CHAPTER IV. 



OF THE GUA.SSES WHICH NATURALLY GROW IN MOIST SOILS, OR 

 IN BOGS, LANDS THAT ARE PERIODICALLY OVERFLOWN, AND 

 IRRIGATED MEADOWS. 



All the siijDerior pasture grasses will thrive under irrigation, 

 provided *.he water-meadow be properly constructed, that is, 

 if the water be placed perfectly under command, so as to be 

 admitted on the land, and carried off from it at pleasure. 



Bogs and lands that are periodically overflown, on which 

 the water stagnates from the want of drains, support few 

 grasses of any value to the agriculturist. They are princi- 

 pally the following: — Marsh-bent {agrostis palustris), awn- 

 less brown-bent {agi^ostis canina, vel trichodiiim caninum, var. 

 miitica), awned creeping-bent (agrostis stolonifera aristatu), 

 smaller-leaved creeping-bent (agrostis stolonifera arigvstij'olia), 

 creeping-rooted bent (agroslis repens), white bent (agrostis 

 alha), flote fescue (g/j/ceria Jluitans), tall fescue (festuca 

 elatior), turfy hair-grass (aira ccespitosa), knee-jointed foxtail 

 grass (alopecitrus ge/iiculatiis), water hair-grass {aita aqua- 

 tica), water meadow-grass {poa aquatica), long-leaved cotton 

 grass (eriophorum polystachion), sheathed cotton-grass {erio- 

 phorum vaginatam). 



The above grasses, however, constitute but a small portion 

 of the produce of marshy ground. The following plants 

 compose the bulk of produce : — Different species of rushes 

 (janciis), sedges (carex), rush-grasses {scha^nns), club-rushes 

 (ajperus), cat's-tail rushes (tijp/m), bur-weeds {sparganiian). 

 Of all these plants, as far as my observations have extended, 

 two or three species of junciis only are eaten by cattle. 

 Mr. Taunton indeed says, that he has observed cattle croj) 

 .some of the species of carex. The natural or proper grasses 



