42 PERMANENT AND TEMPORARY PASTURES 



At the time the crop is cut this grass is too small to make 

 much difference in the weight of hay, and the fact has been 

 urged as an objection to the sowing of Dogstail. The answer 

 is, that it is distinctly a grazier's gi'ass, being found in all the 

 most celebrated natural sheep pastures of the country, and its 

 value for grazing is shown by its extraordinary gi'owth in 

 August, when other grasses are giving up. 



On lawns and pleasure-grounds the fine evergreen herbage 

 is especially prized ; and in deer parks Dogstail should be liber- 

 ally used, for deer are, if possible, more fond of it than sheep. 



Cynosurus thrives in compact soil and will endure con- 

 ditions under which few other grasses can exist. The roots 

 are hard, and as they penetrate deep the plant is naturally 

 adapted for dry soils, and can withstand drought. Still I have 

 seen it gi'owing luxuriantly on tenacious clays, especially near 

 the sea. Cynosurus forms a conspicuous proportion of the rich 

 pastures in Komney Marsh and other low-lying parts of Kent, 

 and it is remarkable that a grass which does so well in such 

 situations should also find a congenial home on thin upland 

 pastures. On dry loams with a chalk subsoil it should be sown 

 freely. In fact, there is hardly any soil in the kingdom for 

 which it is unsuited. Full maturity is not reached until the 

 second or third year. 



The following description of the foliage of this grass will 

 aid in determining its presence in pastures. Lower sheaths 

 yellowish white ; leaves tapering from base to tip ; under 

 surface of leaves glossy ; young leaves folded on the mid-rib ; 

 ligule truncate. 



At Rothamsted and Kidmore Crested Dogstail appeared to 

 thrive equally well on the unmanured plots and on the plots 

 dressed with mineral manures alone. The plant manifested 

 antipathy for ammonia salts, and an appreciation of nitrate of 

 soda. 



For illustration, description, and chemical analysis, see 

 5s. Edition. 



