SELECTION OF GRASSES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume VII, Issue 266, 14 May 1889, Page 2

SELECTION OF GRASSES.

. it) ' II" Button's Permanent Pasture*. (Continued) Xioliam Fereone (Perennial #ye gran). There are two well defined types j one, a strong-growing plant represented by PaceyV Perennial; the other a dwarf branching variety represented by Sat* ton's Perennial. Both -these sections are legitimately and profitably employed in the, formation of permanent pastures. LioUnm Peienne was (be first graft gathered separately for agricultural purposes. It is better known and n*ore fre'qjjqntly used than any other Variety, cWi f(9t withstanding recent ly expressed ' opinions that it is a biennial and not perennial, I am satisfied that it is entitled to the name by which it has been known since 1611, the date of the earliest hook which; mentions rs. That this grass. > is not perennial on all soils, nor under adverse conditions, may be Jrpely ad* nutted, and few if anv, grafses, are. jßaf^hen troe Perennial Bye grass seed is Wu on, wU that ia. adapted for it, and its natnral requirements are met, it will prove a lasting plant. •• ••■■<-' * i ! ( ?^ntfaJ Ryeigriin was first sown ia . parts pf Oxfordshire, and is still of great '■':,. service to some por^qus. of that djftrjet „ ron cold sour clays, and on light stonay And' so deficient in, Hoe that it will not ■fcjrew 8a nfoln. ' " T r' ' '•■•■-; ' "■ ' ; The eminent German botanist, Dr F. G. Stebler, describes it as one of tht> .. .most fsiuable plants in our meadowi; Por pasture on clay soils it oannot be re* placed byauy^they fclanf.atod, therefp^ei ! \ it is largely used in miztares for forming pasture grass of best quality. la' J 'the North or Germany there are even experienced growertiwo only sow |U« • (rrats whh a little Whjte Clover. !fh# duration of this plant varies much Mr cording to soil and climate. I Perennial Bye grass .is indigenoin ti" many districts, and grows on a great diversity. 6t soils. A burning sand or tbln gravel if leastsnitable for it, not it ' answer! bn a gravelly clay, is at; home on all lpami, and positively,- revels in ■ tenAoeons lao4. Bt en pare day is. not t^o stiff far itiMDhe poorer and drier the soil the shorter will be its duratioo, On the contrary, the richer aUd more moist the land; always suppling the drainage to be good; the gtepter the certainty that Rye gr« M will be peiv manent. It responds quickly tp mr. rigatioo, either of pure water «*■■«£'■' fiqaid manure, bat stagnant water soon \ , kills it. The habit of the riant potnti to the secret of s«ces*fat treatment. The roots are very shallow, and at 4 ■ .! poor soil speedily, becomes exhautted b» ' the rapid growth, of necewity the plant diet.

• Perennial Rye grass will grow nude conditions that are fatal to other grasses it is the most certain to germinate an to produoe a crop ; it comes quickly t maturity, and is uninjured by the trea of cattle- While other grasses are ck pendent upon season and weather, Ry grass is able to hold its own under a circumstances, enduring winter frost an jremmer heat. Another great adrantag is that it is so little injured by being »1 lowed to grow old before it is cot. It also deserves to be widely knowi that Rye grata straw out into chaff is i very substantial food for cattle. An ex penenced grower, probably the larges . cultivator of Rye grass in this country informs me that he always prefers giving his store cattle and horses Rye gran straw ohaff when it has been got in ii Rood condition, to feeding them oi Shadow hay c> t from an o'd pasture, and that both beasts and horses show, i preferej.oeforitbeformei'l ■•/•'' The objection occasionally urged against Rye gra-g, that it does not pro daee an aftermath, only holds good aa to strawed or.ops, and on. soils which are not adapted to. grow the plant. One of the main reasons for including Perennial Bye grass, in mixtures for permanent pastures is its reliability for •<uurh)s4 plant. This is a matter of great importance, for if grasses do not occupy/ the'grouad, weeds will inevitably do so. And the Bye grass yields a crop during each of the first two years such as oouid not possibly be obtained with* out it. For alternate husbandry Perennial Bye grass may be regarded as indispen* sable for all soils. Even on land where it oertainly would not' be permanent, it should be liberally sown for a short teru of soars.