70 THE GRASSES— ITALIAN RYEGRASS. 



Mr. James Huntee says that no agricultural plant 

 of greater value has been brought into notice during 

 the present century. It is indispensable for alternate 

 husbandry ; but, as it does not last for more than two 

 years, it is of, no use in permanent pastures. It is 

 indeed a mistake to include it in mixtures for perma- 

 nent pasture, as the spaces left bare at the end of the 

 first or second year will most likely be occupied by 

 worthless grasses, such as Yorkshire Fog, Brome grass. 

 Annual Meadow grass, &c. The produce of one year's 

 growth of Italian Eyegrass compared with one year's 

 growth of Perennial is as 23 to 14. The nutritive value 

 of Italian compared with Perennial is as 35 to 28. 



Dr. Steblee's opinion is, that as a grass for cutting 

 or soiling purposes the Italian Eyegrass is that which 

 occupies the first rank. On light warm soils it suits 

 well to sow it in August in association with Crimson 

 Clover (Trifolium incarnatum), which will give an abun- 

 dant cutting in the month of May following. It is with 

 clovers other than the.above that it is usually associated, 

 but in sowing it in mixture with ordinary clover there is 

 this drawback, that the Italian grows more rapidly, and 

 is already over-ripe and past its best when the clover is 

 only commencing to develop. This is why that latterly 

 the custom is becoming more general to decrease the 

 proportion of Italian Eyegrass and substitute an equi- 

 valent of other grasses (such as Timothy, Tall Oat grass, 

 and Cocksfoot) when sowing down land for alternate 

 cropping.* There is no other grass shows such a return 

 for manure as this does, especially when treated with 

 the liquid manure of the farm. By the use of liquid 



* Dr. Stebler's remarks have reference to the Continent, and more 

 especially to his own part of it, viz., Switzerland. 



