218 THE KYEGRASS CROP. 



with other seeds, either for permanent or for rotation 

 purposes, than for cultivation as a distinct crop. The 

 J talian ryegrass is the only one which by itself assumes 

 the character of a "forage crop," and to this we shall 

 chiefly confine our attention in the present case. This 

 species thrives best in the stronger class of soils. The 

 loams and alluvial and warped soils are those which, 

 from their physical as well as chemical constitution, are 

 best adapted to its cultivation. It, however, has been 

 grown with great success in the strong soils of the 

 London clay formation. The clay is no doubt the most 

 important agent in rendering soils of this description 

 suitable to the crop, as this substance not only contains 

 in its chemical composition the mineral ingredients re- 

 quired by the crop for its healthy and vigorous growth, 

 but it also imparts to the soil the mechanical property of 

 absorbing and of retaining the moisture so necessary for 

 herbaceous growth, and which, at the same time, so ma- 

 terially assists a fibrous shallow-rooted plant to obtain its 

 food-materials in a readily assimilable condition. Too 

 large a proportion of clay in the soil would, however, 

 under ordinary circumstances, render the soil too close 

 and compact to allow of that free ramification of the roots 

 which it is so desirable to secure to the plant, while it 

 would also tend to keep the temperature of the upper 

 portion lower than if the air and rain had freer access to it. 

 In the preparation of the soil it is important to recol- 

 lect that the success of the crop depends greatly upon the 

 conditions, favourable or otherwise, it meets with in the 

 soil. Its growth is rapid and its produce large where 

 these have been properly attended to ; if they have been 

 neglected, the results are, as they ought to be, indeed, less 

 satisfactory. Deep cultivation is the basis of large returns. 

 None of our cultivated crops can thrive where stagnant 

 water lies in the soil. The more finely the particles are 



