PERENNIAL RYE GRASS. 275 



that it does not yield so well^ but it will maintain its 

 hold on many soils for, at least, half a score of years. 

 Like all cultivated grasses on the prairie, it is quite re- 

 sponsive to top dressings of farmyard manure. There 

 IS probably no better way in which such manure can 

 be applied where this grass is grown. 



peeejStnial eye geasses. 



Perennial Rye grass (Lolium Perenne) is also called 

 English Rye grass, Rye grass, Ray grass and Darnel. 

 In some localities it is chiefly known by the name Eng- 

 lish Rye grass, and this name has doubtless come to be 

 applied to it because of the extent to which it has been 

 cultivated in England. In that country there are sev- 

 eral varieties and sub-varieties named chiefly after 

 seedsmen or seed-firms. . 



This grass is perennial and stoloniferous in its habit 

 of growth, but like timothy, under ordinary conditions 

 it is not a long lived perennial, seldom enduring for a 

 longer period than seven years and usually for a period 

 considerably shorter. The stems are numerous and 

 slender and grow from 1 to 3 feet high, the average be- 

 ing less than 2 feet rather than more. Each stem has 

 4 to 6 joints, which sometimes assume a brownish tint. 

 The leaves are numerous and succulent and of a darker 

 green than those of Italian rye grass. The heads are 

 slender and from 3 to 10 inches long though commonly 

 not more than 6 inches. In general appeai'ance peren- 

 nial rye grass has some resemblance to quack grass 

 (Triticum repens). The roots do not feed deeply. 

 Stems push out laterally and from these the joints of 

 the upright stems ascend. 



