Cheraw gazette. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1835-1838, 1836-01-19
RURAL ECONOMY.
From the Cultivator

From the CultlVator-
Description and Culture of the Italian Loleh, or
Rye Grass.
Translated from the Germany
The Italian Lolch QoGum perenne ltali-
cam aristatum) yields the most abundant
fodder of any kind Of grass that is known.
lis extraordinary yield has, for several years
past, extended the culture Of it, in one part
of Germany and Switzerland, very rapidly,
and also in France some agriculturists have
made experiments with it which were COM
pletcly successful.
If sown in October, its growth being very
rapid, before winter sets in, it makes thick
sward equal to that on old grass land, and
the first crop of hay is double to that of a
common meadow. The Italian Lolch is
entirely different from the English Ray grass,
which latter serves only as 4 n,eans OF ma.
king sward on the land for pasturage, does
not grow over 2 l-2 feet in height and gives
but two ordinary crops in one season, while
the former commonly grows to height of
feet, on a soil more moist than dry, and
gives always four abundant crops in one
season, ard frequently more.
The haulm Is covered with leaves Of q
light green color. The most proper time
to SOW it, is in the fall. After crop Of grain
is taken off from the land, turn the stubble
over, harrow it, and SOW the seed. And
frequently it grows large enough to cut be-
fore cold weather, but it is advisable not to
cut it, because it will take better root if left.
Such meadow, shows itself before winter,
thick and we'll overgrown, like an old one,
and tho first years crop was, by haylng
time full one. Sowing it in the spring, or
month of April, requires moist weather and
more seed. The plant is lasting. And at
the end Of the seventh or eighth year, these
meadows are as vigorous as they were in the
first year. IT, however, light places arc to
be seen, they may. be renovated by letting
the seed getripe, and shell out, on such pla-
ces, or they may be sown with new seed.
A soil more moist than dry is genearllly best
adapted for this plant, but it has been tried
on high lands and on the Alps, ,whcrc it like.
wise perfectly throve.
After grain or potatoes Tor other l,oed
crop,) q shallow tillage is sufficient. After
clover or lucerne a deeper tillage is neces.
sary, but on old meadow it is advantageous
to cultivate first a crop Of potatoes or grain,
and after these being harvested in the fall,
SOW the Lolch. These meadows are treated
like other meadows; every three years they
receive manuring-top dresslng-and
the first one is incorporated with the soil at
the time Of sowing the seed. The ground
ought to be well narrowed. The seed is
. sown broad cast-about 40 lbs. to the acre.
If sown in the spring, 8 to 10 lbs. moro arc
necessary, and one chooses as much as pos:
siblc, wet time to SOW it. After the seed
is sown, narrowing may be dispensed with,
but the ground ought to be rolled with a
heavy roller. This operation has the double
advantage to press the seed into the ground,
and smooth the land for moving.
II. F.. GROVE.
Hoosick, Rcns. Co. N. y,
Jan. 81, 1885.
This grass has been tried in New York,
but the climate is too cold. The root dies
in winter, 1t would probably succeed in
either of the Carolinas.-Ed. Gaz.