100 Italian Ryegrass. 



of aftermath, and is slow in growth after being cropped," 

 two very serious defects, which certainly do not seem 

 to be compensated for by the fact that its early spring 

 produce is said by Sinclair to be more nutritive 

 than cocksfoot in the proportion of 9 to 8, though the 

 quantity of spring produce was the same in the case of 

 both plants. Timothy is unsuited for dry soils, and 

 does not appear to have the merit of being a drought- 

 resisting plant. It is recommended by Sinclair partly 

 because, as it does not put out its flowering stems till 

 June, it can be fed to a late period of the year 

 without injury to the hay crop. But in this respect 

 it is equalled by cocksfoot, and as that grass is 

 distinctly more productive, and certainly suitable to 

 nearly all soils and situations, and also more drought- 

 resisting, I confess I am unable to see why it should 

 occupy space which might better be filled with cocksfoot 

 or tall fescue. Owing to its unsuitability for dry soils, 

 I have not included timothy seed in the mixtures I have 

 used for my light Cheviot hill land. At the same time, 

 its value and suitability for moist and peaty soils should 

 not be overlooked, and for these last-named soils I would 

 recommend its use. 



Italian Ryegrass {Lolium italieum), like timothy, is 

 25 per cent, less productive than the three grasses 

 first treated of. Its value is well known, and, as 

 regards its nutritive value, earliness, productiveness, 

 and quickness of growth after it has been mown, it 

 far surpasses the perennial ryegrass. But it should 

 be used with great caution for permanent pasture, as 

 it is a biennial, and, as in the case of perennial 

 ryegrass, its excessive use would leave spaces liable, 

 or rather certain, to be filled by weeds and worthless 

 grasses. When, however, either in the case of per- 

 manent pasture or fox temporary pasture to lie for 

 four or more years, it is intended to take a hay crop 

 the first year, then 2 lbs. or 3 lbs. of Italian ryegrass 

 may be used in order to increase the hay crop. 



