OTHER GRASSES OF SECONDARY IMPORTANCE 215 



The seed is recleaned and graded according to weight 

 and size. The small seeds are sold as short-seeded rye- 

 grass, and sometimes as Pacey's rye-grass. 



ITALIAN RYE-GRASS 



249. Characteristics. Italian rye-grass (Lolium multi- 

 florum) is readily distinguished from perennial rye-grass 

 by the lemma being awned, except in one variety, but in 

 all forms the young leaves are convolute, not folded as 

 in perennial rye-grass. Agriculturally it is distinguished 

 by its short life, seldom over two years, unless heavily 

 manured, its very rapid growth and prompt recovery 

 after cutting. 



250. Botany. Italian rye-grass is native in the region 

 about the Mediterranean; namely, southern Europe, 

 northern Africa and Asia Minor. Varieties have been 

 distinguished by the awns ; namely, longiaristatum, the 

 ordinary long-awiied form; submuticum, with the oc- 

 casional awns short ; and muticum, which is awnless. 



On the length of life are differentiated Gaudini, the 

 annual forms, and perennans, which lives 3-4 years. 

 Stebler and Volkart state that the former includes a 

 summer annual form, to which belongs Argentine rye- 

 grass ; a winter annual form, which includes RieffeFs 

 rye-grass, cultivated in Brittany ; and Bailly's rye-grass, 

 which differs only in being awnless. The forms which 

 endure more than one year are Westernwolth rye-grass, 

 which blooms the first season if spring sown, and ordinary 

 Italian rye-grass, which does not bloom the first season. 



251. Agricultural history. Italian rye-grass seems to 

 have been first cultivated in northern Italy. It was 

 known in Switzerland in 1820 and in France in 1818. 

 It was introduced into England in 1831. In France and 



