ITALIAN RYE GRASS. 83 



In 100 parts of the grass dried at 212° Fahr. 



Albuminous or flesh forming principles 10.10 



Fatter matters 3 27 



Heat producing principles, starch, sugar, gum, etc. . . 57.82 



Woody fibre 19 70 



Mineral matter or ash 9.05 



100.00 

 Compared with any of the varieties of common 

 ]ye grass, the Italian 'Rye Grass affords a stronger 

 braird, arrives at maturity sooner, has a greater 

 abundance of foliage, which is broader and of a 

 lighter or more lively green color, grows considerably 

 taller, is more upright or less inclined to spread on 

 the ground, its spikes as already stated are longer, 

 spikelets more thinly set, and upon the whole pro- 

 ducing a less bulk of seed which is smaller. In 

 France this grass is stated to be generally sown in 

 the autumn at the rate of 16 to 18 pounds per acre, 

 and the seed rolled in; that in the next autumn the 

 turf is covered like an old meadow, and the cro]3S 

 of the following year is more than double; its growth, 

 also, is so rapid, that if sown with clover or lucerne, 

 it will quickly choke them. It is also said to be of 

 such a hardy nature that when cut in November, it 

 has put forth fresh shoots of a foot in length in the 

 close of December, and it has been found to stand 

 the winter in the Korth of Europe. In quickness of 

 growth this grass has excelled all others of the 

 true grasses which I have sown this spring and, bids 

 fair to be a good crop notwithstanding the severe 

 droughts it has been subjected to. Italian Rye 

 grass is preferable to any of the other varieties for 

 soiling purposes, it gives an early, quick and suc- 

 cessive growth till late in the fall, it will stand any 



