60 



HOW TO GROW GOOD GRASSES. 



has its florets arranged in front of a series of abortive 

 branches, as represented at a, enlarged. It has a 

 very slender stern, which is hard and wiry when ripe — ■ 

 a condition which it so universally attains, even in 

 spite of constant depasturing, that we never recom- 

 mend its use in mixtures for permanent pasture, as 

 its stems are particularly innutritious, and its herbage 

 is so small as to be of little value. It never prevails 

 much in our best pastures. 



Eye Grass, or Ray Grass 

 {Lolium perenne, fig. 17), has 

 no connection with the Cereal 

 Rye. It is one of our com- 

 monest and most useful species, 

 both as a plant for the natural 

 meadow or for arable culture, 

 especially in mixture with 

 clovers, which has the name 

 of " seeds." It yields good 

 bulk for the rick, and will so 

 readily grow after cutting or 

 close depasturing that it com- 

 monly affords the greater part 

 of the herbage of a pasture. 

 Prom being so valuable, its 

 seed has been much cultivated; 

 and as it has a tendency to 

 form more or less permanent 

 varieties, so we find in the 

 market several different sorts ; 

 as " Pacey's, Ruck's, Russell's, 

 Stickney's, Rye Grass," &c. It should always form 

 part in any mixture in laying down permanent 

 pasture, in which case it should be distinguished 



Fig. 17. Rye Grass, or Ray Graf 



