CHAPTEEXIII. 



THE RYE GRASSES. 



Of the rye grasses but three would seem deserving 

 of the attention of those who till the lands of the United 

 -States and Canada. They are considered in the present 

 chapter ; these are Western Rye grass (Agropyrum ten- 

 erum), Perennial Rye grass (Lolium perenne) and Ital- 

 ian Rye grass (Lolium Italicum.) 



Western Rye grass, native to the prairies of the 

 American and Canadian Northwest, is possessed of con- 

 siderable merit and is likely to be extensively cultivated 

 in northern areas. Perennial and Italian Rye grasses 

 have long been high in favor with the agriculturists of 

 Europe. They have not been assigned an equally im- 

 portant place under American conditions but have suf- 

 ficient adaptation to certain of these conditions to merit 

 attention; 



WESTERN" RYE GRASS. 



Western Rye grass (Agropyrum ienerum) is some- 

 times called Slender Wheat grass: The term Rye grass 

 has doubtless been applied to it from the somewhat close 

 resemblance which it bears to that plant. Although 

 of the same family as quack grass, it does not send out 

 underground stems like the latter. The name Slender 

 Wheat grass has doubtless been applied to it because of 



