82 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



Alopeciinis pralc?isis — Meadow Foxtail.— This is called by some 

 of our farmers, June grass, a name more properly applied to Poa 

 j)ratt7isis. In its general appearance, it closely resembles Timothy 

 or Herdsgrass, but the spike is soft while that of Timothy is rough, 

 and it blooms earlier, besides which, it gives a luxuriant aftermath. 

 It is a very valuable pasture grass, being of early and rapid growth, 

 and well relished by cattle, particularly by horses and sheep, al- 

 though in nutritive powers it is not equal to some others. As a 

 hay grass it does not appear to be worth cultivating here, although 

 it is esteemed as such in England. Dickson says, " Of all the En- 

 glish grasses, this appears to be the most adapted for cutting twice.'" 

 Buckman says, " This is a common native grass, especially in moist 

 meadows and rich pastures, for which situations it is admirably 

 adapted, as it yields a large proportion of hay and a quick growtii 

 of aftermath ; it should always form part of the grass of irrigated 

 meadows, as it is very early and bears cropping well, sending up 

 culms and a plentiful supply of herbage for the hay crop, after first 

 depasturing by sheep. In laying down land for permanent pasture, 

 it should always take a place with other grasses." Judge Buel 

 says, "It does best in moist soils, whether of loams, clays, or re- 

 claimed bogs." Mr. Flint says, ''It thrives on all soils except the 

 driest sands and gravels. * * We have many grasses 



superior to it for cultivation, but for permanent pasture, it is supe- 

 rior to Timothy, which is not a suitable pasture grass." 



Phlcum pratense — Timothy — Herds Grass of New England — 

 Meadow Catstail of England. — This is a native of England, early 

 introduced from thence by Timothy Hanson of Maryland, from whom 

 it derived the name by which it is most extensively known. Ac- 

 cording to some, it was first discovered in a swamp, early in the last 

 century, by one Mr. Hurd of Piscataqua, with whose name it thus 

 became associated. It forms the greatest portion of what is com- 

 monly termed English hay, being the best known and most largely 

 cultivated of all the grasses. Although of foreign origin, it is, in 

 this country, held in far higher esteem and is cultivated to a much 

 greater extent, proportionally to others, than where it is indigenous. 

 Taking all its qualities into consideration, it is the most valuable of 

 meadow grasses ; for although it is deficient in aftermath and second 

 to others as a pasture grass, yet being highly nutritious and pecul- 



