216 FORAGE PLANTS AND THEIR CULTURE 



England especially, it is largely cultivated and furnishes 

 the largest proportion of the market hay. Elsewhere in 

 Europe it has not become of much importance. 



252. Adaptations. This rye-grass is primarily adapted 

 to moist regions with mild winter temperatures. It 

 succeeds well in most of western and southern Europe, 

 Argentina and New Zealand. In North America the 

 best results have been secured in the Atlantic States, 

 practically in the same area as that adapted to crimson 

 clover, and on the Pacific Coast. When seeded in fall it 

 is not injured by a temperature of 10 Fahrenheit and 

 probably will withstand more severe cold. 



It prefers loam or sandy loam soils, but does fairly well 

 on clay loams. It does not endure standing water, but 

 on well-drained land is well adapted to irrigation 

 farming. 



253. Culture. Italian rye-grass is mostly sown alone 

 at the rate of 35-40 pounds to the acre. It may be sown 

 either in fall or in spring, with or without a nurse crop. 

 In the south Atlantic States and' on the Pacific Coast, fall 

 seeding gives the most satisfactory results. The grass is 

 not well adapted to sowing in permanent meadows, as it 

 disappears after the second year, and sometimes after 

 the first. Furthermore, the rye-grass by its rapid early 

 growth injures the other grasses so that in some experi- 

 ments it has actually reduced the yield. 



In Europe it is sometimes mixed with crimson clover, 

 which requires much the same conditions, and the two 

 are ready to cut for hay at the same time. A test of this 

 mixture at the Delaware Experiment Station gave a good 

 yield, and enough of the seed of the Italian rye-grass 

 shattered to produce a volunteer crop. 



254. Irrigation. Italian rye-grass succeeds well under 



