154 Agricultural Section [PT n 



Even on soils upon which it will not persist it is worth while 

 including a fair proportion of seed. Its rapid covering of the 

 ground prevents the invasion of weeds, and gives profitable returns 

 during the first year or two, after which its gradual disappearance 

 makes way for the spread of the more slowly maturing plants. 

 For temporary pastures, and leys of two or more years' duration 

 it is most suitable. It is on the whole more adapted for grazing 

 than meadow land, and withstands the treading of animals better 

 than most other plants. For ordinary lawns where extreme fine- 

 ness is not essential it answers well, especially if sown very thickly ; 

 but for this purpose it is always advisable to mix other finer 

 growing grasses with it. 



Commercial Seed. 



Perennial Rye-grass was the first grass seed gathered separately 

 for agricultural purposes, and it appears to have been sown in 

 England nearly 300 years ago. Rich moist soils, e.g. fen soils, 

 and fertile loams, are the most suitable for seed production. The 

 first cutting is usually made into hay, and the second crop re- 

 served for seed. The bulk of our seed is grown in the north-west 

 of Ireland ; smaller amounts are produced in the south of Scotland, 

 and in the Fen districts of England. After being cleaned by the 

 merchant it is generally graded according to its bushel weight. 

 The common grades are 20, 22, 24, 26, and 28 pounds weight 

 per bushel of seed. The heaviest grades are often sold under the 

 name of Pacey's Rye-grass. Sometimes the smaller heavy seeds are 

 taken out and sold as "Small Seeded Perennial," or as "dwarf" 

 perennial Rye-grass. These are however merely distinctive 

 trade terms and do not represent any essential difference of 

 variety. 



The proportion of chaff present varies of course with the bushel 

 weight. Seed weighing 28 pounds per bushel is practically free, 

 while 20-pound seed usually contains about 10 to 15 per cent, of 

 chaff, the other grades having intermediate amounts. 



The common weed impurities are Holcus sps., Bromus mollis, 

 Festuca Myurus, Ranunculus sps., and Plantago lanceolata. 

 Yorkshire Fog is often especially abundant when the bushel 

 weight is low. Seeds of Hard Fescue and Trifolium minus are 

 also common impurities (see Figs. 72, 99, 114, 155 and 166). 



