—— 
21 
Stamens and stigmas only protrude from the pales, when the grass is in flower. Then, two flowers 
belonging to a spikelet come into action al the same time (fig. 1). Their stamens and stigmas protrude 
laterally between the bases of the open pales. The slender filaments are weighed down and bent by the 
anthers, which now begin to open at the apex. Before dehiscing, the anthers lie at a lower level than 
the stigmas and self-fertilization is thus rendered impossible. The escaping pollen is transferred (by 
wind) to lower flowers belonging to other spikelets, and to other plants. The whole arrangement is one 
to prevent self-fertilization and secure a cross. 
At maturity, the spikelet breaks up into false fruits, commonly known as seeds (figs. 4 and 5). 
The breaks occur only in the axis of the spikelet, and at the base of each fruit. Each detached joint 
of the axis remains attached to a fruit, and forms the stalk (fig. 5) always lying in front of the upper 
pale. In this case, the broad, flat stalk, tapering to the base, is very characteristic (distinction from 
meadow-fescue). The false fruit is composed of a pair of pales enclosing a grain or caryopsis; it is 
7 mm. long, and 1—5 mm. broad. The true fruit or caryopsis (figs. 6 and 7) is acute at the base 
and rounded at the apex, about one third as long as the upper pale, and yellowish-brown in colour, 
The ventral surface is concave, the dorsal, convex, with the embryo lying at its base. To see the 
caryopsis, the pales must be removed from the false fruit. 
Varieties. Several varieties of this species are distinguished by botanists, but the points of diffe- Varieties. 
rence are not constant. Two kinds of seed are found in commerce, viz. common rye-grass (Loliwm per- 
enne), and Pacey’s rye-grass (Loliwm perenne tenue), which is higher in price. Between these, no 
essential difference exists; the best seeds are sold as Pacey’s, the poorer and lighter, as common rye-grass 
The difference in price, therefore, does not depend upon the variety, but merely on the quality of the seed. 
Name, History, Agricultural value. This plant is variously named rye-grass, perennial rye-grass, Name. 
and in older writings ray-grass, 
For more than 200 years it has been cultivated in England and is thus one of the oldest fodder — History. 
plants. In 1677 Dr. Plot speaks of it as the well known gramen »loliaceum«. It was first cultivated 
by Eustace, in the county of Oxford. In 1684 it is mentioned by Worlidge, who says that it should 
be preferred to all other fodder grasses, meaning thereby, sainfoin, lucerne, red clover, vetches and 
refoil. The seed was exported from England to the continent, where it was called »English ray-grass«, 
a corruption of our rye-grass. 
According to Burger, English rye-grass was cultivated in upper Italy about the beginning of the 
present century, and formed the principal grass of the irrigated pastures of Lombardy. By English rye- 
grass, Burger means the species which is now called Italian, a point frequently overlooked by those 
authors who refer to Burger’s statement, 
In Switzerland the cultivation of perennial rye-grass was commenced about the end of last century. 
In 1761 Albert Stapfer of Oberdiessbach, in the canton of Berne, recommended it for cold wet lands 
with northern exposure; he laid down a number of rules for its cullivation and seed production. On 
the continent this grass only came into common use about the end of last century. 
At times over-estimated, at times depreciated, it is yet one of the most valuable grasses. Agricultural 
It is more a »bottom« than a »top« grass. For pastures on heavy soils, it cannot be sur-  V#lve 
passed. In marshy districts, where the soil is good, it forms a large proportion of the 
herbage, so much.so, that in such cases experienced agriculturists use only perennial rye- 
grass and a little white clover. 
Its duration depends very much on the nature of the soil and the climate; on dry, 
light soils, it disappears after the second year; while in moist climates and on good heavy 
soils, it will persist for seven years or even longer. : 
Occurence, climate, soil, manure. Perennial rye-grass is indigenous in Kuwrope, throughout Geographical 
the south and centre, to Scandinavia, Southern Lapland, England, Ireland, and Eastern Europe; in Africa, distribution. 
Algiers, Madiera; in Asia, Caucasus, Georgia; and to the Falkland islands in America. It is not indi- 
genous to North America, but has been imported from England. 
