5104. With respect to the culture of these grasses, it may be considered as ne same as that given to rye-grass, as discussed when treating of clover and rye-grass (5002.). The seeds of all of them are sold by the principal seedsmen, or may be gathered on grassfields, or hedge wastes, by women or children at an easy rate.

SUBSECT. 2. Of tall or Hay Grasses of permanent Duration.

5105. No permanent grass has been found equal to the rye-grass for the purposes of convertible husbandry, but others have been selected which are considered superior for hay meadows. The principal of these are the fescue, fox-tail, and meadow-grass. Agriculturists, indeed, are not all agreed on the comparative merits of these grasses with ryegrass, but there are none who do not consider it advisable to introduce a portion of each, or most of these species along with rye-grass, in laying down lands to permanent pasture. The nutritive products of these grasses, of perennial rye-grass, and of that singular grass fiorin, are thus given by Sir H. Davy:

5106. Of the fescue grass there are three species in the highest estimation as meadow hay grasses, viz. the meadow, tall, and spiked fescue. (fig. 581 a, b, c.) The F. pratensis (a), or the meadow or fertile fescue grass, is found in most rich meadows and pastures in England, and is highly grateful to every description of stock. It is more in demand for laying down meadows than any other species excepting the rye-grass. By the Woburn experiments, the value of this grass at the time the seed is ripe, is to that of the grass at the time of flowering, as 6 to 18. The loss which is sustained by leaving the crop of this grass till the seed be ripe is very great. That it loses more of its weight in drying at this stage of growth, than at the time of flowering, perfectly agrees with the deficiency of nutritive matter in the seed crop, in proportion to that in the flowering crop the straws being succulent in the former, they constitute the greatest part of the weight; but in the latter they are comparatively withered and dry, consequently the leaves constitute the greatest part of the weight. It may be observed here, that there is a great difference between straws or leaves that have been dried after they were cut in a succulent state, and those which are dried by nature while growing. The former retain all their nutritive powers; but the latter, if completely dry, very little, if any.

5107. The tall or infertile fescue grass (Festuca elatior, E. B. b.) is closely allied to the festuca pratensis, from which it differs in little, except that it is larger in every respect. The produce is nearly three times that of the F. pratensis, and the nutritive powers of the grass are superior, in direct proportion, as 6 to 8. The proportional value which the grass at the time the seed is ripe, bears to that at the time of flowering, is as 12 to 20. The proportional value which the grass of the lattermath bears to that of the crop, is as 16 to 20; and to that at the time the seed is ripe, as 12 to 16 inverse. Curtis observes, that as the seeds of this plant, when cultivated, are not fertile, it can only be introduced by parting its roots and planting them out; in this there would, says he, be no great difficulty, provided it were likely to answer the expense,

which he is strongly of opinion it would in certain cases; indeed he has often thought that meadows would be best formed by planting out the roots of grasses, and other plants, in a regular manner; and that, however singular such a practice may appear at present, it will probably be adopted at some future period: this great advantage would, he says, attend it, noxious weeds might be more easily kept down, until the grasses and other plants had established themselves in the soil.

5108. The spiked fescue grass, or darnel fescue grass, (Festuca loliacea, L. c), resembles the rye-grass in appearance, and the tall fescue grass in the infertibility of its seeds. It is considered as superior to rye-grass either for hay or permanent pasture, and improves in proportion to its age, which is the reverse of what takes place with the rye

grass.

5109. The meadow for-tail grass (Alopecurus pratensis, d) is found in most meadows, and when the soil is neither very moist nor very dry, but in good heart, it is very productive. It also does well on water meadows. Sheep and horses seem to have a greater relish for this grass than oxen, In the Woburn experiments, it was tried both on a sandy loam and a clayey loam, and the result gave nearly three-fourths of produce greater from a clayey loam than from a sandy soil, and the grass from the latter is comparatively of less value, in proportion as 4 to 6. The straws produced by the sandy soil are deficient in number, and in every respect less than those from the clayey loam; which will account for the unequal quantities of the nutritive matter afforded by them; but the proportional value in which the grass of the lattermath exceeds that of the crop at the time of flowering, is as 4 to 3: a difference which appears extraordinary, when the quantity of flower-stalks which are in the grass at the time of flowering is considered. In the anthoxanthum odoratum the proportional difference between the grass of these crops is still greater, nearly as 4 to 9; in the poa pratensis they are equal; but in all the latter flowering grasses experimented upon, the flowering straws of which resemble those of the alopecurus pratensis, or anthoxanthum odoratum the greater proportional value is always, on the contrary, found in the grass of the flowering crop. Whatever the cause may be, it is evident that the loss sustained by taking the crops of these grasses at the time of flowering is considerable. The proportional value which the grass at the time of flowering bears to that at the time the seed is ripe, is as 6 to 9. The proportional value which the whole of the lattermath crop bears to that at the time the seed is ripe, is as 5 to 9, and to that at the time of flowering, proportionably as 13 to 24. Next to the fescue, this grass is in the greatest reputation for laying down mowing grounds; but it is unfortunately subject to the rust in some situations.

5110. Of the meadow grass there are two species in esteem as hay plants, the smoothstalked, and roughish. These plants compose the greater part of the celebrated Orcheston meadows near Salisbury, and also of the meadows near Edinburgh.

5111. The great or smooth-stalked meadow grass, the spear grass of America, (Poa pratensis, e) is distinguished by its height, smooth stem, and creeping roots. According to Sole it is the best of all the grasses: its foliage begins to shoot and put on a fine verdure early in the spring, but not so soon as some other grasses. Every animal that eats grass is fond of it; while it makes the best hay, and affords the richest pasture. It abounds in the best meadows about Laycock and Chippenham, and has the valuable property of abiding in the same land, while most other grasses are continually changing. According to some it delights in rather a dry than a moist soil and situation, on which account it keeps its verdure better than most others in dry seasons; but it thrives most luxuriantly in rich meadows.

5112. By the Woburn experiments, the proportional value in which the grass of the lattermath exceeds that of the flowering crop, is as 6 to 7. The grass of the seed-crop, and that of the lattermath, are of equal value. This grass is, therefore, of least value at the time the seed is ripe; a loss of more than onefourth of the value of the whole crop is sustained if it is not cut till that period: the straws are then dry, and the root-leaves in a sickly decaying state: those of the lattermath, on the contrary, are luxuriant and healthy. This species sends forth flower-stalks but once in a season, and those being the most valuable part of the plant for the purpose of hay, it will, from this circumstance, and the superior value of the grass of the lattermath, compared to that of the seed-crop, appear well adapted for permanent pasture. It was of this grass that the American prize bonnet, in imitation of Leghorn, was manufac tured by Miss Woodhouse.

5113. The roughish meadow grass (Poa trivialis, L. f) delights in moist, rich, and sheltered situations, when it grows two feet high, and is very productive. By the Woburn experiments, it appears that the proportional value in which the grass of the seed crop exceeds that at the time of flowering, is as 8 to 11. The proportional value by which the grass of the lattermath exceeds that of the flowering crop, is as 8 to 12, and that of the seed crop as 11 to 12. Here then is a satisfactory proof of the superior value of the crop at the time the seed is ripe, and of the consequent loss sustained by taking it when in flower; the produce of each crop being nearly equal. The deficiency of hay in the flowering crop, in proportion to that of the seed crop, is very striking. Its superior produce, the highly nutritive powers which the grass seems to possess, and the season in which it arrives at perfection, are merits which distinguish it as one of the most valuable of those grasses, which affect moist rich soils, and sheltered situations; but on

dry exposed situations, it is altogether inconsiderable; it yearly diminishes, and ultimately dies off, not unfrequently in the space of four or five years.

5114. The above are six of the best British grasses, for either dry or watered meadows, The seeds of the meadow fescue, fox-tail, and smooth and rough meadow grass, may be had from the seedsmen, and they are sown in various proportions with the clovers and rye-grass. The seeds of the two sorts of meadow grass are apt to stick together, and require to be well mixed with the others before being sown. The tall and spiked fescue grass, having a number of barren flowers, are not prolific in seeds, and they are therefore seldom to be got at the seed shops; though they may occasionally be had there gathered from plants in a wild state.

5115. As hay grasses, adapted for particular soils and situations, the cat's-tail or Timothy, floating fescue, and fiorin grass, have been recommended; but it cannot be said that the opinions of cultivators are unanimous in their favor.

5116. The cat's-tail, or Timothy grass, (Phleum pratense, L. fig. 582 a) is a native plant,

and found both in dry and moist soils.

It was first brought into notice by Timothy Hudson, about 1780, who introduced it from Carolina, where it was in great repute. On moist rich soils it is a prolific grass, but late; on dry soils it is good for little, and for cultivation in any way is disapproved of by Withering, Swaine, Curtis, and others, as having no properties in which it is not greatly surpassed by the alopecurus pratensis. The Woburn experiments, however, present this grass as one of the most prolific for hay. The nutritive matter afforded by 64 drachms of the straws, was 7 drachms. The nutritive powers of the straws simply, therefore, exceed those of the leaves, in proportion as 28 to 8; and the grass, at the time of flowering, to that at the time the seed is ripe, as 10 to 23; and the lattermath, to the grass of the flowering crop, as 8 to 10. The comparative merits of this grass will appear from the above particulars to be very great; to which may be added the abundance of fine foliage that it produces early in the spring. In this respect it is inferior to the poa fertilis, and poa angustifolia only. The value of the straws at the time the seed is ripe, exceeds that of the grass at the time of flowering, as 28 to 10, a circumstance which increases its value above many others; for by this property its valuable early foliage may be cropped, to an advanced period of the season, without injury to the crop of hay, which in other grasses which send forth their flowering straws early in the season would cause a loss of nearly one half of the value of the crop, as is clearly proved by former examples; and this property of the straws makes the plant peculiarly valuable for the purpose of hay.

5117. The floating fescue grass, (Festuca fluitans, b) is found in rich swamps, especially in Cambridgeshire, where it is said to give the peculiar flavor to Cottenham and Cheddar cheese. It is also found in ditches and ponds in most parts of the country. It is greedily devoured by every description of stock, not excepting hogs and ducks, and geese eagerly devour the seeds, which are small, but very sweet and nourishing. They are collected in several parts of Germany and Poland, under the name of Manna-seeds (Schwaden), and are esteemed a delicacy in soups and gruels. When ground to meal, they make bread very little inferior to that from wheat. The bran is given to horses that have the worms; but they must be kept from water for some hours afterwards. Geese, and other water-fowl, are very fond of the seeds. So also are fish; trout, in particular, thrive in those rivers where this grass grows in plenty. It has been recommended to be sowed on meadows that admit flooding; but Curtis justly remarks, that the flotefescue will not flourish except in land that is constantly under water, or converted into a bog or swamp.

5118. The water meadow grass, (Poa aquatica, c) is found chiefly in marshes, but

will grow on strong clays, and yield, as the Woburn experiments prove, a prodigious produce, flowering from June to September. It is one of the largest of our grasses. In the fens of Cambridgeshire, Lincolnshire, &c. immense tracts, that used to be overflowed, and produce useless aquatic plants, and though drained by mills, still retain much moisture, are covered with this grass, which not only affords rich pasturage in summer, but forms the chief part of their winter fodder. It has a powerfully creeping root; and bears frequent mowing well. It is sometimes cut thrice in one season near the Thames. It grows not only in very moist ground, but in the water itself; and with cat's-tail, burr-reed, &c. soon fills up ditches, and occasions them to require frequent cleansing. In this respect it is a formidable plant, even in slow rivers. In the Isle of Ely they cleanse these by an instrument called a bear, which is an iron roller, with a number of pieces of iron, like small spades, fixed to it; this is drawn up and down the river by horses walking along the bank, and tears up the plants by the roots, which float, and are carried down the stream. The grass was, however, cultivated at Woburn on a strong tenacious clay, and yielded considerable produce.

5119. The fiorin grass (Agrostis stolonifera, d) is a very common grass both in wet and dry, rich and poor situations. Few plants appear to be more under the influence of local circumstances than this grass. On dry soils it is worth nothing; but on rich marl soils, and in a moist soil, if we may put confidence in the accounts given of its produce in Ireland, it is the most valuable of all herbage plants. It was first brought into notice by Dr. Richardson, in 1809, and subsequently extolled, and its culture detailed in various pamphlets by the same gentleman. It appears to be exclusively adapted for moist peat soils or bogs. In The Code of Agriculture, it is said, " On mere bogs, the fiorin yields a great weight of herbage, and is, perhaps, the most useful plant that bogs can produce." According to Sir H. Davy, the fiorin grass, to be in perfection, requires a moist climate or a wet soil; and it grows luxuriantly in cold clays unfitted for other grasses. In light sands, and in dry situations, its produce is much inferior as to quantity and quality. He saw four square yards of fiorin grass cut in the end of January, in a meadow exclusively appropriated to the cultivation of fiorin, by the Countess of Hardwicke, the soil of which is a damp stiff clay. They afforded twenty-eight pounds of fodder, of which one thousand parts afforded sixty-four parts of nutritive matter, consisting nearly of one-sixth of sugar, and five-sixths of mucilage, with a little extractive matter. In another experiment, four square yards gave twenty-seven pounds of grass. Lady Hardwicke has given an account of a trial of this grass; wherein twenty-three milch cows, and one young hoise, besides a number of pigs, were kept a fortnight on the produce of one acre. On the Duke of Bedford's farm, at Maulden, fiorin hay was placed in the racks before horses, in small distinct quantities, alternately with common hay; but no decided preference for either was manifested by the horses in this trial.

5120. There are other species of agrostis, as the A. palustris and repens, and some varieties of the A. stolonifera, that on common soils are little different in their appearance and properties from fiorin. Of one of these, the narrow-leaved creeping bent (A. stolonifera, var. angustifolia), the following remarks are made in the account of the Woburn experiments. "From a careful examination of the creeping-bent with narrow leaves, it will doubtless appear to possess merits well worthy of attention, though perhaps not so great as has been supposed, if the natural place of its growth and habits be impartially taken into the account. From the couchant nature of this grass, it is denominated couch-grass, by practical men, and from the length of time that it retains the vital power, after being taken out of the soil, it is called squitch, quick, full of life, &c.

5121. The culture of firin is different from that of other grasses. Though the plant will ripen its seeds on a dry soil, and these seeds being very small, a few pounds would be sufficient for an acre, yet it is generally propagated by stolones or root-shoots. The ground being well pulverised, freed from weeds, and laid into such beds or ridges as the cultivator may think advisable; small drills an inch or two deep, and six or nine inches asunder, are to be drawn along its surface, with a hand or horse-hoe, or on soft lands by the hoe-rake. In the bottom of these drills, the fiorin shoots (whether long or short is of no consequence) are laid in lengthways, so as their ends may touch each other, and then lightly covered with a rake, and the surface rolled to render it fit for the scythe. In six months the whole surface will be covered with verdure, and if the planting be performed early in spring, a large crop may be had the same autumn. Any season will answer for planting, but one likely to be followed by showers and heat is to be preferred. Those who wish to cultivate this grass will consult Dr. Richardson's New Essay on Fiorin Grass (1813), and also The Farmer's Magazine for 1810-14. Our opinion is, that neither fiorin, Timothy, or floating fescue, are ever likely to be cultivated in Britain; though the two last may perhaps succeed well on the bogs and moist rich soils of Ireland, where, to second the influence of the soil, there is a moist warm climate.

5122. A number of other species of tall grasses, well adapted for meadows and haymaking, might be here enumerated; but we have deemed it better to treat only of the most popular sorts, of which seeds may be purchased, all the others of any consequence will be found in a tabular view (Sect. III.), accompanied by a summary statement of their products, in hay and aftermath, nutritive matter, and general character.

5123. The preparation of the soil, and sowing of the usual meadow grasses, differs in nothing from that of clover and rye-grass already given; the after treatment of dry meadows, including the making of natural hay, will be found in the succeeding Chapter on the management of grass-lands, and that of watered meadows was naturally given when treating of their formation. (4053.)

SECT. II. Grasses chiefly adapted for Pasturage.

5124. Of pasturage grasses we shall make a selection of such as have been tried to some extent, and of which the seeds are in the course of commerce. On soils in good condition, and naturally well constituted, no better grasses can be sown for pasturage than those we have described as tall grasses for hay-meadows; but for early and late pasturage, and secondary soils, there are others much more suitable.

5125. The pasture grasses for early pasturage on all soils, are the anthoxanthum odoratum, holcus odoratus, avena pubescens, and poa annua.

5126. The pasture grasses for late herbage on all soils are chiefly the different species of agrostis and phleum.

5127. The pasture grasses for poor or secondary soils are the cynosurus cristatus, festuca duriuscula and ovina, poa compressa, cristata, and angustifolia.

5128. The grasses that afford most nutritive matter in early spring, are the fox-tail grass and the vernal grass; the former has been already mentioned as one of the best hay-grasses.

5129. The sweet-scented vernal grass, (Anthoxanthum odoratum, fig. 583 a), is common

in almost all pastures, and is that which gives the fragrance to natural or meadow-hay. It is chiefly valuable as an early grass, as, though it is eaten by stock, it does not appear to be much relished by them. From the Woburn experiments, it appears that the smallness of the produce of this grass renders it improper for the purpose of hay; but its early growth, and the superior quantity of nutritive matter which the lattermath affords, compared with the quantity afforded by the grass at the time of flowering, causes it to rank high as a pasture-grass, on such soils as are well fitted for its growth; such are peat-bogs, and lands that are deep and moist.

5130. The downy oat grass, (Avena pubescens, b), according to the Woburn experiments, possesses several good qualities, which recommend it. to particular notice; it is hardy, early, and more productive than many others which affect similar soils and situations. Its growth after being cropped is tolerably rapid, although it does not attain to a great length if left growing; like the poa pratensis it sends forth flower-stalks but once in a season, and it appears well calculated for permanent pasture on rich light soils. 5131. The annual meadow grass (Poa annua, c), is the most common of all grasses, and the least absolute in its habits. It is almost the only grass that will grow in towns and near works where the smoke of coal abounds. Though an annual grass, it is found in most meadows and pastures perpetually flowering, and affording an early sweet herbage, relished by all stock, and of as great importance to birds as wheat is to It hardly requires to be sown, as it springs up every where of itself. However, it may not be amiss to sow a few pounds of it per acre wherever perpetual pasture (not hay) is the object.

man.

5132. The fine bent grass (Agrostis vulgaris, d), is one of the grasses, and according to the Woburn experiments, one of the earliest. tris is nearly as early in producing its foliage, though both flower late, very prolific either in bulk or nutritive matter.

most common The A. palusand neither are

5133. The narrow-leaved meadow grass (Poa angustifolia, e), though it flowers exp, yet is remarkable for the early growth of the leaves. According to the Woburn experiments the leaves attain to the length of more than twelve inches before the middle of April, and are soft and succulent; in May, however, when the flower-stalks make their appearance, it is subject to the disease termed rust, which affects the whole plant; the consequence of which is manifest in the great deficiency of produce in the crop at the time the seed is ripe, being one half less than at the time of the flowering of the