The Glenwood post., 1905-04-22
VALUABLE TO
CATTLE RAlSERS
BedrdIeSS Br0me Grass pahtabIe
and Nutrifive, WithStaadS tx-
treme Temperatures and
Gives Large Yield

prOfltaDle crop Tor (OlOradO, especially
for these sections which are not, and
cannot be irrigated. Further informa-
tion may be obtained from bulletins
Nos. A. 1s, % and 25 issued by the
United States Agricultural Depart
ment. The article reads:
The introduction Of beardless (also
called smooth. Hungarian and avn
less) brome-grass into the arid region
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 con
ditions that prove fatal to timothy,
orchard grass or alfalfa. The area
planted is constantly increasing, and
the demand promises to be greater this
spring than ever before The expert
ment stations of Colorado, Minnesota,
Manitoba, North and South Dakota
and the different grass stations of the
Agricultural Department, Washing
ton, d. c., have conducted extensive
experiments, and all speak of it in the
highest terms.
Smooth bronze 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 ,teri lie
hillsides and pastures. 1t is a vigor
Gus, hardy perennial with strong,
creeping rootstocks, smooth, upright,
leafy stems one to four feet high, and
loose open panicles 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 drought,
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 rapidity,
producing heavy crops and luxuriant
pasture, its value to farmers of the
dry regions cannot be overestimated.
All kinds of stock eat it with relish,
and the chemical analysis made show
ed that it is rich in flesh producing
ingredients much more so than tim
othy 1t is very hardy and not iniur
ed by severe spring and fall frosts
when it is once established.
AS it 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
sncculent far into November, it will
supply the long-felt want of early
spring and late fall pastures.
1.-The yield of hay from smooth
bronze grass varies from one to four
and a half tons per acre, according to
climatic conditions, method of seeding
and fertility of soil. The quality of
the hay is excellent, fully equalling
that of timothy in palatability and
nutritive qualities. In order to obtain
the best product, the hay should be
cut at time of full bloom. One i'm
portant feature which distinguishes
smooth brone-gras 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, a large number Of leafy
shoots spring up from the base. Alter
furnishing three or four crops of hay
the sod thickens up too much for a
good growth of stems. This thicken
ing occurs sooner if the grass is al
lowed to ripen seed than it does when
It is cut for hay, or if it has been
! seeded heavily at first
Smooth bronze grass is 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 perma-
nent pasture. After it has produced
several crops of hay 1t forms very
compact sod and heavy growth of
leaves If one desires to use it for
pasture at once it will be better to
seed it thickly at the rate of about
twenty five pounds per acre.
''Smooth bronze grass will with
stand extreme changes in temperature
without injury. Its ability to produce
good pasture during long periods of
drought tar exceeds that of any other
cultivated variety. In Canada, where
it has been exposed to temperature
of several degree, below zero and not
covered by snow, 1t was entirely un-
injured. Out of 700 or 800 varieties
tried at the Kansas Experiment Sta.
tion, this proved to be the best.
Without doubt it is the grass for the
semi arid regions of the. West. From
the reports received 1t is evident that
it is very little influenced by the
changes of climate.