The Lamar register., 1905-03-08
A GREAT CROP FOR COLORADO

The introduction OF besrdless (also
called smooth, Hungarian, and awnless)
brome-grsss into the srid and semi
arid regions OF the west has given the
people of those states pasture and
meadow grass of great promise. 1t
has already been proved that it will
succeed under conditions that prove
fatal to timothy, orchard grass or al
ialfa. The area p anted is constantly
increasing, and the demand promises
to be greater this spring than ever
before. The experiment stations OF
Colorado, Minnesota, Manitoba, North
and South Dakota and the different
grass stations of the agricultural de-
partment, Washington, d. C., have
conducted extensive experiments, and
all speak OF it in the highest terms.
Smooth brome-grass is native OF
Europe and Asia, ranging from France
eastward into Siberia, growing along
roadsides, river banks, borders OF fields
and woods, and upon sterile hillsides
and pastures. 1t is vigorous, hardy
perennial with strong, creeping root
stocks, smooth, upright, leafy stems
one to four feet high, and loose, open
paniclss or ''seed heads four to eight
inches long. In few years it forms
very tough sod, soon crowding out
other grasses, clover and weeds. Its
remarkable edrought-resisting qualities
have proved it to be the most valuable
grass for dry regions where other
grasses could hardly exist.
As it is thoroughly permanent and
grows with wonderful raidity, produc-
ing heavy crops aud luxurient pasture,
its value to farmers Of the dry regions
cannot be over-estimated. All kinds
Of stock eat 1t with relish, and the
chemical analyses made showed that it
is rich in hesh-forming ingredients
much more SO than timothy. 1t is very
hardy and not injured by severe sp, ing
and fall frosts when it is once estab-
lished.
As 1t starts to grow very early in
the spring, before any Of the grasses
upon the native prairies show any signs
OF life, and remains green and .ucculent
far into November, it will supply the
loog-felt want Of early spring and late
fall pastures.
The yield Of hay from smooth bronze
grass varies from one to four and half
tons per acre according to climatic
conditions, method OF seeding and fer
tility OF soil. The quality of the hay
10 excellent, fully equaling that Of tim
othy In palatibility and nutritive quail
ties. In order to obtain the best pro-
duct, the hay should be cut st time OF
full bloom. One important feature
which disting uishes smooth bronze
grass from other hay grasses Is that it
does not deteriorate rapidly after the
towering period, and even If cut when
the seeds are ripe the hay will have
lost but little Of its nutritive qualities,
owing to the fact that after the seed
bearing stem has grown up, q large
number Of leafy shoots spring up from
the base. After furnishing three or
four crops OF hay the sod thickens up
too much for y good growth Of stems.
This thickeuing occurs sooner II the
grass is allowed to ripen seed than it
does when it il cut for hay, or II it has
been seeded heavily at fret.
Smooth brome-grass 10 essentially
an early spring and late fall pasture
grass. After the hay crop has been
taken off heavy growth of aftermath,
or second growth springs up. 1t seems
to be especially adapted for permanent
pastures After it has produced sever
al crops OF hay it forms a very compact
sod and heavy growth OF leaves.
II one desires to use it for pasture at
once 1t Will be better to seed it thickly
at the rate OF about twenty-five pounds
per acre.
Smooth brome-grass will Withstand
extreme changes in temperature with
out injury. Its ability to produce good
pasture during long periods Of drought
far exceeds that of any other cultivated
variety. In Canada, where it has been
exposed to . temperature of several
degrees below zero and not covered
by snow, it was entirely uniniured.
Out OF seven or eight hundred varieties
tried At the Kansas experiment station
this proved to be the best. Without
doubt it is the grass for the semi-arid
regions OF the west. From the reports
received it is evident that it is very
little influenced by the changes Of
climate.
| The land should DO fall plowsd,
disked and narrowed thoroughly, and
the seed sown in the spring in this
locality. Sow broadcast at the rate
Of Is to 20 pounds per acre and harrow
thoroughly.
| (For further information see United
States department agricultural bulletin
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