262 Select Plants for Industrial Culture and 



grows to lat. 65 28' [Schuebeler], and extends naturally to Shet- 

 land [Sir J. Hooker]. One of the most important of all pasture- 

 grasses, also almost universally chosen for lawn-culture. It pro- 

 duces an abundance of seeds, which are readily collected and 

 easily vegetate. It comes early to perfection, and shoots quickly 

 again after it has been cut. Nevertheless the productive and nutri- 

 tive 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, 0'51 ; gum, 1*80; sugar, 1/80 per cent. 

 [F. v. Mueller and L. Hummel]. 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 

 fairly 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 

 be 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 ergotised 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 a mere variety, 

 but preferably chosen as an early temporary shelter for tenderer 

 but more lasting pasture-grasses, also furnishing a good collateral 

 retu-in the first season. It is also an excellent grass for irrigation, 

 especially on lighter soils. For permanent pastures the proportion 

 should not be too large, because through its vigor it may suppress 

 other grasses, but is apt to die out in two or three years. The 

 best crop is in the second year [Dr. Stebler]. Ordinary rye-grass 

 can be cut several times in a season. 



Lotus corniculatus, Linne. 



"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 in hay. 



