102 



THE FORAGE AND FIBER CROPS IN AMERICA 



odor and bitter taste. It is adapted to dry pastures, and it is said that in 

 England in those pastures where this grass is abundant, the finest mutton is 

 produced. There seems to be plenty of evidence that cattle and even sheep 

 are not fond of it. It has been widely tested by the experiment stations 

 and is probably of little, if any, value. The seed is principally gathered in 

 central Germany from wild plants growing in the woods. There are 924,000 

 seeds to the pound. The germinating power is low 30 per cent, or less and 

 30 pounds of such seed would be required to seed an acre. 



109. PERENNIAL RYE GRASS (Lolium perenne L.) and Italian rye grass 

 (L. italicum A. Br.) are not properly included under perennial forage grasses, 

 since neither is 

 strictly peren- 

 nial. Both 

 species are in- 

 travaginal and 

 tufted, and 

 have rather 

 limited power 



of vegetative reproduction. The duration varies with 

 conditions; but, as a rule, Italian rye grass lasts only 

 two years and sometimes only one year, while perennial 

 rye grass lasts two or more years. The most marked 

 botanical distinction between the two species is that the 

 flowering glume in Italian rye grass bears an awn, while 

 perennial rye grass is awnless. "Compared with any 

 varieties of common rye grass, the L. italicum 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 on the ground; 

 its spikes are longer; spikelets more thinly set, and, upon 

 the whole, producing a less bulk of seed, which is smaller; 

 has the awn adhering to it, and it generally about two- 

 thirds the weight per bushel of that of common peren- 

 nial rye grass, when grown under similar circumstances." 1 

 Italian rye grass grows somewhat taller (one and a half 

 to three feet) than perennial rye grass (one to two feet) Perennial 

 and is characterized by its very rapid growth. It is ex- 

 tensively used for meadows in England, and is especially 

 adapted to rich, moist soils and to sewage irrigation. 

 Perennial rye grass is grown both for hay and for grazing, 

 but is perhaps best adapted to pastures of short duration. 



Both_ species produce seed abundantly, and the seed is therefore cheap. 

 Germination in commercial seed is about 75 per cent. The size of seeds is 



1 The Lawson Seed and Nursery Company: Agrostographia, p. 29. 



rye grass 

 taken at Cornell Sta- 

 tion June 1 6. Spike 

 in bloom. One-third 

 natural size. 



