88 FODDER AND PASTURE PLANTS. 



Quality of seed: The colour is light brown, rather similar to 

 that of Meadow Fescue. It is, however, not as dull as the seed of 

 the latter and has a silvery lustre. The seeds are blunter and flatter 

 and always destitute of awns. 



The weight varies, the best seed ranging from twenty-five to 

 thirty- five pounds a bushel, poor seed sometimes not exceeding 

 fifteen pounds. 



ITALIAN RYE GRASS (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) 



Plate 14B. 



Botanical description : Italian Rye is perennial and very similar 

 to Perennial Rye Grass in general appearance. The tufts are alike, 

 but the branches of the Italian Rye rootstock are generally shorter 

 and the whole plant forms a denser tuft. The stems on an average 

 are higher and more delicate than those of Perennial Rye, from which 

 they also differ in being decidedly rough to the hand when rubbed 

 upwards below the inflorescence. When the plants are young they 

 can be distinguished from those of Perennial Rye Grass by the leaves 

 being rolled together when in bud. When fully developed, the 

 leaves are comparatively broad, soft in texture and bright green. 

 The inflorescence has the same general appearance as that of Peren- 

 nial Rye but differs in some important points. Thus a spikelet 

 contains a greater number of flowers, generally from ten to thirty. 

 W 7 hen the spike is developed, the grass can be easily distinguished 

 from Perennial Rye by the flowers. These are enclosed within two 

 glumes like those of Perennial Rye, but the outer glume carries a 

 long awn at its top. Some varieties, however, are awnless and may 

 be distinguished by their rolled young leaves and upwardly rough 

 stems. 



Geographical distribution: Italian Rye Grass is indigenous 

 to western and southern Europe, northern Africa and Asia Minor. 

 It has been sparingly introduced into North America and is found 

 in only a few places in Canada. 



Habitat: It grows naturally in meadows, along ditches and 

 roads, in gardens, openings in woods, etc. 



Cultural conditions: Italian Rye Grass is productive on soil 

 rich in humus, sandy and calcareous loams, and on marls with enough 



