Rocky Mountain husbandman. [volume] (Diamond City, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1878-03-28
4 ] IT i RAIL.


II !" writes from St. Louis, Missouri, to the
Xwntyv Gentleman
N Roth bunch and buffalo grasses from New
4,ryico. Kansas, Colorado, Nebraska and
Montana have been tried in the Botanical
harden in this city, and neither of them
|<rew more than few blades. There is
8pme constituent wanting in our soils neces-
|ary to their growth. Even if they did
&row they would be no better than our own
&usses, as they would rot in wet weather,
Il our own do. 1t is owing to the dry cli-
hate that buffalo grass is preserved for the
winter use OF the game that roams over the
Dains. They do not remain long i'll one
pace, the grass being too thin to support a
hrge band more than a few weeks, and in
1any localities not over a day or two. The
fp contains great deal OF alkall, and no
kher grass will grow until it is washed out.
Ahave ridden over thousands OF acres where
here was more cactus than grass. Neither
S0t these grasses is suitable for Il meadow, as
moving soon kills them.
q 1t is evident from the above that the writ
"A has but a very imperfect idea of this sub
Rct The statement in regard to the exper-
lhent in the Botanical Garden at St. Louis
nay be true, but in other matters he errs
2rry materially. Western men differ very
Nilcly as to what variety of grass is buffalo
krass- A short, curly grass, which makes
considerable tuft, is generally known as
bIffalo grass. 1t rarely gets over three or
pur inches in length, and grows on bench
Ands and along the creek bottoms where
lie soil i dry r obopp1c IN, tho J,,I;tl,
l&lSln, and in the valleys and coves around
Re base of the Little Snowy mountains.
8ut the principal growth of the plains and
mountain plateaus is Of the bunch grass
&mlly, several varieties of which are to be
Pahd. These grow very luxuriantly when
Mell watered by rains or artificial means,
~ produce splendid crop Of hay. We
$'ve seen the high rolling plains along the
20 OF the Rocky Mountains, in Montana,
" vast meadow for hundsed miles in eA-
*at on which a amowing machine could be
IN and profitable crop of hay harvested,
u moving does not injure it in the least,
a 8 1t is hardy perennial .lhe only injury
~ Tins grass sustains from rains is after it
~ ored up. Continuous rains at this sea-
n ~ VIII IN measure destroy its nutriment !;
8so'h II there is plenty OF rain during the
M'mmer, and the grass keeps green and
n zp"ihs until late i'll the fall, it is sometimes
|zR)"Fea by FROST, Dry alkali lands are bar
H. lile only grass that will grow on what
termed alkali land here is is a kind of tuft
iieo slough grass, which is of no value for
''er grazing or hay. Neither will cactus
=" on alkai lands The soil of our noun
u 1F'i's ana adjacent plains is strongly impreg-
&c 81 With lime, which accounts, we think.
o'r wonderful nutritious grasses. as well
o'1r extraordinary production of cereals.
"o ouhch grass blade is slow to decay, and
o,oihary seasons remains good food for
ooh until after the new crop is On hand.
nave furnished the proprietors of the
a"0y Gentleman. with specimens, and a
""eo amount of seed for she Exp arimental
s,ir Vn mort. Oh the State ofNew Y ork aud trust
'""' experiment will be made.