1 86 WEEDS OF FARM LAND 



thistle, nettle, and ryegrass venture as far as the outer edge of 

 the shade circle. 



Occasionally the vegetation under trees takes on a totally 

 different character. Under certain trees in Tortworth Park 

 (Glos) Bromus sterilis absolutely dominated the situation, in 

 some instances to the total exclusion of all other species, in 

 others admitting foxtail on sufferance. Under a very large oak 

 tree on a mowing field, also at Tortworth, the deep shade was 

 colonised by an abundance of pignut, little else being evident 

 except an undergrowth of grass. Farther out, in the less 

 dense shadow, cat's ear (Hypochceris radicata) was dominant, 

 very little pignut being present. At the edge of the shade, 

 merging into the main part of the field, the cat's ear was 

 joined by masses of dog daisies, which also occurred in 

 abundance out in the open, giving the field the appearance of 

 a sheet of white and gold. 



When fields are grazed by cattle, they are frequently 

 scattered with clumps of coarse, luxuriant grass that the 

 animals leave severely alone. These clumps spring up around 

 the droppings, and are very generally composed largely or en- 

 tirely of cocksfoot, with or without sorrel in varying amount. 

 The cocksfoot is obviously much encouraged by manuring, and 

 under favourable circumstances will grow so strongly as to 

 overpower nearly everything else. On this account care has 

 to be used in the application of dung to certain fields where 

 this grass flourishes. To some people the prevalence of cocks- 

 foot in clumps round the droppings and also under trees sug- 

 gests that in the latter case the grass is encouraged by the fact 

 that the animals seek the shade of trees during sunny weather, 

 so that the ground there gets heavily manured, thus giving the 

 cocksfoot a grand opportunity. This may be true to a large 

 extent, but even without heavy manuring cocksfoot tends to 

 grow very luxuriantly in the shade ; indeed, in some parts of 

 the world it is called orchard grass because it forms the chief 

 constituent of the herbage under the fruit trees. The tussocks 

 disfigure the fields and help to make the grass patchy. To 

 keep them down it is well to follow after cattle with horses or 

 sheep, as these have not the same objection to eating the 

 grasses in the clumps. 



