INSECT INJURIES CHEMISTRY OF CROP. 



For the same reasons, the insect injuries it sustains are 

 comparatively few. Like the grasses generally, it is sub- 

 ject to the attacks of the numerous wireworms at every 

 period of its growth, and the slugs and snails are very 

 destructive to it in its earlier stages. The larvse of the 

 different crane-flies Tipulidce (see p. 386, vol. 1), fre- 

 quently commit great ravages in grass laid down for 

 permanent use; under the system of irrigation, however, 

 these effects are never noticeable. 



Ryegrass was one of the series of grasses and forage 

 plants whose chemical composition was investigated by, 

 Messrs. Way and Ogston, under the auspices of the Royal 

 Agricultural Society. Beyond this determination, and 

 that of Dr. Anderson, already alluded to, the chemistry 

 of the crop does not appear to have received much notice. 



The organic composition of the two species, the Peren- 

 nial and the Italian, is thus given: 



These anatyses refer to the composition of the crop 

 grown under the ordinary circumstances. Under the 

 forcing influence of liquid manuring, the percentage of 

 water, as shown by Dr. Anderson, increases, and the 

 solid constituents are reduced to smaller proportions 

 Thus, although the bulk of produce is largely increased, 

 the real amount of food produced is not in the same in- 

 creased ratio. In this respect, ryegrass, under a forced 

 cultivation, confirms the opinions advanced in reference 



