in south Texas, and on alkaline and saline soils in southern California. It 

 serves as a hay, pasture, or conservation plant, withstands trampling, and 

 recovers quickly from heavy grazing. However, it is subject to severe 

 damage from Rhodesgrass scale. 



RYEGRASS 



The two kinds of ryegrass most commonly planted are Italian and 

 perennial. 



Italian Ryegrass 



Italian ryegrass is an annual grown in most of the States east of the 

 Dakotas, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas, and in Washington and 

 Oregon. It prefers warm, moist growing conditions and well-drained rich 

 soils. It is moderately salt tolerant. This grass produces large amounts 

 of tender, palatable forage and will withstand heavy grazing. In the North it 

 is sometimes used as a companion crop for permanent spring pastures and 

 in the South for temporary winter pastures. In the Pacific Northwest it is a 

 valuable hay plant. In all of these areas it may also be used for green 

 manure and as a temporary poultry range. It is less winter hardy than 

 timothy or orchardgrass. 



Perennial Ryegrass 



Perennial ryegrass is coarser and less palatable than Italian. It is 

 short-lived and behaves as an annual in States east of the Dakotas -to -Texas 

 tier. In Washington and Oregon, where largest acreages are grown, it be- 

 haves as a perennial. It prefers cool, moist regions with mild winters, 

 and heavy fertile soils. It is not suited to hot, dry weather or sandy soils. 

 Perennial ryegrass is slightly inferior to timothy for hay, but it supplies 

 good spring pasture and quick cover for conservation purposes. 



ST. AUGUSTINE GRASS 



St. Augustinegrass is a creeping plant grown in Georgia and States 

 bordering the Gulf of Mexico. On the muck soils of the Florida Everglades 

 it provides pasture and forms a dense sod which withstands trampling. It 

 requires heavy fertilization and ample moisture for best growth. Stands 

 are obtained by planting rooted runners. 



STIPAGRASS 



The stipagrasses, or needlegrasses, are grown in the States of the 

 North Dakota -to -Texas tier as well as many of the States to the west. They 

 prefer sandy soils and rank high as pasture and hay grasses because of 

 their abundance, wide distribution, long growing period, and capacity to 

 cure well on the ground. A serious objection, however, is their needle - 

 like awns which injure grazing animals. 



Green Needlegrass 



Green needlegrass, or feather bunchgrass, is a green and leafy plant 

 found on the upland prairies of the Dakotas, Nebraska, Montana, Wyoming, 



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