272 THE YEAR-BOOK OF AGRICULTURE. 



his own fields or in the immediate neighborhood. To botanists the scientific name is an 

 infallible guide, and it would be well if the farmer could apply the English name, where we 

 have one, to the grasses for which the name was intended, and to render himself familiar 

 with the different species, in order to be guarded against imposition or error. 



The following are the specific names of grasses in usual cultivation in America, as also 

 of some of those which may be cultivated with some prospect of success, but which require to 

 be better tested by future culture : 



1. Medicago sativa: the Lucerne. A native of Europe. This is a deep-rooted perennial 

 plant, sending up numerous tall, clover-like shoots. In the lower country of Carolina it 

 succeeds better than the red clover, being better adapted on account of its tap-root to sur- 

 vive the effects of drought. The objections to it are, that it requires an additional season to 

 bring it to maturity, and frequently dies out in spots. In Europe, a field of Lucerne may 

 be annually mowed or pastured for eight or ten years. 



2. Medicago maculata: Spotted Medick. This is the species cultivated in this country as 

 yellow clover. It is not valued in Europe as a grass worthy of cultivation, but seems to 

 succeed better in our Southern country. 



3. Medicago falcata: Yellow Lucerne; Swiss Lucerne. This species is a coarser and more 

 hardy plant than either of the species mentioned above. I observed it producing a good 

 yield in some of the sandy soils of Switzerland. 



4. Trifolium pratense: Common Red Clover. In all clay soils, more especially in lands 

 containing calcareous matter, clover can be easily raised. The application of gypsum seems 

 essential to its successful culture. For pasturage and resuscitation of poor lands, this is 

 among the most valuable of all our grasses. It should be remarked that some varieties of 

 red clover, of the same species, are perennial; others are biennial, or, at farthest, last only 

 three or four years. 



5. Trifolium repens: White or Dutch Clover. This is a much smaller species, and is not 

 used as hay, but in good soils forms a valuable pasture. There are fifty-nine species of 

 clover described by botanists; a very small number of these are cultivated, the rest are 

 regarded as unproductive. 



6. Phleum pratense: Timothy Grass; Herds Grass; Cat's tail Grass, &c. This is a most 

 valuable perennial grass, requiring moist ground. 



7. Alopecurus pratensis: Foxtail Grass. Sometimes mistaken for timothy grass, which it 

 much resembles. A large portion of the hay-grass of the Middle States is of this species, 

 which, although having smaller heads than the timothy, is nearly of equal value. 



8. Poa pratensis : Smooth-stalked Meadow Grass. In Kentucky, it is called Kentucky 

 blue grass. It is a valuable grass, and succeeds far better in Kentucky, the valleys in the 

 Virginian mountains, and in New York and Pennsylvania, than it does in any part of Europe, 

 where it is a native. 



9. Poa compressa: Compressed-stalked Meadow Grass; Blue Grass of England. It is far 

 inferior to the other, the Poa pratensis. 



10. Dactijlis glomerata: Orchard Grass of America; Cocksfoot of England. This is a 

 valuable grass, and produces an abundant yield. Its habit of growth is tufty, and it spreads 

 very little in the ground. It is better adapted to the Middle States than to our Southern 

 country. It is a native of Europe. 



11. Holcus lanatus : Meadow Soft Grass ; Woolly Soft Grass ; Yorkshire Fog. This is the 

 species that has on several occasions been sent from the West, and cultivated at the South, 

 under the name of muskeet grass. This and a kindred species, Holcus mollis, are both 

 natives of Europe. The latter species is possessed of no property to recommend it for cul- 

 tivation. The former species yields more abundantly, but on account of its woolly, soft, and 

 spongy nature, is not much relished by cattle, and is not generally made into hay. 



12. Agrostis vulgaris. Red Top. 



13. Agrostis stotonifera: White Top Bonnet Grass. 



These two species afford to the agriculturist in Europe and the Northern States of America 

 some of the most important objects of cultivation, both for pasturage and meadows. 



14. Digitaria sanauinalis ; Crab Grass. 



