160 PERENNIAL RYE OR RAY-GRASS, DARNEL. 



Bome of the main reasons why rye -grass has been so popular. 



Rye- grass was one of the first if not tlie first grass ever culti- 

 vated in Great Britain, as long ago as 1077, nearly 100 years 

 before the cultivation of Timothy or orchard grass. 



Owing to this long cultivation, lender varying conditions of 

 soil and climate, as we should expect, the grass has broken up into 

 many varieties, which are more or less permanent and well 

 marked. 



As early as 1823, one experimenter pointed out sixty varieties. 

 A few of these became permanent enough to reproduce them- 

 selves quite true from seed. Soon after this, a few of these races 

 of rye-grass became quite noted under various names, such as 

 '"Pacey's," "Russell's," " WhitAvorth's," "Dixon's," and 

 now several English seedsmen claim extra varieties and name 

 them after some member of their firm. 



Mr. Lawes writes : " It stands at the head of the list as to 

 the quantity in culm. It is obviotisly a plant of relatively weak 

 Ir.ibit. It did not flourish where ammonia-salts were used, but 

 Avliere nitrogen was supplied as nitrate of soda, it Avas much more 

 able to maintain some, though still a rather Ioav position in the 

 struggle." 



Only 25 to 30 pounds of seed are required to sow an acre. This 

 grass is often recommended for a laAvn, but OAving to its sliort 

 life in most places, it is by no means adapted for that purpose. 



Rye-grass has been quite extensively tested in various portions 

 of the older States. It is emphatically a lover of rich land and 

 a moist climate^ Avithout very great heat. In many portions of 

 the interior of our country, subject to great extremes, this grass 

 has not proved of much value. It is not Avell suited to the 

 Southern States, especially the dryest portions. Further remarks 

 concerning this grass may be found on a later page of this 

 volume. 



