IX CUTTING DOWN PLANTATIONS. 295 



witli the most liappy results both as regards utility and scenic 

 effect. 



No. 4- consists of fiat peaty soil, containing upwards of 20 

 per cent, of organic matter, and liable to be flooded occasionally 

 during winter. This class of soil is best adapted for the healthy 

 development of the different species of poplar, sallow, and 

 alder, to be left as standards ; and the following grasses and 

 herbage thrive best as undergrowth : — 



(1) liough-stalked meadow grass {Poa trivialis) is a strong 

 hardy grass, and quite at home under the shade of trees and 

 damp situations. It produces young shoots from the base of 

 the culms, which root themselves into the soil at the joints ; and 

 as these keep green the greater part of winter, it affords feeding 

 for stock at a time when most pastures are bare. It is likewise 

 a capital meadow grass, makes good hay, and gives a large return. 



(2) Piorin grass {Agrostis stolonifera) is another strong useful 

 grass with a creeping root, the stolons of which root themselves 

 into the ground, and produce young plants. It may be pro- 

 pagated either by cuttings or from seeds. It is a good useful 

 grass, and gives a heavy crop on boggy ground and damp places 

 that cannot be easily drained. 



(3) Floating sweet grass {Poa fluitans) is a soft succulent plant, 

 whose natural home is in muddy pools, wet ground, and sides 

 of ditches. It is likewise perfectly at home under the shade of 

 trees. It is invaluable for furnishing cold wet places that 

 cannot be easily drained, and is much relished by cattle in a 

 green state, but of too soft a texture for hay. 



(4) Meadow foxtail grass {Alopecurus 2'>rcite'nsis), {A. fidvus), 

 (A. geniculatus), are all valuable grasses for permanent pasture, 

 being early, succulent, and much relished by sheep and cattle ; 

 and when eaten down in spring they renew their foliage with 

 great rapidity, which enhances their value very much. They 

 are quite at home on damp boggy soil under the shade of trees, 

 when not too crowded. 



(5) Meadow catstail grass {Phleum pratcnsc) is a well-known 

 useful grass, indigenous to America. It thrives on a great 

 variety of soils, but is best suited to damp moory soils rich in 

 organic matter, as well as stiff tenacious clay, on all of which 

 it gives a good return, and is relished very much by cattle 

 either as hay or pasture. 



(G) Purple melica-grass {Mclica cceridea) inhabits damp 

 spont^'y ground, and is valuable on acount of its hardiness, and 

 for hlling up gaps where some of the finer grasses refuse to 

 grow. 



(7) Vernal grass {Antliuxaatlnim odoratum) is an early pro- 

 du'jtive grass ; it grows on during summer and up to a late 

 period in autumn. 



