76 FARMER'S BOOK OF GrR ASSES 



quarter of the current century, it has never become very popu- 

 lar, although shown by the subjoined analyses of Way not to be 

 deficient in nutritive matter. . In 100 parts of the dried grass 

 cut in bloom were albuminoids 11.85, fatty matters 3.17, heat 

 producing principles 42.24, woody fibre 35.20, ash 7.54. The 

 more recent analysis of Wolff and Knop, allowing for water, 

 gives rather more nutritive matter than this. 



It grows rapidly and yields heavy crops of seed, makes good 

 grazing and good hay. But as with all the Rye grasses, to 

 make good hay it must be cut before passing the blossom stage, 

 as after that it deteriorates rapidly. The roots being short, it 

 does not bear drought well and exhausts the soil, dying out in a 

 few years. In these respects it is liable to the same objections as 

 timothy. The stem one to two feet high, has four to six pur- 

 plish joints and as many dark green leaves. The flexuous 

 spiked panicle bearing the distant spikelets, one in each bend. 



It should be sown in August or September, at the rate of 

 twenty-five or thirty pounds or one bushel seed per acre. 



2. L. ITALICTJM, Italian Rye Grass. 



This grass grows two or three feet high and has a broader 

 leaf than the preceding. The spikelets are arranged on the 

 main stem as in the preceding ; but differ in the florets having 

 slender awns, giving each spikelet the appearance of a small 

 brush. The leaves are very dark green with a metalic glint ; 

 and a field, well set with this grass undulating under wind and 

 sun, presents the most delightfully beautiful appearance I have 

 ever seen in the way of grasses and green fields. 



All the grass eating animals are very fond of it green or cured. 

 It is highly esteemed and cultivated in European countries and 

 is becoming better known in America. Like the preceding, it 

 is adapted to many latitudes, soils and conditions. Sown from 

 August to October, twenty or thirty pounds of seed per acre, it 

 affords good winter and spring pasture. But being an annual 

 it must be reseeded every year, unless seed are allowed to ma- 

 ture and fall. It may be mowed very early in the spring, some- 

 times in the winter as early as December, and from five to ten 

 times between April and November. 



On rich lands no other grass will probably bear so many 

 mowings, nor is any other better adapted to green soiling. It 

 is a ravenous feeder and thrives on the richest soils and many 

 applications per year of rich fertilizers. But the enormous 

 yield of delicious forage amply repays the expense of such feed- 

 ing, in the sleek coats and distended sides of the happy colts, 

 horses, sheep and cattle, the improved health of the animals, 

 the big pails brimming with rich delicious milk and the well- 

 filled tubs of beautiful, fine flavored butter. 



In the darying districts of Europe, where irrigation is em- 

 ployed, the quantity of forage afforded by this grass is simply 



