OUR PASTURE GRASSES 



unless mixed with other grasses, but it readily dries and keeps well as hay. 

 It must be cut early, since the flower-culms soon harden. The following 

 yields have been recorded: — Sinclair, at the time of flowering, 17,015 lbs. 

 green, or 6,380 lbs. dried, produce, with 13,612 lbs. aftermath, from an acre 

 of loamy clay ; Pinkert, from 

 2 cuttings, 6,340 lbs. of hay ; 

 Sprengel, 8,800 lbs. ; and 

 Karmrodt, 9,940 lbs. as an 

 average for four years. The 

 seed crop is harvested like a 

 cereal ; and to prevent loss, it 

 is customary to cut the plants 

 early with a scythe, the sheaves 

 being dried, and then matured 

 under cover. Rye brome 

 {Bro?nus secalinus) and Darnel 

 {Loliuin iremulentuiit) are used 

 as adulterants. Good com- 

 mercial seed should have 

 about 80 per cent, of purity 

 and germinating power, 54 lbs. 

 being required to sow an acre. 

 It is a useful fodder grass ; and 

 may with advantage form up 

 to a fifth part of mixtures of 

 seeds for temporary pastures 

 on suitable warm soils. Italian 

 rye-grass is to be preferred to 

 it only for leys of one year 

 duration. Manuring is very 

 beneficial. 



Bulbous-rooted oat-grass 

 {Arrhenat/ierutn elatms, var. 

 bulbosum), — a variety of the 

 common False oat-grass, is 

 distinguished from it by the 

 short internodes at the bases 

 of the culms swelling out into 

 rows of tubers. Principally 

 found on moist sands and 

 loams, it constitutes one of 

 the most pernicious weeds 

 of arable land. Since both 

 varieties are reproduced true 

 from seed, irrespective of the 

 nature of the soil in which 

 they are grown, it is obvious that this is not, as sometimes supposed, merely 

 the form assumed by Avena elaiior under certain conditions. 



Yellow Oat-Grass {Avena flavescens ; Trisetuin Jiavescens). — Perennial, 

 forming loose tufts ; flowering in the first fortnight of July ; and maturing 

 seed at the beginning of August. Though quickly stunted by stagnant water 

 or very dry and poor ground, this grass grows well in all situations, from 

 irrigated meadows to dry, upland limestone pastures, succeeding best, how- 



Tall ok False Oat-Grass. 

 i^Avena etatior.) 



