASS is a grass of the 
plains and prairies and is undoubtedly 
one of the most valuable forage grasses 
of the Great Plains and Southwest. Herb¬ 
age is eaten closely by all classes of 
livestock either when green, when made 
into hay or when cured on the ground. Its 
chief advantages are its high palatabil- 
ity and high nutrient qualities, both 
when dry and green. Will stand extreme 
drought. Thrives at altitudes between 
4000 and 8500 feet. SCI 
Prices: (lb. 35c) (5 lbs. $1.50). 
WESTERN WHEAT GRASS (Agropyron 
Smithii) or Bluestem, is a long-lived pe¬ 
rennial widely adapted. Tolerant of 
drought and a certain amount of alkali. 
It grows rather slowly, requiring two to 
three years from time of planting for 
seeds to mature. Western Wheat Grass 
produces excellent forage^ for grazing and 
hay. It is palatable. SCI 
Western Wheat Grass 
CRESTED WHEATGRASS (Agropyron cris- 
tatum) is a long-lived perennial bunch 
grass, closely related botanically to Slen¬ 
der Wheatgrass and Western Wheat- 
grass. The stems are fine and leaves 
medium abundant. It has the ability to 
grow at low temperatures and starts 
growing earlier than most grasses; also 
it continues to grow later in the fall. It 
is well adapted to the northern Great 
Plains, and is suitable for hay and pas¬ 
ture. SC2 
TALL SLENDER WHEATGRASS (Agropyron 
tenerum) is also called Western Wheat- 
grass, Western Ryegrass and Mclver's 
Ryegrass. It grows in tall erect bunches 
which sometimes cover a space one foot 
in diameter. It is perennial and very 
resistant to both drought and cold. Has 
ability to grow in alkali land and is very 
palatable and nutritious to cattle and 
horses. The ordinary yield of hay is IV 2 
to 2 tons per acre. It may be sown alone 
or in pasture mixtures and is well 
adapted for planting in Colorado, Wyom¬ 
ing, Montana, Nebraska, the Dakotas, 
and Idaho. SC2 
MEADOW FESCUE. ENGLISH BLUE GRASS 
(Festuca pratensis) is one of the most 
used grasses for hay and for pasture. It 
succeeds best in cold, moist, light soils, 
in low valleys rich in organic matter, and 
does not thrive on warm dry land. It 
reaches its full development the second 
and third years. It grows quickly after 
being mown. The forage, either green or 
dried, is much relished by cattle and is 
very nourishing. It con be recommended 
for lawns where Kentucky Blue Grass 
would fail. Sown in the lawn, use 2 
pounds to 100 square feet. Meadow 
Fescue has been called Festuca Elatior, 
Herbi Pratei, or Tasmanian blue grass. 
SC2 
REDTOP GRASS (Agrostis Alba) is com¬ 
monly used in all the cooler parts of the 
United States for hay, meadows, pastures 
and lawns. 
ORCHARD GRASS (Dactylis glomerata) is 
a very early and valuable grass for pas¬ 
ture and hay and affords more than one 
cutting per season. However, when only 
one crop is cut the undergrowth is very 
heavy and gives splendid and rich pas¬ 
ture until late in the fall. It will with¬ 
stand some drought and is hardy. Well 
suited for shady places such as orchards 
and groves. It grows in tufts and is sat¬ 
isfactory for sowing with red clover and 
alfalfa. SC3 
TIMOTHY (Phleum pratense). Timothy is 
the most popular grass for hay and pas¬ 
ture purposes. It is easy to sow; does 
not require much seed per acre; starts 
growing quickly. It has a high feeding 
value when cut at the proper time. The 
average yield of timothy is 2 to 3 tons 
of hay per acre. It is not a dry land crop. 
ALSIKE and TIMOTHY mixed make a hay 
crop much richer in feeding value than 
timothy alone. Timothy ranks high as a 
hay and pasture grass but its value is 
enhanced when alsike is mixed with it. 
Alsike is one of the best clovers for hay; 
it is fine and very leafy. 
MIXTURE FOR ALKALINE LANDS. Experi¬ 
ments conducted under supervision of 
the Department of Botany of the Colorado 
Agricultural College have shown that the 
following mixture gives fine results on 
lands infested with alkali: 
Pounds 
Yellow Sweet Clover (Melilotus officinalis) 6 
Slender Wheat Grass or Western Grass 
(Agropyrum tenerum) . 8 
Meadow Fescue or English Blue Grass. 6 
Brome Grass or Bromus inermis. 6 
Red Top . 4 
MORTON'S PASTURE MIXTURE. The Colo¬ 
rado College recommends the following 
ratio for a well-balanced permanent pas¬ 
ture mixture and gives these quantities 
as the proper amounts to sow per acre, 
reseeding the clover every two years. 
Pounds 
Orchard Grass .15 
Brome Grass or Bromus inermis.15 
Meadow Fescue .10 
Timothy . 6 
Yellow Blossom Sweet Clover. 4 
64 
THE WESTERN SEED COMPANY. DENVER. COLORADO 
