Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1887-1890, 1888-08-29
THIRrY-TwO VARIETIES.
Letter to Prof. Morrison in Re-
gard to the Same.

Robt. vaughn's Exhibit of Grasses-Hi
Letter to Prof. Morrison in Re-
gard to the Same.
As heretofore noted Mr.. Robert Vaughn
of Sun River, selected samples of thirty
two varieties of grasses on his ranch to be
added to the Great Falls exhibit at the
Minneapolis Exposition. In forwarding
the same he sends the following interest
ing letter of explanation to Prof. Morrison
GREAT FALLS, Mont, Aug. 90, 'ss.
PRoF. Morrison, Minneapolis Exposition
Minneapolis, Mimi.
DEAR SIR:-As per agreement l send
yoo samples Of vesqS ggHess es sS
efed within my enclosure, twelve miles
from Great Falls and about sixty-five
miles from the mountains; but this will
give you an idea of the bill of fare that
Montana cattle, sheep and horses feed
upon.
No. l is wheat, which was sown in the
spring Of 1887, and with it timothy was
sown. This sample is from voluntary
crop grown among the first crop of timo-
thy this spring. l think it is the Scotch
Fife.
No. 2 is oats, first sown in the spring of
1885. 1t has voluntarily sprung up ever
since. I cut it for hay. It viii! 20 from
two to two and half tons to the acre,
No. 8, first crop of timothy, which will
go two tons to the acre.
No. 4, red top, (seed procured from I'LL
nois) sown in the spring of 1885 on the
sod on low land. 1t has killed all other
grasses. 1t will go three tons to the acre.
I am told that red top does well on 1rri-
gated land.
No 5, red clover, sown in the spring of
1884 on the sod.
No. 6, second crop red clover this sea
son. First crop was cut June 10th.
No. z, third crop of alfalfa. First CROP
was cut June 2nd. 1t produced two tons
to the acre. Second crop was cut July Is
which went three tons to the acre. This
specimen, which was taken from the third
crop OF this season, runs two tons to the
acre.
No. s, first crop of alfalfa left to go to
seed. ~. h
No. 8, Montana blue joint, full growth
and seeded out.
No. 10ethe same grass, but as it is more
AoAuA On tlAo IduHeSt llS
specimen is from stack, of which have
about three hundred tons. 1t will, when
we'll stacked, retain its color for years,
1t excells all other hay, not even except
ing timothy. feed my stations nothing
but this blue joint hay and they will be
fat in the spring. An eastern man would
think that they had been fed corn or oats.
II grows everywhere in Montana and is
n lib ,fl,
one kind of soil or one al1ituts, az many
mountain grasses are. The blue joint
grass is to be found on every rod of grass
land from the banks Of the Missouri river
to the highest peaks of the Rocky NOUN
tains. IT is q wonderful grass and there
are but few who appreciate ITS merits
No. II grows in the bends Of the largest
streams where they overflow in June. II
makes good hay for cutie.
No. IL grows on low lands and resem-
bles Kentucky blue grass. It is very
early and remains green late in the fall.
1t Is of very strong sod.
No. IL, grama grass, excellent for sheep,
Nos IA to 10 inclusive, like the grama
grass and the blue joint, covers the ranges
gf northern Montana In many places
one can get y handful of these eight diff
= NV 49, 1879 fStsHHHg toAhoSAuS Ale lctt
from where he stands.
Nos. 20 and q grow near ponds and wa
ter courses. .au... ~
Nos. % and % grow on very sandy
land. "
Nos. "a and IS are found near streams
or springs.
No. 26 grows on the very best of land
along the streams, and it makes good hay,
cut the first part Of July, Il grows to the
height of five to six feet,
Nos. 81 to 81 inclusive are sages on
which cattle browse in winter, especially
when the snow is deep. Nos. 80 and 81 I
consider almost as good in winter as
grass, they are so full of seed, and the
seeds appear to be very nutritious. Cat
10 and sheep especially crave 1t.
no. ~, Not being botanist I cannot
ell whether this little herb is grass or
weed. However, IT grows among the