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UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE,
DEPARTMENT CIRCULAR 44,

Contribution from the Bureau of Plant Industry
(Forage-Crop Investigations).
WM. A. TAYLOR, Chief.

ITALIAN RYE-GRASS (Loliwm multifiorum).

Few grasses have been more exploited than Italian rye-grass. It
is closely related to perennial rye-grass and much resembles it in
general appearance. It grows to a height of from 14 to 3 feet. In
the moist climate of England it has been very popular as a hay plant
and is said to yield four to eight cuttings there when watered with
liquid manure. The under surface of the long, narrow leaves has a
bright, glossy color, which makes it an attractive lawn grass. Ital-
jan rye-grass is an annual plant; yet it sometimes lives more than
one year, though seldom more than two years.

VALUE.

The chief value of Italian rye-grass is for an annual hay ‘crop, for
temporary lawns, and for winter grazing in the South. The seed
usually germinates well, and the grass makes a vigorous growth.
This is one of the few grasses that will produce a crop of hay the
same season it is sown. It is especially useful to produce a turf
quickly and often forms a prominent part of lawn mixtures. Italian
rye-grass is more drought resistant than perennial rye-grass and has
been used to some extent under dry-land conditions, especially in

California.
USES. ©

This grass is used to some extent in the South to produce winter
grazing on Bermuda-grass sod. As an annual hay plant it does not
yield the quantity that millet or Sudan grass will produce and so is
not commonly grown for hay. It is an excellent grass to include in
mixtures for both pastures and lawns. The rye-grass will make an
early growth and then give way to the slower growing perennials.
The increased yield the first season will usually more than pay for
the extra expense of seeding. If seeded early in the fall in the
South Atlantic States it will produce a crop of hay the following
spring in time to allow the seeding of a crop of soy beans or cowpeas
on the same land. |

120371°—19

SOIL AND CLIMATE.

Italian rye-grass will grow under a great variety of soil and cli-
matic conditions. In the East it does best with an abundance of
moisture. It is used on the irrigated lands of the West with excel-
lent results. -A rich, moist loam is best suited to its culture.

SEED.

The seed of Italian rye-grass weighs about 24 pounds to the
bushel. Most of it is imported from England. The seed usually
sells at a reasonable price and generally may be depended upon to
be of good quality.

CULTURE.

A firm subsoil with a fine, mellow seed bed is desirable for seed-
ing. When used on Bermuda-grass sod the old turf should be har-
rowed, preferably both before and after seeding. Good results are
often obtained by seeding with a disk drill, which cuts the turf and
covers the seed. When seeded alone it requires from 25 to 30 pounds
of seed td the acre to give a full stand. A smaller quantity is suffi-
cient on a well-prepared seed bed if care is taken to give an even
seeding. In mixtures with other grasses and clovers, 8 to 10 pounds
of seed to the acre will be sufficient.

Lyman Carrier,

Agronomist.
Wasuinerton, D. C., May 31, 1919.

WASHINGTON : GOVERNMENT PRINTING CEFICE : 1919

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