84 HORTLS GRAMINEUS WOBU R N EN SIS. 



Oxen, horses, and sheep eat this grass readily. For the 

 superiority of this over ray grass, proved by an extensive 

 cultivation of it, the agricultural world is indebted to the 

 Earl of Leicester, who first persevered in the culture of it 

 at Holkhaui. The seed was first brought into market by 

 Messrs. Gibbs, seedsmen, Half-Moon Street, Piccadilly, 

 and who have continued to cultivate this and every other 

 sort of grass recommended to farmers by the author of this 

 work, 



ALOFECVRV^ praiensis. Meadow Fox-tail grass. 



Specific character: flowers in a spike; straw upright; 

 calyx hairy ; blossom awned. Native of Europe. 



Experiments. — A similar quantity of the herbage of this 

 species, cut on the 12th April, yielded 9,528 lbs. per 

 acre; and at the time of flowering 20,418 lbs. from off 

 a clayey loam. The produce from a sandy loam was 

 8,507 lbs. The after- math from the clayey loam 

 weighed 8,167 lbs. The proportional value of the grass 

 of the latter-math to that at the time of flowering, is 

 as twenty-four to thirteen ; and the crop, at the time 

 the seed is ripe, is to that of the latter-math as three 

 to two. 



This grass, under the best management, does not attain to 

 its full perfection till it is four years from the seed : hence 

 it is inferior to the cock's-foot for the purpose of alternate 

 cropping. The herbage, however, contains more nutritive 

 matter than that of the cock's-foot, though the weight of 

 grass produced in one season is considerably less. It thrives 

 well under irrigation, keeping possession of the crowns of 

 the ridges : it is strictly permanent. Sheep are very fond 

 of it : when combined with white clover only, the second 

 season, on a sandy loam, it is sufficient for the support of 

 five couples of ewes and lambs per acre. As it only thrives 

 on moderately moist land, and being longer in arriving at 

 full productiveness, its merits have been misunderstood in 

 many instances ; and in others, as in the alternate hus- 

 bandry, it has been by some persons set aside altogether. 



