156 



Agricultural Section 



[PT II 



thus used in moderation it in no way prevents the proper develop- 

 ment of the more permanent plants, but rather indirectly favours 

 their growth. 



A variety known as Westernwolths Grass (L. woldicum) 

 originating from Holland is now being grown in this country. It 

 differs from ordinary Italian Rye-grass in its strictly annual growth. 

 When sown in the spring on good land and liberally dressed with 

 soluble artificial manures heavy crops may be cut the same year. 

 It is also useful for renovating patchy clover leys. Its seed is 

 indistinguishable from that of Italian Rye-grass, though it fre- 

 quently contains distinctive impurities. 



Fig. 170. Prunella vulgaris, L. 

 (Self-heal.) Two views. 



Fig. 171. Myosotis 

 arvensis, Hofif. 

 (Common For- 

 get-me-not.) 

 Each x 10. 



Fig. 172. Sherar- 

 dia arvensis, L. 

 (Field Madder.) 



Commercial Seed. 



Italian Rye-grass seed is obtained mainly from France and the 

 north of Ireland. French seed as imported almost always con- 

 tains many weed seeds, and unless thoroughly re-cleaned is there- 

 fore unfit for sowing. It usually possesses a higher germination 

 energy than Irish seed, and has also been supposed to produce 

 plants which mature earlier. There is probably however little to 

 choose between the resulting plants as regards earliness or pro- 

 ductiveness. Like perennial rye-grass the seed is graded accord- 

 ing to its bushel weight, and the usual grades offered on the 

 market weigh 16, 18. 20, and 22 or 23 pounds per bushel. 



Seed of the last-mentioned weight is quite free from chaff, 

 while 16-pound seed will contain from 15 to 20 per cent. 



The impurities to be looked for are the same as those mentioned 

 under perennial Rye-grass. In French seed the following also 



