Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1902-12-04
NATIVE GRASSES.
SOMETHING ABOUT THE WONDER
FULLY NUTRIMVE GRASSES OF
THE DAKOTAS.

Stock raising was one of the first
peaceful industries engaged in by the
human race. and today in the leading
rations of the world this industry sur
passes all others in Importance. The
great grazing regions of the world are
parts of Russia, South America, Aus
tralia and the great plains and noun
t-in slopes CT the United States; these
countries furnish the worlds great
PASTURE lands and the bulk of the
worlds beef. The cattle, horses and
sheep of the United States number
over 100, 900. valued at $1,S29, 000,-l
$50. The enormous capital these rep
resent is absolutely dependent upon
the greatest of all our natural rel
sources, our grasses and forage plants.
These annually sustain Industries
valued at nearly S2,OOO,0O0,OOO, indus
tries upon which the very existence of
the human race is dependent. Of the
great range country of the northwest
the two Dakotas form a most import
ant part, and one who is not thorough
ly familiar with the live stock indus
try in those states cannot appreciate
the value of the enormous quantity of
native grasses that owe the prairies
of these states, grasses that for fat pro-
ducing qualities are unsurpassed any
where in the world.
The total number of different species
of grasses known to botanists is more
than three thousand; these, as every
one knows vary according to the soil
and climate as they do also in differ
ent attitudes and ATTITUDES. In the
Dakotas there are about seventy spe-
cies: this number, however. is small
compared to the number found grow
ing in some of the eastern states, but
in no section of the country are there
to be found a greater number of nutri-
tious grasses than in the Dakotas. The
prairie hay crop of these states lis a
voluntary contribution of wealth by
nature almost equaling in value that
of the cultivated farm products.
There never has been in the history
Of these two states a complete disap-
pointment OF the annual profits to the
farmer and stock grower derived from
| this crop, although the growth may be
much heavier some seasons than
others.
The most valuable grasses for graz
ing purposes to be found in this part
OF the state are what are most COM
monty known as buffalo, wheat, blue
stem, and bunch grass.
The ranchman throughout the range
country of the northwest apply the
term "bunch grass to a variety OF
grasses characterized by their habit Of
"gramma" in the southwest. The
wheat grasses include a number of
these so4called bunch grasses, the chief
OF which is the wire bunch grass,
which is especially abundant in billy
sections. The wheat grasses. some
times called alkali grass, is the par
ticular species most sought for hay.
L attains usually a height of ten to
twenty inches and is a solid stem grass
that cures perfectly, making excellent
winter feed.
The best known and most abundant
of all the grasses that grow on the
great northwestern range are the buff
falo grass (bulbilis dactyloides) and
wheat grass (agropyron divergens).
The climatic conditions of the north
western range seem to be most favor
able toward the production of these
two grasses, which cur naturally upon
the ground and are just as nutritious
IL January as in June. The prairies
of the two Dakotas are covered with a
~luxuriant growth of these grasses,
which are equal for grazing and hay TO
the tame varieties of the east.
AS before stated, these grasses will
cure to hay upon the ground, and stock
will fatten upon the p~rairfes almost
as rapidly as they do in the east feed
On grain. The grass will retain its
richness throughout the year-even
We're it uncut, and. it may be. added,
that in many parts of the two Dakotas
stock is kept through the winter solely
by pastuTing ON the plains.
Fsrmers in northern Illinois have
been heavy buyers Of Dakota baled hay
during the past year or two, and a
great deal of surprise has been occa-
stoned by the yoracity displayed by
the stock in consuming this product.
It is said that cattle will leave clover
and tame hay for it, and If an UNI
opened bale was thrown out where The
cows could get at it they would leave
the loose hay and try to tear open the
bale. As animals instinctively select
be most nutritiye foods when they