THE RYEGRASSES 5 



The ryegrasses have a very wide range of soil adaptability. In 

 some sections they are considered wet-land grasses, although produc- 

 tion usually declines as the drainage gets poorer. For most desirable 

 production the ryegrasses require soils of medium to high fertility, 

 although they wall make growth equal to most grasses on soils of low 

 fertility. On the latter soils heavier seedings are required since the 

 ryegrasses do not stool so much as on more fertile land. 



Time, Rate, and Method of Seeding 



The ryegrasses can be seeded in the fall or early spring. In sections 

 where winters are severe, spring seedings are made because of probable 

 heavy winter injury to fall seedings. Where the winters are mild 

 early fall seedings are advisable. Late fall seedings are usually 

 successful, but severe freezing, especially when accompanied by soil 

 heaving, may cause heavy plant loss. Spring seedings should be 

 made as early as possible and are most successful in sections having 

 cool summers and frequent rainfall. 



The ryegrasses may be broadcast by hand or seeded with an endgate 

 seeder and covered with a smoothing harrow, or they can be sown with 

 a grain or grass-seed drill. When a grain drill is used it may be 

 necessary to reduce the size of the seed outlets to prevent sowing too 

 much seed. The seed should be covered with approximately one-half 

 inch of soil. When seeded alone for forage or seed production, 20 to 

 25 pounds of seed per acre are sufficient. When seeded with small 

 grain for annual pasture 8 to 10 pounds per acre will furnish a satis- 

 factory stand. When used for seeding on established grasses to 

 furnish green lawns for winter or when seeded alone in spring or fall 

 for a temporary lawn, 3 to 5 pounds per 1,000 square feet are used. 



When ryegrass is to be grown for forage or for seed production, a 

 seedbed prepared as for small grains is desirable. Seedings for these 

 purposes usually are made without a nurse crop, although in the 

 Pacific Northwest when ryegrass is grown for seed production, the 

 practice of seeding with winter oats is increasing. When seeded 

 with oats, which should be at the rate of 1 bushel of oats to 20 to 25 

 pounds of ryegrass per acre, there seems to be little or no reduction 

 in the yield of ryegrass seed; a fair yield of oats usually is obtained, 

 and harvesting, particularly binding, is easier. The two crops are 

 harvested together, and the oats and ryegrass seed are separated 

 with a fanning mill. 



Management for Hay and Pasture 



Ryegrass is generally cut for hay when the seed is in the soft-dough 

 stage. The hay cures rapidly and when handled properly has a 

 bright-green color. Because of its leafiness and medium fine stems, it 

 makes a high-quality hay that is considered excellent for horses and is 

 fed successfully to cattle and to sheep. One crop of hay is obtained, 

 and under favorable soil and moisture conditions considerable pas- 

 turage is produced after the hay crop is removed. 



Ryegrass makes very rapid winter and spring growth, and new seed- 

 ings often are ready to pasture in 3 months (fig. 2). Unless pastured 

 too heavily, it can be used continuously until summer in the West, and 



