160 AGRICULTURAL TEXT-BOOK. 



(and in which respect it is very important that we should follow thei r 

 example,) is that a greater weight can be produced on an acre ; some 

 are of temporary duration, some of permanent ; the period ot matura 

 tion differs, so that, when mixed, some are always in the best condition 

 for pasture; the nutritive power differs ; some are best adapted for pas 

 ture, others for meadow ; and some prosper in one sort of soil, others 

 in another sort. Mixed grasses are found to feed miimals more profit 

 ably than one single kind ; and it may be said, that the improvement 

 of stock in Great Britain commenced, and has kept pace with the intro 

 duction of cultivated grasses, and other fodder plants. Great pains are 

 taken in that country to find and cultivate the best species. In the 

 United States we have been much too negligent in this respect. 



In 1840, the hay crop of the United States was 10,248,- 

 108f tons; in 1850, 13,838,579 tons; in which, however, clover 

 is included. 



383. The following species are the most valuable: 



(aj) Phleum pratense. Timothy, Herd s grass. (Meadow 

 Cats-tail.*; 



(bj) Agrostis vulgaris. Red Top, Herd s grass. 



(cj) Agrostis alba. White Bent Grass, White Red Top, 

 Fiorin. (Marsh Bent Grass.) 



(dj) Muhlenbergia Mexicana. Fowl Meadow Grass. 



(e,) Poa Pratensis. Green Meadow Grass, June Grass. 

 (Smooth-stalked Meadow Grass.) 



(f,) Poa compressa. Blue Grass. 



(g,) Poa trivialis. Rough-stalked Meadow Grass. 



(hj) Dactylis glomerata. Orchard Grass. (Rough Cocks 

 foot Grass.) 



(ij) Lolium italicum. Italian Rye Grass. 



(j,) Lolium perennc. Perennial Rye Grass, or (Darnel.) 



(kj Lolium annuum. Annual do 



There is a species of Rye or Darnel grass (Lolium temulentum,) greatly refemblinjp 

 the Perennial, which is poisonous to every thing but hojs. It is naturalized in Mas 

 sachusetts. In some parts of Europe it is a weed among wheat, and when eaten in 

 flour is frequently filial. (Jib &amp;lt;tr . / of Med. Scien., June 1851, p. 299.) 



The last nime within brackets in this list is that which ia usually uted by English 

 writers. Those marked * belong to the South. 



