RICHARD FROTSCHKR SBBD CO., l^td. 



89 



BNGI.ISH RYE GRASS. 



Loliufn perenne . 



This is the first grass cultivated in England over two 

 centuries ago, and at a still more remote period in France. 

 It was long more widely known and cultivated than any 

 other grass; became adapted to a great variety of soils and 

 conditions, and a vast number (seventy or more) of varie- 

 ties produced, some of which were greatly improved while 

 others were inferior and became annuals. Introduced into 

 the United States in the first quarter of the current century 

 it has never become very popular, although shown by the 

 subjoined analysis of Way not to be deficient in nutritive 

 matter. In loo parts of the dried grass cut in bloom were al- 

 bumoids 11.85, fatty matter 3.17, heat-producing prin- 

 ciples 42.24, wood fibre 35.20, ash 7.54. The more re- 

 cent analysis of Wolff and Knopp, allowing for water, gives 

 rather more nutritive matter than this. 



It grows rapidly, and yields heavy crops of seed, makes 

 good grazing, and good hay. But, as with all the Rye 

 Grasses, to make good hay, it must be cut before passing English Rye Grass. 



the blossom stage, as after that it deteriorates rapidl5^ The roots being short, it does not 

 bear drought well, and exhausts the soil, dying out in a few years. In these respects it is 

 liable to the same objection as Timothy. The stem, one to two feet high, has four to six 

 purplish joints and as many dark green leaves; the flexions spiked panicle beating the 

 distant spiklets one in each bend. 



It should be sown in August or September, at the rate of twenty-five or thirty pounds 

 or one bushel seed per acre. 



TAlyl/ MEADOW OAT GRASS. 



Arrhenatherum avenaecum. 

 Evergreen grass in Virginia and other Southern States, and it is a tall oat 

 {Avena elafior) of hin^ns. It is closely related to the common oat, and has a beautiful 

 open panicle leaning slightly to one side. ''Spikelets cwo flowered, and a rudiment of a 

 third, open; lowest flower staminate or sterile, with along bent awn below the middle of 

 the back."— [Flint. 



It is widely naturalized and well adapted to a great variety of soils. On sandy or gravel- 

 ly soils, it succeeds admirably, growing two or three feet high. 

 On rich, dry upland it grows from five to seven feet high. It 

 has an abundance of perennial, long fibrous roots, penetrating 

 deeply in the soil, being, therefore, less affected by drought 

 or cold, and enabled to yield a large quantity of foliage, win- 

 ter and summer. These advantages render it one of the very 

 best grasses for the South, both for grazing (being evergreen) 

 and for hay, admitting of being cut twice a year. It is prob- 

 ably the best winter grass that can be obtained. 



It will make twice as much hay as Timothy, and contain- 

 ing a greater quantity of albuminoids and less of heat-pro- 

 ducing principles, it is better adapted to the uses of the South- 

 ern farmer, while it exhausts the surface soil less, and may be 

 grazed indefinitely, except after mowing. To make good hay 

 it must be cut when it blooms, and after being cut, must not 

 Xli^^^^l^lK^SfflBiS^r get wet by dew or rain, which damages it greatly in quality 



^^ ^SrwSlmnMB^^ and appearance. 



For green soiling, it may be cut four or five times with 

 favorable seasons. In from six to ten days after blooming, 

 the seeds begin to ripen and fall; the upper ones first. 



It may be sown in March or April, and mowed the same 

 season; but for heavier yield it is better to sow in September 

 or October. Along the more Southern belt, from the 31 ° par- 

 allel southward, it may be sown in November and onward till 

 the middle of December- Whenever sown it is one of the 

 most certain grasses to have a good catch. Not less than two 

 bushels (28 pounds) per acre should be sown. Like Timothy 

 Tall Meadow Oat Grass. on inhospitable soils, the roots may sometimes become bul- 



bous. The average annual nutrition yielded by this grass in the Southern belt is prob- 

 ably twice as great as in Pennsylvania and other Northern States. 



