OUR PASTURE GRASSES 



15 



well- 

 grows 

 sands 

 lands, 



LoLiuM — Rye-Grass 



Perennial Rye-Grass {Lolium perenne). — Perennial, growing in com- 

 pound tufts, which make a complete sward ; flowering from early in July to 

 August ; and maturing seed about a month after flowering. This is a valuable 

 " bottom-grass " for good, heavy soils, on which it lasts for some years. It 

 starts into growth early ; resists drought well ; is occasionally injured by 

 severe frost ; yields only a moderate bulk of dried fodder, of lower nutritive 

 value than medium-quality hay ; is better adapted for grazing than mowing ; 

 luxuriates on rich, moist, 

 stiff" soils and 

 drained clays ; 

 freely on loamy 

 and calcareous 

 when they are not too 

 dry; dies out from 

 heaths, inferior sands 

 and dry soils generally 

 after the second season ; 

 and succeeds under irri- 

 gation, though injured 

 by stagnant water. It de- 

 velops tolerably rapidly, 

 attaining to its maximum 

 produce the second 

 year; and endures con- 

 stant grazing and mow- 

 ing, appearing to benefit 

 from the treading of 

 cattle. The first and 

 best cutting should be 

 taken before flowering, 

 as the culms then 

 harden and deteriorate 

 in quality. By com- 

 mencing depasturing 

 early in spring, the 

 culms, which are re- 

 jected by cattle, can be 

 partially kept down, but 

 those which are left should be cut before the seed develops, especially as 

 the flower-spikes are peculiarly susceptible to attacks of Ergot-fungus. Sinclair 

 obtained, at the time of flowering, 7,827 lbs. of green fodder, or 3,389 lbs. of 

 hay, with 3,403 lbs. of aftermath, from an acre of rich, brown loam ; and the 

 following yields of hay per acre have been recorded :^Vianne, 5,900 lbs. from 

 2 cuttings on mild, rich clay; Karmrodt, 7,300 lbs. as an average for 4 years; 

 Werner, an average of 3,900 lbs. ; and Pinkert, 1,780 lbs. only from a fertile 

 sandy loam. The seed, which is generally saved from the second cutting, is 

 produced abundantly, and is easily harvested. Stebler advises the crop being 

 taken about 4 weeks after flowering, when the seeds are beginning to assume 

 a leathery consistency, and before they become brown and hard. In order to 

 prevent loss, it is customary to thresh it on cloths spread on the field when it 

 is very ripe. Good commercial samples should have 95 per cent, of purity, 





Perennial Rye-Grass. 

 (^Lolium perenne.) 



.^*-^?r-*^-'/ 



