AGRICULTURAL BOTANY. 277 



I have in some instances used this grass for hay ; but my principal objection to it is the 

 difficulty with which it is cured for mowing away or stacking, as the case may be. 



It should be added, that the soil best adapted for this grass is a rich clayey loam resting 

 on limestone. On thin soils, especially on hard-pan clays, it will not thrive. — Eds. Ohio Cult. 



Italian Rye Grass. — At a late meeting of the London or Central Farmers' Club, the subject 

 of discussion was " The Cultivation of Italian Rye Grass." From the report of the remarks 

 made on this subject we select the following items of information, as those most likely to 

 prove of some value or interest to American farmers : — 



Italian rye grass has been known to British agriculture for neax'ly a quarter of a century, 

 the first importation of seed having taken place in 1831, or twenty-four years ago. In that 

 year, one hundred and seventy bushels of it were shipped from Hamburg, and sold in Eng- 

 land at two guineas ($10) per bushel. The imports have increased year by year, reaching 

 to about thirty-five thousand bushels in 1854, by one firm, and the price is now about $1.50 

 per bushel. Other traders have also imported largely, and thus it appears certain that 

 the cultivation of this grass is increasing very rapidly. A seedsman, who sold only 

 twenty-five bushels in 1840, sold this last year seven hundred bushels. The use of the 

 seed is not now confined to a few of the more enterprising cultivators: "it is general, 

 and everybody sows it." The plant has fully established its claims in the opinion of all 

 who have tried it. 



Italian rye grass prefers the adhesive class of soils — loams and clays ; but it does well 

 even on sandy soils. When sown by itself, from three to four bushels of seed are used to an 

 acre ; when sown with a mixture of permanent grass, eight or ten pounds per acre is an 

 ample share. Italian rye grass and Alsike clover make together a very heavy crop. The 

 seed imported from Lombardy is better than that of British growth. Any one proposing to 

 try it, should use every precaution to secure the best seed. Those who water this plant in- 

 dustriously, usually get three good cuttings in a year. It gives early spring feed, and lasts 

 till quite late in autumn. As watering seems so essential to the growth of this variety of 

 grass, it might be tried in this country with most hope of success on meadows or lands 

 which could be flooded, by damming up the ditches or otherwise after each cutting. 

 Taking the testimony of those who have not used liquid manures, it seems indisputable 

 that this description of grass is admirably adapted for dairy purposes and for growing 

 stock of every kind. For hay, it is not unusual to sow it with red clover. — New York 

 Country Gentleman. 



The above is one authority respecting the value of this grass. Other agricultural journals 

 express very different opinions ; and by some the Italian rye grass is described as exceed- 

 ingly injurious to grass-lands. 



The late Judge Buel, in treating of the several varieties of this kind of grass, thus writes — 

 " The Italian variety gives the largest produce, and were it hardy enough to withstand the 

 cold of our winters, would no doubt become a valuable acquisition to our husbandry." 



It is, we believe, generally agreed that thus far in the United States the attempt to culti- 

 vate this species of grass has been attended with indifferent success. Much of this may per- 

 haps be attributed to errors in treatment. Its reputation in England is extensive and well- 

 established, and the best seed may be imported into this country for less than $2 per 

 bushel. — Editor of Year-Book. 



"The only person," says the "American Agriculturalist," "we are acquainted with who 

 has grown the rye grass in the United States, and has expressed his approbation of it, is Mr. 

 Alsop, of Middletown, Connecticut. From all we can hear of it, however, it is little supe- 

 rior, for early spring pasture, to the common rye of America, or beardless wheat. 



"Ray grass is entirely distinct from rye grass. The former is a perennial, comes forward 

 early in the spring, grows rapidly till July, and yields an abundant aftermath. It requires 

 a rich soil and deep tilth. North of forty degrees of latitude, it should be sown in the spring, 

 and like any other grass-seed. It may occupy the ground entirely alone, or be sown with 

 other grass-seeds or clover. If sown alone, it requires two bushels of seed per acre ; but 

 to get a first-rate stand and thickly cover the ground, three bushels would be better. The 

 cost in New York is $3 per bushel for pure, well cleaned imported seed. 



