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XX. — On the Culture and Usefulness of the Italian Bye-yrass 

 (Foliiwi Trefolium). By J. Rod well. 



The following results are deduced from a field of six acres of 

 alluvial sandy loam^ with a subsoil of crag : — 



The preparation of the field was beet-root^, sown in May, 1838, 

 followed by wheat drilled in November. 



-On the 4th of May, 1839, four pecks an acre of the Italian 

 rye-grass were sown with Bennett's" seed-engine, and hoed in 

 with the wheat then growing. The wheat, a heavy crop, was 

 harvested the last week in September, leaving a very good plant 

 of rye-grass which, after removing the wheat, soon became vigorous 

 and strong. This autumnal crop was fed by sheep from October 

 20th to November 18th, carrying eight sheep to the acre four 

 weeks. 



March 26, 1840. — The plants of rye-grass now very luxuriant, 

 the blades 14 to 16 inches long, with the seed formed. 



This growth fed with sheep until the 1st of May, and carried 

 twenty sheep, with their lambs, to the acre five weeks ; thus afford- 

 ing a healthy and very nutritious food ; sheep and lambs thriving 

 well upon it at the most trying season of the year. 



From this period. May 1st, the field was saved up for seed, 

 and mown July 5th, its grov/th having been most rapid in com- 

 parison with other grasses. The plant in its then stage was 4J 

 feet long, the growth of sixty-five days ; its produce 32 bushels of 

 seed to the acre ; and the straw after threshing eaten by every kind 

 of cattle — sheep very fond of it. 



The succeeding crop was again fed with sheep, and carried ten 

 sheep to the acre, fourteen weeks, to November. The field was 

 then ploughed up, and is in preparation for oats. 



On another field of four acre^of stiff loam, with a subsoil crag, 

 it was sown in May, 1839, and hoed in with wheat, the rye-grass 

 being mixed with red clover. The first growth was fed in March 

 and April with sheep ; the second growth was mown with the 

 clover for hay July Sth ; and the third growth was mown August 

 30th, when it was 4 feet long, the growth of fifty-four days. This 

 crop was used in its green state for soiling horses and cows in the 

 yard. 



Thus I have shown not only the rapid growth and luxuriance of 

 this grass as an early spring food, as well as its great productive- 

 ness during the summer, but in every case where it has been 

 tested the preference given to it by every kind of cattle. 



Alderton, near Woodbridge, 

 March \0,\M\, 



