TRIANDRIA. 37 



is moist and fleshy ; exhibiting a curious instance of 

 the provision of nature to guard the plant against too 

 sudden a privation of moisture from the soil. 



MEADOW FOX-TAIL, Alopecuruspratensis, is 

 a grass abundantly produced in rich moist soils, and 

 on the whole, is perhaps as valuable as any we possess, 

 springing early and producing plenty. In such situa- 

 tions it yields a heavy crop, and after it has been mown 

 shoots freely, and the after- math is greedily eaten 

 both by Horses and Cows. 



CREEPING BENT-GRASS, Agrostis stoloni- 

 fera, produces several varieties, which form an herb- 

 age in deep spongy meadows of considerable value, 

 and often constitutes the chief part of the crop. 



In Wiltshire, at a place called Orcheston, about 

 nine miles from Salisbury, there is a small meadow of 

 not more than two acres and a half which has been 

 long celebrated for its extraordinary quantity of grass. 

 The meadow is situated on a small brook, which is 

 frequently overflowed, and sometimes continues so a 

 great part of the winter : it has always the greatest bur- 

 then in a wet season. It is mowed twice a year, and 

 the average crop is twelve tons of hay at the first 

 mowing, and six the second, though sometimes con- 

 siderably more. 



The grass is of a sweet nature, so that all cattle and 

 even pigs eat it very eagerly. When made into hay it is 

 excellent, and improves beasts greatly ; and horses will 

 eat it in preference to corn mixed with chaff, when 

 both are set before them together. This account 



