Grasses and Sorghums 



171 



where timothy fails. As a pasture grass it ranks next to 

 the blue-grasses. 



Orchard-grass. The plants of orchard-grass (Fig. 66) grow 

 well in the shade and, because of this, are often sown in orchards. 

 They grow in bunches and make an uneven sod. 

 The grass does well in the southern part of the 

 timothy section and is also grown successfully 

 about three hundred miles farther south. West 

 Virginia, Virginia, Kentucky, Missouri produce 

 most of the crop. It will grow on most kinds 

 of soil and will endure wet ground, but makes 

 its best growth on well drained, fertile land. 

 As a hay plant it is much less desirable than 

 timothy and its culture becomes really impor- 

 tant only outside of the timothy region. As a 

 pasture grass it ranks with timothy; live-stock 

 eat it readily and it starts 

 growth early in the spring 

 and continues late in the 

 fall. 



Rye-grasses. The rye- 

 grasses are cultivated extensively in 

 Europe, but not much in America. There 

 are two kinds, the Italian and the Eng- 

 lish, or perennial. Italian rye-grass (Fig. 

 67) is a short-lived perennial; often it 

 lasts only one year. In the Pacific Coast 

 States it is sometimes grown in meadows 

 and has been recommended for the South 

 as a soiling crop. English rye-grass is 

 adapted to both pastures and meadows 

 and is one of the chief grasses of Europe. 

 It is a perennial that grows best on moist, fertile soils. It 

 makes a good quality of hay and is grown to a limited extent 

 in the Pacific Coast States. 



FIG. 66. Or- 

 chard-grass. 



FIG. 67. Italian rye- 

 grass. 



