153 



is doubtless closely allied to, if not identical with, the Italian. His 

 directions for sowing it are so good, for this and other fine seeds, that 

 I take the liberty of copying them as they appeared in the Pacific 

 Rural Press. The items as to its yield will also be read with interest 

 by dairymen. 



HOW IT OUGHT TO BK PLANTED. 



The seed weighs about twenty pounds to the bushel and will give about one hundred seeds to 

 the superficial foot when sown twenty pounds per acre. This is, perhaps, sufficient, although I 

 have used thirty pounds. It should not be covered more than one-quarter of an inch deep, and 

 therein I have found my greatest difficulty, but I believe I have discovered a plan by which I 

 ■can seed it to a regular depth hereafter. I am building a light wooden roller four and a half 

 feet by nine feet, with a round steel wire rake in front of it. This rake can be regulated by a 

 spring attachment, and the teeth being only two inches apart, it will, I think, completely scarify 

 the surface and cover the seed to any depth I may desire, while the roller, following, will press 

 the covering firmly. 



I do not think frost will affect this grass as seriously as it does alfalfa in its first growth ; but 

 as we have but little frost in our section I cannot speak of it with certainty. I prefer putting in 

 the seed early, as the roots must be firmly set before the grass toughens and dries in summer, or 

 else stock may pull it up roots and all, in loose soil especially. 



Rye grass has been the leading grass in England for many years, and generally grown there 

 upon low and marshy lands. The "Encyclopedia Brittanica," under the head "of agriculture, 

 reports a cutting from a favored locality of eighty tons per acre per annum of grass (green 

 weight) when fortified with liquid manure and a plentiful supply of water. It was cut just as 

 the seed stems were pushing forward. 



I now have grass from ten to fourteen inches high, that was cut thirty days ago, and this 

 has been repeated all this summer. 



The Italian rye grass is said to be a biennial, that is, lasting but 

 two years, but unless cut very close it would probably resow itself, 

 so as to last for a long time. 



ENGLISH, OR PERENNIAL RYE GRASS. 



The second kind of rye grass, which I have found spreading in 

 this township, is the English or perennial (Lolium perenne). It is, in 

 turn, more delicate in its structure than the Italian, and is consider- 

 ably used for lawns. The stalks and leaves are finer, the spikelets 

 smaller and less numerous, and the heads more drooping than in 

 the Italian. From a limited acquaintance with it, I should say that 

 it would give less forage, though of a finer quality, than the Italian 

 rye grass. In seed it is decidedly inferior to the Italian. The latter 

 is very heavy when ripe, and horses are eager for it. 



The only piece of English rye grass that I have observed near here, 

 as left to shift for itself, was very roughly put in several years ago. 

 The rains were deficient that year, and the land is very foul with 

 weeds. In spite of these drawbacks and close pasturing it has sur- 

 vived, and adds very much to the carrying capacity of the land. A 

 specimen of this grass was lately sent to the editor of the Pacific 

 Rural Press from Mare Island, with the statement that it had spread 

 over considerable land there. 



POISON DARNEL, OR CHEAT (?). 



The third species of this genus, which I shall consider, is the 

 darnel proper of the English farmer (Lolium temulentum). It has a 

 variety of names, as bearded darnel, poison darnel, and wire grass, 

 and has borne, to say the least, a doubtful character. The farmers 

 of this coast have attached a new opprobrium to it by dubbing it 



20" 



