TIMOTHY-GRASS. 447 



seed averages 48 lb., and the number of seeds in an ounce is 

 about 42,000. 



Phleum. The Timothy-grass, cat's-tail, or herd-grass is 

 known to botanists under the name Phleum pratense. To the 

 same genus Phleum belong several other species of grasses 

 found native ; but none of these have been found to possess 

 any agricultural value. 



The Phleum pratense is a perennial grass, which is knotty 

 or bulbous, and somewhat creeping. It grows from 18 

 inches to 2 feet high. It flowers in the third week of June, 

 and ripens its seed in the end of July. Its limit of altitude is 

 about 1 500 feet above the sea-level. It grows in meadows 

 and rich pastures. Some difference of opinion exists as to its 

 agricultural value. According to Mr Sinclair, it is unfit for 

 cultivation by itself as an alternate husbandry grass, but of 

 great value as a constituent of any mixture of grasses for per- 

 manent pasture, or the alternate husbandry, where it should 

 always form a part of the crop. It grows best in tenacious 

 soils, and is especially suited for improved peaty and moist 

 grounds. 



It is one of the plants recommended in alternate husbandry, 

 to the extent of from 1 to 2 lb. of seed per imperial acre ; also 

 for permanent pasture, for permanent lawn-pasture, for lands 

 in preparation for irrigation, for pasturage and cover in thick 

 shady woods, for heathy and moory lands which have been 

 improved with a view to their producing better pasturage, for 

 improved deep mossy ground intended to be kept in grass, and 

 for marshy grounds and such as are occasionally overflowed by 

 fresh-water tides. A bushel of the seeds averages 44 lb., and 

 the number of seeds in an ounce is about 74,000. 



p OOL The wood meadow-grass is known to botanists as the 

 Poa nemoralis. To the same genus Poa belong many native 

 grasses, several of which are of agricultural value. 



