360 EFFECT OF SEASONS 



Not only in those on the limestone substratum, but 

 in many that \vere sandy, and in the clayey which 

 were chapped by the heat, the roots of the grasses, 

 which we have generally considered as not being 

 subject to such injuries, were destroyed in some 

 cases, and greatly injured in others ; and in their 

 places frequently sprang up crowfeet (ranunculus 

 acris, and bulbosus] , and dandelions, a mere useless 

 vegetation, which, as long as the grasses flourished, 

 were kept in subordination and obscurity by their 

 superior growth ; while bare patches in other places 

 told us of aridity and failure : the meadow grass 

 (pod) and ray grass (lolium perenne) were great 

 sufferers ; the dog's tail (cynosurus) supported itself 

 better; the cockfoot (dadylis), though not killed, 

 was so much hurt that its ensuing vegetation, 

 instead of the coarse luxuriance it generally mani- 

 fests, was dry, hard, and deficient in succulency, or, 

 as our labourers emphatically say, was " stunned ;" 

 and bent-grass (ayrostis vulgaris), that certain 

 indicator of a dry soil, appeared more than it com- 

 monly does. But this destruction of the roots, 

 in very many places, was not obvious the turf, as it 

 was, remaining ; yet some injury was apparent in 

 the succeeding summer and autumn. The crop 

 cut for hay was unusually abundant, and seemed 

 to have exhausted the roots by its growth, as no 

 after-grass sprang up ; nor did the pastures which 

 were fed afford more than a dry, hard, yellow pro- 

 vender, looking tanned, as if seared by severe frost : 

 and in September, when, in general, we expect our 



