The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1897-09-16
Hungarian Bronze Grass And its
Nevada Allies.
Newspaper Bullssin No. as,

an item BY Associated Press, entitl.
ed "A new forage plant" in which
the plant, Bromus inermis, is said
to be Indigenous to the Russian
steepes and one of possible agricul-
tural value in the prairie region
along the eastern base of the Rocky
Mountains.
A few facts regarding this plant
and some of its Nevada allies may
be OF some interest at this time.
The plant in question is the
rather well known Hungarian
Bronze grass. Since the latter part |
OF the preceding century the grass |
has received more OF less attention
from European botanists and culti-
vators. Its cultivation in Europe
has been carried on most actively
in Hungary, where experiments in
one locality extending over period
of thirty years seemed to demon
strate that the plant has great
power of resisting prolonged drouth.
Its cultivation in this country has
been pursued at the experiment
station of several States, that of
California inaugurating the work
and publishing the statement in
1884 that the plant seemed to 10
well either with or without irriga-
ton. In the South, where the
grass remains green all winter, it is
said to be particularly we'll adapted
for grazing. 1t yields from one to
three tons of hay per acre. 1t adapts
itself easily to climatic conditions,
cut varies considerably, particularly
in size, on different soils.
If the governments agent has
found Hungarian bronze grass
growing spontaneously in Russia,
under conditions similar to those
prevailing on our own great plains,
, there may be considerable promise
for its successful cultivation in that
part of the United States.
| The question of its value in the
Great Basin region would still re-
, main unsolved. Two phases of
this question-namely, will Hun
. garian bronze grow herep and, in
that event, would it be valuable
forage plant?-may be very properly
: considered in connection with an
3 account of the bronze grasses grow
y ing spontaneously in Western
t Nevada. There are several of these
t grasses found within the Trucket
Q Valley, some of which grow withou
n irrigation and others seemingly de-
e pendent upon it.
8 Of the former the most promising
p is Bromus uniloides, perennial, il
II many respects resembling Hungar
q ian bronze. 1t grows in dry places
1t forming strong tufts, with ample
supply of leaves. The several
stalks of each plant stand two O.
2 three feet high. Its occurrenc,
If along railroad embankments, road
st sides, in brick-yards and similar
of situations indicates that while j
i will grow and thrive without irriga
le ton, certain amount of surfac
ID cultivation is necessary for its estab
le lishment.
e. An annual species, Bromus maxi
e. mus, has for several years densel
at clothed dry hillside west of Reno
l. each year re~seeding and gradual
n spreading. This year it has occurl
1e ed on irrigated ground at the I'm
Id versity, indicating that it may b
IN come a troublesome weed. L
character, habit of growth, and ii
fact that it ripens early in JUNE
'n rather preclude its being valuabl
IN as forage plant.
ID The closely related chess or chea
OF is becoming common in our me-
10 dows and seems as we'll adapted
We Nevada's climate as to other par
III of the world where its weedy natul
s. is only too we'll known. Thus it
III evident that some, at least, of Il
IT, bronze grasses will grow here spol
= taneously, one of those so GROWN
ay being very similar to the Hungaris
as bronze, fact favorable to the latt
lbs respecting its possibilities. OF Il
"a value of Hungarian bronze her
ne should our soils and climate pro
oi adapted to its growth, nothing POI
a' tive can be safely stated; 1t m
Ia be said, however, that as a class t
~ bronze grasses have not contribut
III materially to the list of valued ag
'ns cultural grasses. Hungarian brol
W and even our own Bromus unfold
~ ~ might prove exceptions, howevt
!. iio and give valuable returns upon G
inc Fermentation. F. II. HILLMAN,
'Pe Agr'l Exp. Station, Dept Bota
ay' and Entomology.
my
aoe P. L. Flanagan will receive 81
50 900 for mutton and wool this We