PERENNIAL RYE GRASS. 



Ill 



tinue many weeks, parching up every green thing. 

 There is, perhaps, no grass, the characteristics of which 

 vary so much, from the influences 

 of soil, climate, and culture, as pe- 

 rennial rye grass. Certain it is that 

 this grass has been cultivated in 

 England since 1677, and in the 

 south of France from time imme- 

 morial. It is admitted to be infe- 

 rior in nutritive value to orchard 

 grass (Dactylis glomerata), when 

 green. 



Whenever it is cut for hay, it is 

 necessary to take it in the blossom, 

 or very soon after, since otherwise 

 it becomes hard and wiry, and is 

 not relished by stock of any kind ; 

 and it changes very rapidly after 

 blossoming, from a state in which 

 it contains the greatest amount of 

 water, sugar, &c., and the least 

 amount of woody fibre, into the 

 state in which it possesses the 

 least amount of water, sugar, &c., 

 and the greatest amount of woody 

 fibre, and other insoluble solid mat- 

 ter. A specimen, analyzed about 

 the 20th of June, and found to 

 contain 81 J per cent, 

 of water, and 18 J per 

 cent, of solid matter, 

 was found, only three 

 weeks later, to contain 

 only 69 per cent, water, 

 and 31 of solid matter. 



Fig. 84. Perennial Rye Grass. Fig. 85. 



