96 A MANUAL OF FARM GRASSES 



The rye grasses are more palatable than timothy or than 

 almost any of our cultivated grasses, but the yield is 

 not quite so good, and, at present, the seed is inferior in 

 quality and higher in price. Our seed comes chiefly 

 from Scotland and Ireland, and probably is not the best. 

 The demand here has not been sufficient to induce the 

 production of home grown seed. 



The rye grasses are of considerable importance in the 

 humid region of the Pacific Northwest where the climatic 

 conditions are more nearly like those of Europe. They 

 are used to a limited extent in the South for winter forage. 

 Another use to which they are well adapted is that for 

 lawns or public grounds and parks where a quick growth 

 is required to cover the new soil. Rye grass is much 

 used also as an ingredient in mixtures for lawns around 

 residences. It gives a quick covering but is rather too 

 coarse for use alone. As a lawn grass it is objectionable 

 because it has no rootstocks nor stolons and hence does 

 not form a compact sod; in a mixture, the bunches are 

 large and the color different from other species, hence 

 there is a lack of uniformity. 



There are two kinds of rye grass in use, perennial and 

 Italian, differing slightly botanically and agriculturally. 

 Both kinds are short-lived perennials, Italian rye grass 

 being practically an annual, and should be so treated 

 agriculturally. 



Over most of the region where the rye grasses are used, 

 they are sown in the fall. In the South a good growth of 

 winter pasture results. The seed weighs about 20 pounds 

 to the bushel and should be sown at the rate of 2 to 3 

 bushels per acre, or at a proportional rate, if used in a 

 mixture. 



