16'4 HORTUS (i RAMINF.US WOR U R NEN SlS.'f 



more opposite to those in the composition of tares than 

 most other grasses, and therefore promise to be the most 

 useful. 



The different species of the natural grasses, differ less 

 from each other, in the composition of their nutritive matters, 

 than tiiey do in general from the different species of clover 

 or vetch. But in all the numerous trials I have made on 

 the nutritive matters of the proper grasses, I could never 

 find two species perfectly agree in the proportions of mu- 

 cilage, sugar, gluten, bitter extractive, and saline matters, 

 of which their nutritive matters consisted. To detail the 

 results of all these processes, would probably be more tedious 

 for the agriculturist to read, than they were to the conductor 

 of the experiments in the performance. What has just now 

 been stated may be sufficient to show, in some measure, 

 the degree of impoitance that is to be attached to the pro- 

 perties in question, when making a selection of the most 

 valuable grasses for permanent pasture, or indeed for any 

 oth^r purpose for which they are useful. The following 

 grasses are selected from those of which figures have been 

 given in the foregoing pages, as being superior to all others 

 in one or more of the valuable properties before men- 

 tioned : in nutritive qualities, early growth, produce, repro- 

 ductive powers, permanency in the soil, and the facilities 

 they offer for their propagation by seed. 



The proportions in which the seeds of the different species 

 should be mixed for permanent pasture : — 



Cock's-foot grass {dactijUs glomerata) 2 bushels. 



Meadow-fescue {festuca pratetms) 2 



Meadow foxtail-grass {a/opecurus pratensis) 2 



Kough-stalked meadow-grass {poa trivialis) 2 



Tall oat-like soft-grass {holcus avenaceus) Oi 



Meadow cat's-tail {phleum prate/tse) 15 lbs. 



Hard, or smooth fescue (Jesttica duriuscula, vel 



glabra) 2 bushels. 



Crested dog's-tail {cynosurus cristatits) 1 



Nerved meadow-grass {poa nervata) 0^ 



Wood meadow-grass (jt)oa nernora/is) 1 



