152 



RYE OR RAY GRASS, DARNEL. 



There are here at least three species of the genus Lolivm. The Ital- 

 ian rye or ray grass {Loliwm Italicum), or at least a grass which answers 

 its description, is widely distributed. It occurs on the foothills 

 about the University buildings, and at many other places, down as 

 far as the bay shore. It does particularly well on low adobe, or clay 

 lands, that are very wet in winter. On the dry lands it makes but a 

 moderate growth, though even there it is a valuable addition to the 

 pasturage. On the low lands it tillers out wonderfully, particularly 

 if grazed or cut off before going to seed. It often grows to a hight of 

 two or three feet, with beautiful heads from six inches to a foot long. 

 The seeds are very numerous, and, when ripe, they seem to be very 

 rich food. Horses, cattle, and fowls are very fond of the grass and its 

 seeds. There is a large tract on each side of San Pablo Avenue, 

 where it is the prevailing grass. In some spots, that have not been 

 cultivated for several years, it has so completely taken possession 

 that it would do to cut for seed. Without other irrigation than that 

 of the rains of last winter, it has grown in places so as to be cut 

 twice for hay, and there is now fair feed. Though the winter rains 

 were very heavy, those of the spring have been so light as hardly to 

 affect vegetation. This would indicate that the grass would do well 

 on suitable soil, where irrigation in winter only is practicable. On 

 dry ground, where undisturbed, the seed is now ripe, and the stalks 

 brown. Where it was cut back, it is now, the latter part of July, as 

 green as in April. I have, as yet, no definite information as to the 

 introduction of this fine grass in this locality. One of our pioneer 

 farmers tells me that he first noticed it on the San Pablo road in 

 eighteen hundred and fifty-four, in front of land cultivated by a 

 Belgian. Perhaps this European brought the seed with him inten- 

 tionally, or by accident, in his packing boxes. The United States 

 Patent Office distributed the seeds of the Italian rye grass all over 

 the Union, more than twenty years ago, and we need not be surprised 

 to find it in any place that has been long settled. I have myself 

 observed it at Santa Cruz and Alviso, and Professor Hilgard reports 

 it as abundant about San Rafael. It so closely resembles what, on 

 this coast, is called "cheat," that many of our farmers have nob 

 noticed its advent in their midst. It is, however, a much finer and 

 better grass, and no one who has once had the differences between 

 the two pointed out should ever be cheated again. 



The grass is no novelty in Europe. It has been cultivated there 

 for a great while, probably for several centuries, and is a great favor- 

 ite. On the irrigated plains of Italy it gives immense returns. It is 

 largely used in soiling cattle. Perhaps it may yet prove a rival to 

 our favorite alfalfa on some soils. The reclaimed salt marshes seem 

 to be peculiarly suited to it. It is possible that the Italian rye grass 

 is to hold the place in our agriculture that timothy does in New 

 England. Mixed with alfalfa, it may prove a much better feed than 

 either alone. Will not some of our irrigators try a small piece of 

 alfalfa and Italian ryegrass mixed? It might keep off the hoove, 

 which so often attacks cattle feeding on alfalfa alone. In England 

 this is the favorite grass for irrigated lands, particularly where sew- 

 age is used. 



The New Zealand rye grass, of which Mr. Sneath spoke so favor- 

 ably at the last annual meeting of the California Dairyman's Society, 



