Growth Type and Yield Comparisons of Forage Species after Seed Multiplication in Germany and in the United States. II. Meadow Fescue, Timothy, and Perennial Ryegrass 1

Seedlots of meadow rescue ( Festuca pratensis Huds.), timothy ( Phleum pratense L.), and perennial ryegrass ( Lolium perennial L.) were increased for two to four consecutive generations at one location in Germany and three locations in the United States. The population structure and forage yields of the original seed and advanced generations were investigated at Weihenstephan, Germany. All meadow rescue progenies were significantly taller and earlier and made better regrowth than the original seed. American lots and the corresponding German populations did not significantly differ in these characters. In timothy, variation of plant characteristics among locations and generations was neglegible. In perennial ryegrass, most progenies were significantly more vigorous in spring, earlier and taller than the original lot. American lots from lower latitudes were taller and earlier. The fourth subsequent generation from the most south. erly location, Shafter, Calif., headed 6 days earlier and grew 11 cm taller than the original lot. Percentage of seedling fluorescence of samples from the United States did not differ from the corresponding German progenies. There was no detrimental effect on dry‐matter forage yield due to seed multiplication in the United States.