29 



in its aftermath it is the very lowest in the scale of cultivated grasses. 

 Compared with orchard grass its nutritive power is as five to eighteen; to 

 meadow foxtail, five to twelve; to meadow fescue, five to seventeen. 

 Nevertheless it is a useful grass in a mi.\ture and will furnish the earliest 

 of grazing. It possibly may be recommended for culture in Tennessee 

 only on the soils of the Unaka mountains and on the moist low clayey 

 lands adjoining the lake districts of West Tennessee. 



ITALIAN RYE GRASS— (Lo//»m JtaIicum.)—(SoiVing and Hay). 

 This is a sub-perennial grass and is esteemed among the very best of 

 the short-lived grasses. Its period of duration is two to three years. It 

 gives more abundant crops of a better quality than perennial rye grass. 

 It is characterized by Flint as being the "greatest glutton of all the 

 grasses;" will endure any amount of forcing by irrigation, by timely rains, 

 and by manuring. It will withstand a drought remarkably well, notwith- 



Ilalian Rye Grass- 



-Lolitim Italicum. 



4. Lateral spikelet, 



2. Spike. 3. Upper leaf, 

 with a portion of the rhachis. 5. Kiiipty glumes 

 of the terminal spikelet. 0. Floral glume. 



Standing its capacity for absorbing moisture from the earth. It has 

 within the past fifty years been introduced into America from Europe 

 where it is claimed to be more universally adapted to all kinds of climates 

 than any other domesticated grass. 



SOILS — Italian rye-grass reaches its highest perfection on moist, 

 rich, alluvial lands and calcareous loams where the soil is in good tilth. 

 It is not recommended for permanent pasture or meadow but owing to its 

 rapidity of development it is of the greatest value when an early crop of 

 forage is desired. With proper manuring it is said that it may be cut 

 within three to four weeks after seeding. A succession of crops may be 



