IRRIGATION. 163 



per day. If it were all saved, it would amount to about three 

 and one half gallons. 



Mr. Dickenson has a farm about five miles from his home in 

 London, to which all his liquid manure is carried, and there dis 

 tributed upon his growing crops, from such a cart as is usually 

 employed for watering the streets of cities. When taken out 

 there, it is mixed, before application, in the proportion of one part 

 of urine to two of water ; and the proportion to an acre is esti 

 mated at 1100 gallons of urine to 2200 of water ; and this is ap 

 plied as often as and soon after the grass is cut. 



The plant which he cultivates on this land is the Italian rye 

 grass, (lolium Italicum,) which he sows, in the autumn, say in 

 September or October, formerly at the rate of four bushels per 

 acre, but now, by an improved drill machine, at the rate of two 

 bushels per acre ; and upon looking at the two sowings, the one 

 of four bushels per acre, the other of two bushels, the plants 

 upon the latter sowing appeared to me more even and thick 

 than where four bushels were sown in the usual way. 



Mr. Dickenson thinks he has obtained, almost by mere acci 

 dent, a very superior species of this valuable grass ; and upon 

 comparing various specimens, which he had under cultivation, 

 and learning his own experience in the case, there seemed good 

 reason for the belief. 



&quot; The Italian rye grass,&quot; says Mr. Lawson, &quot;compared with 

 any of the varieties of common rye grass, affords a stronger braird, 

 arrives sooner at maturity, 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 upon the ground ; its spikes are longer ; spikelets more 

 thickly set ; and, upon the whole, producing a less bulk of seed, 

 which is smaller, has the awn adhering to it, and is generally 

 little more than half the weight per bushel of that of common 

 perennial rye grass (lolium pcre?me) when grown under similar 

 circumstances.&quot; It is added, &quot;If it be sown with clover, or 

 lucern, its growth is so rapid that it will quickly choke them. 

 It is eaten greedily by cattle, whether green or dry, and yields 

 fifty per cent, of hay. After the field is harrowed, it is sown 

 at the rate of from 16 to 18 pounds per acre, and the seed 

 rolled in.&quot; 



&quot; The Italian rye grass will be valuable as an early grass ; it 



