AGRICULTURAL GRASSES 59 



suitable soil and the natural requirements of the plant are met, 

 it will prove to be perpetual. 



Perennial Rye Grass was in this country first sown in 

 the Chiltern parts of Oxfordshire, and is still of great service 

 in some portions of that district on cold sour clays, and on 

 light stony land so deficient in hme that it will not grow 

 Sainfoin. 



The eminent Swiss botanist, Dr. F. G. Stebler, describes 

 it as ' one of the most valuable plants in our meadows. For 

 pasture on clay soils it cannot be replaced by any other plant, 

 and therefore it is largely used in mixtures for forming pasture 

 gi-ass of best quality. In the North of Germany there are 

 even experienced gi'owers who sow only Rye Grass with a 

 little White Clover. The duration of this plant varies much 

 according to soil and climate.' I have put the last sentence in 

 italics, because in this remark Dr. Stebler has accurately 

 indicated the origin of the diversity of opinion which prevails 

 concerning the duration of this grass. While Rye Grass is 

 indigenous and perennial in many districts, it will stand for 

 only a limited time under adverse conditions of soil and 

 cHmate. On a burning sand or thin gravel it is never 

 permanent, but it answers on a gravelly clay, is at home on all 

 loams, and revels in tenacious land. Even pure clay is not too 

 stiff for it. The poorer and drier the soil, the shorter will be 

 its duration. On the contrary, the richer and more moist the 

 land, always supposing the drainage to be good, the greater 

 the certainty that Rye Grass will be permanent. The plant 

 responds quickly to irrigation, either of pure water or of 

 liquid manure, but stagnant water soon kills it. The natural 

 habit points to the secret of successful treatment. The 

 roots are maintained by the surface soil, and as poor land 

 speedily becomes exhausted by the free growtli, of necessity 

 the plant dies. 



Pastures which are stimulated by the droppings of cake- 

 fed cattle, or which are di-essed at proper intervals with 



