

in Extra-Tropical Countries. 203 



it grows to lat. 65 28' (Schuebeler). L. Italicum, Al. Br., the Italian 

 rye-grass, seems to be only a variety. One of the most important of 

 all pasture-grasses, also almost universally chosen for lawn-culture. 

 It produces an abundance of seeds, which are readily collected and 

 easily vegetate. It comes early to perfection. Nevertheless the pro- 

 duce and nutritive powers are considerably less than those of Dactylis 

 glomerata, Alopecurus pratensis and Festuca elatior, but it pushes 

 forward earlier than the last mentioned grass, while the ripening of 

 seeds is less defective than in Alopecurus. The chemical analysis, 

 made very early in spring, gave the following results: Albumen, 

 3-36; gluten, 4-88; starch, O51 ; gum, 1'80; sugar, 1-80 per cent. 

 (F. v. Mueller and L. Rummel). At the London Sewerage-Depot, 60 

 tons of rye-grass were obtained from one acre (Mclvor). Rye-grass, 

 though naturally living but a few years, maintains its ground well, 

 by the ease with which it disseminates itself spontaneously. Several 

 sorts, which can scarcely be called varieties, are under cultivation. 

 Rye-grass stands the dry heat of Australian summers well. It is 

 likely to spread gradually over the whole of the Australian continent, 

 and to play an important part in pasture, except the hottest desert- 

 tracts. Sheep should not be continually kept on rye-grass pasture, as 

 they may become subject to fits similar to those produced by L. 

 temulentum, possibly due to the grass getting ergotized or otherwise 

 diseased, as many observers assert. -It is one of the best grasses to 

 endure traffic on roads or paths, particularly on soil not altogether 

 light, and is also one of the few among important grasses, which can 

 be sown at any season in mild climes. The Italian rye-grass is pre- 

 ferably chosen as an early temporary shelter for tenderer but more 

 lasting pasture-grasses, also furnishing a good collateral return the 

 first season. Ordinary rye-grass can be cut several times in a 

 season. 



Lotus corniculatus, Li 



" Bird's-foot Trefoil." Europe, North-Africa, Northern and Middle 

 Asia, extra tropical Australia. Indigenous in Norway as far north 

 as lat. 69 58' (Schuebeler). A deep-rooting perennial herb, readily 

 growing on pasture-land, sandy links and heathy places. This plant 

 is well deserving cultivation on light inferior soil, on which it will 

 yield a greater bulk of herbage than any of the other cultivated 

 clovers; it is highly nutritious, and is eaten with avidity by cattle 

 and sheep. From the great depth, to which its roots penetrate, it is 

 not liable to be injured by drought. It well fills out vacant places 

 between higher fodder-herbs on meadows; it is always somewhat 

 saline and welcome among hay. L. tenuis (Kitaibel) is a valu- 

 able variety of the coasts. The nearly allied L. major (Scopoli) 

 yields a still greater amount of herbage ; it is particularly suited 

 for bushy and moist localities, and it attains its greatest luxuri- 

 ance on soils, which have some peat in their composition (Lawson). 

 In Australia Lotus corniculatus shows a decided predilection for wet 

 meadows. 



