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Perennial Ryegrass. 



[Oct. 



and crested dogstail; it is under such conditions that they are 

 encouraged. The more a pasture is trodden down, and, up to 

 a certain point, the more closely it is grazed, the more 

 nutritious will be the pasture and the more numerous the head 

 of grazing stock which it will carry. Several instances were 

 cited by Professor Gilchrist, viz.: — 



(1) In Tree Field and Hanging Leaves Fields at Cockle 



Park, which originally contained bents, wiry fescues 

 and carnation grass, perennial ryegrass is now in 

 many cases the dominant grass where the pastures 

 are effectually improved and most closely trodden and 

 grazed. 



(2) Examinations of the old turf on Newcastle Town Moor 



and many other old turf pastures show that where 

 the herbage is closely grazed and most nutritious, 

 perennial ryegrass and crested dogstail are largely 

 developed. 



(3 ) Sir Henry Gilbert noticed at Rothamsted that perennial 

 ryegrass was found abundantly in old pastures that 

 were regularly grazed, but only sparingly where the 

 old ley was regularly mown for hay. He stated 

 his conviction that close grazing did much to develop 

 perennial ryegrass. 

 (4) In a large field in Northumberland, which was sown 

 down seven years ago, it was found that where wild 

 white clover was sown with perennial ryegrass only, 

 and slagged, closely grazed and heavily trodden, a 

 pasture of high feeding value was developed. If no 

 wild white clover had been sown, and if the field 

 had not been slagged, it is probable that there would 

 have been no plants of perennial ryegrass and that the 

 pasture would have been worthless and full of weeds. 

 It is very desirable that stocks of perennial ryegrass should 

 be obtained from old leys, as they will probably prove of much 

 greater value for purposes of permanent pasture. Peacey's 

 perennial ryegrass was selected from meadows in the Cotswold 

 valleys at the end of the 18th century. It was claimed for this 

 that it had " early growth, larger crops, grateful flavour, 

 nutritious food and permanence." 



Improvement of Turf. — To illustrate the improvement of 

 turf which follows the treatment outlined above, viz., presence 

 of wild white clover and perennial ryegrass, application of 

 basic slag, and close grazing, Professor Gilchrist exhibited 



