164 EUROPEAN AGRICULTURE. 



retains its powers of growth to a late period in the season. A 

 patch of it, which had flowered and ripened its seeds, was cut 

 over in the first week in November ; and, notwithstanding the 

 frosts we have since had, occasionally pretty severe for the sea 

 son of the year. [This is at Hamburgh. H. C.] at which period 

 vegetation is nearly dormant, these plants have put forth new 

 leaves, which at present (24th December) have attained the 

 length of above a foot, showing a superiority to any other grass 

 in producing herbage. This grass, too, is found to be more 

 hardy than the common rye grass j for in the vicinity of Ham 

 burgh, the common rye grass will not stand the winters when 

 very severe ; whereas the Italian rye grass withstands the sever 

 ities of winter even when sown in September, and, consequently, 

 the plants are young and tender when the frosts prevail.&quot; 



Lord Hatherton sows annually, at Teddesley, about one hun 

 dred acres of rye grass. His letter to me states &quot; that common 

 rye grass is always sown with clover, about one peck of rye 

 grass seed to the acre. Italian rye grass is generally sown alone, 

 three bushels to the acre, and may be mown three times.&quot; 



At Mr. Littledale s, Birkenhead, near Liverpool, I saw the 

 Italian rye grass in a state of great luxuriance, the second years 

 growth j but it had been irrigated from the stable. Mr. Dicken- 

 son says to me, &quot; I should continue the field two years under 

 grass, and then plough up for grain ; but the plant will continue 

 stronger or weaker according to the treatment, and whether you 

 take seed or not. The grower must judge a little for himself. 

 The grass is excellent food for working horses, and makes an 

 abundance of milk from cows. Ewes and lambs do better upon 

 it than upon any tiling I have ever given them.&quot; 



The soil of Mr. Dickenson is a stiff clay, with which he mixes 

 the rubbish gathered from the removal of old buildings in Lon 

 don, and consisting of sand and lime. In 1844, he mowed his 

 rye grass ten times 



First in March, with about ten inches of grass ; 



April 13, a second time ; 



May 4, a third time ; 



May 25, a fourth time ; 



June 14, a fifth time ; 



July 22, a sixth time ; with ripe seed and 

 three loads of hay straw to the acre. 



