II OUR PASTURE GRASSES 17 



exceedingly variable, very large crops being obtained only by copious 

 manuring on suitable soils. The seed, which is generally saved from the 

 second cutting, is produced abundantly, and is easily harvested. The crop 

 should be taken at the stage recommended for Perennial rye-grass, as the 

 seeds fall very easily. Good commercial qualities weigh from 16 to 24 lbs. 

 per bushel ; should have about 95 per cent, of purity and germinating power ; 

 and are sown either in spring or August and September at the relative rate 

 of 35'9 lbs. per acre. Though sometimes grown alone for i and 2 year leys, 

 Itahan rye-grass is also used in conjunction with clovers for clover leys, from 

 10 to 50 per cent, being added to mixtures according as the land is more or 

 less rich and moist ; but its early development causes its herbage to become 

 hard before the clovers are fit to cut. Mixed with Trifoliuin incaniatum, and 

 sown in August or early September, it gives a heavy yield during the following 

 May ; and with Red clover it often succeeds where the clover alone would 

 probably have failed. Its extraordinarily rapid growth adapts it for harrowing 

 and rolling in to fill gaps in deficient leys. Stebler says that not more than 

 5 per cent, should be used for permanent or temporary meadows, and that 

 no mixture with more than 10 per cent, must be sown, since it vegetates so 

 luxuriantly during the first year as to starve out other grasses. In our opinion, 

 Italian rye-grass should only be used for i year leys. Manuring is most 

 profitable, — guano, bone-meal, sulphate of ammonia and nitrate of soda being 

 very beneficial, though the best results are obtained from frequent applications 

 of much diluted liquid manure. Marvellous crops are secured on sewage- 

 farms. 



Under the name of Lolium multiflorum a very productive variety of 

 Italian rye-grass is found in commerce ; but as it is annual in duration, it is 

 less frequently sown than the ordinary Italian rye-grass. 



Annual Rye-Grass {Lolium annuuin). — An annual variety, which vege- 

 tates freely, and is considered to be especially suitable for clay lands, where 

 few fodder grasses succeed well. It is adapted only for i year leys ; and 

 appears to have been generally superseded by Italian rye-grass. 



Phleum — Catstail-Grass 



Timothy-Grass ; Meadow Catstail-Grass (Phleum pratense). — A 

 deeply-rooting perennial, forming small, united and tolerably compact tufts, 

 which, having a shght tendency to creep, thinly cover the land ; flowering in 

 July ; and maturing seed about the end of August. Though rather late and 

 soon becoming hard, this grass is invaluable on cold, wet clays and drained 

 moorlands. It is greatly benefited by rolling; develops tolerably rapidly, 

 giving a crop the first season ; luxuriates in deeply ploughed, moist, loamy 

 soils and clays, being stunted by dry situations ; is supposed to assist in 

 eradicating moss from meadows ; resists extreme drought and winter frost ; 

 thrives under irrigation ; and begins to grow thin after about 3 years. At 

 Woburn it was considered superior to Cocksfoot-grass for producing early 

 herbage ; and Sinclair states tliat the valuable foliage may be cropped to a 

 late period of the spring without injuring the heavy hay, which, if cut a little 

 time before flowering, is not very hard, and which, being rich in nutritive 

 matter, forms a palatable and very wholesome fodder when mixed with 

 clovers, especially for horses. The green herbage, either alone or in con- 

 junction with clovers and other grasses, is relished by all stock. The produce 



