THE GRASSES— PERENNIAL RYEGRASS. 77 



furnishes a rapid and dense growth ; is not injured by- 

 trampling, and has other high merits as a pasture 

 grass. For mowing purposes, however, it is notably 

 inferior to other grasses, and chemical analyses of Eye- 

 grass hay shows that its nutritive value is a little 

 inferior to that of Meadow hay of average quality. 

 On light soils, and with a dry atmosphere, it wiU be 

 scarcely more than biennial; while on good heavy 

 land, with a humid atmosphere, it should last seven 

 years or more. 



Professor Wallace's, of Edinburgh University, opinion 

 is, that it cannot be said to be a permanent grass unless 

 when grown on rich old pastures where there is an 

 abundance of humus or decaying vegetable matter. 

 He adheres to what may be termed a modified view of 

 Mr. De Laune's opinion of Eyegrass, viz., that it is not 

 necessary to exclude it altogether, provided we do not 

 allow of or encourage the adulteration of other seeds 

 by its admixture.* 



Eyegrass is vigorous and has some very good quali- 

 ties, especially when grown on good soil. Its dis- 

 advantages are — 



1. A tendency to run to seed and take ergot when in 

 that condition ; 



2. The small amount of aftermath ; and 



3. Its liability to disappear in a few years. 



The better the after-treatment, the better will be the 

 results got from Eyegrass. 



Mr. James Hunter says that the use of a large 

 proportion of Eyegrass cannot be justified now that it 



* This aUusion is to the adulteration of Meadow Pescue seed by 

 admixture of Perennial Ryegrass seed, a practice on which some com- 

 ments wiU be found under the head of Meadow Fescue. 



