COMMON PASTURE GRASSES. 11 



large amount of fresh grass in the Spring, and given a 

 moist and warm Autumn is very successful when so used. 

 It is I chiefly employed however, in mixtures, at the rate 

 of about five to ten pounds per acre to give feed during 

 the early part of a pasture's first season, with the idea that 

 as it dies out, more permanent grasses will develop and 

 occupy the space it leaves. About five pounds per acre 

 is usually quite enough. More seed does not produce 

 very much more feed, and is apt to leave the pasture 

 patchy. 



The numerous varieties of Italian Rye that have appeared 

 of late years have been only a quahfied success. Giant 

 Italian proves a giant only where given good land and plenty 

 of moisture, but is certainly a better strain than some others 

 on the market. Perenniahzed Italian has no claims to its name, 

 as it lasts little longer than the common strain and is pro- 

 bably less productive. Westernwolth's is certainly a vigor- 

 ous grower in its first season, and is of great value when it 

 is sown to last only a single season, but its life is too short to 

 allow it to be used in mixtures, for under many conditions 

 it becomes almost strictly an annual. 



The seed, like that of Perennial Rye, is gathered with the 

 binder, or occasionally with the stripper. In favourable 

 circumstances yields of 50 to 60 bushels are not uncommon, 

 and the crop then becomes more profitable than wheat. 

 The life of the pasture is, however, always shortened by 

 cutting a crop of seed. Many of the ' ' awns ' ' are knocked 

 off in threshing, and the best of samples do not usually show 

 more than 80 per cent, of awned seeds, while the usual run 

 of seeds has probably less than 50 per cent, of seeds with 

 awns. Such seed is difficult to distinguish accurately from 

 that of Perennial Rye. The average price of the seed is 

 4s. 9d. per bushel of 20 pounds. 



