164 AGRICULTURAL TEXT-BOOK. 



though naturalized in some parts of the Eastern States. It resembles 

 the June grass (&amp;lt;?.) Donaldson in his Treatise on Grasses does not 

 speak favorably of its productiveness in England, although it is sown 

 among others for pastures. It requires a sheltered situation on damp 

 clays and strong loamy soils, and is easily hurt by frosts. 



(A,) This grass is also a native of England, but has become entirely 

 naturalized in the Atlantic States. It belongs to dry soils, though it 

 does well in moderately damp situations, and, in its native state, grows 

 in clays and heavy loams. It prospers well in the neighborhood of De 

 troit, proving quite hardy, and is about a fortnight earlier in the spring 

 than either Timothy or June grass. It is a large, strong, tall grass, with 

 somewhat coarse culms, and abundance of leaf ; but, unless annually 

 pastured, it has a tendency to grow in clumps instead of covering the 

 ground. This is corrected by grazing the meadow in spring and fall. 

 It succeeds well under trees, (hence its American name,) and the leaf, 

 when cut or eaten, continues to grow ; unlike Timotlty, which must 

 throw up a new leaf. &quot; The produce, when flowering, is 27,905 Ibs., 

 per acre ; when ripe, 26,544 Ibs., and tlie lattermath, 11,910 Ibs.&quot; Un 

 der most circumstances, it is e-sentially a most valuable grass, and is 

 much relished by all kind of stock. It is the favorite grass of the rich 

 pastures around Dublin, Ireland. The aftergrass is very abundant, and 

 does not seem to suffer from heat as much as our grasses. It should al 

 ways be sown with other species, but it ripens about a fortnight befoie 

 Timothy. The Balled Drop-seed grass, (Muhlenbcrgia glomerata, Trin,) 

 somewhat resembles it, and might, we are inclined to think, be profita 

 bly sown with other species in wet places. The latter is a native of 

 Michigan. 



(i,) Undoubtedly stands at the head of all cultivated grasses for pro 

 ductiveness, for feeding qualities, and for hay, but like all the Rye 

 grasses, it has a tendency, if allowed to seed, to impoverish the soil. It 

 is probably a distinct species and not a mere variety . Compared with 

 the common Rye grass, it arrives sooner at maturity ; has a greater 

 abundance of foliage, which is broader and of a lighter color ; grows 

 taller ; spreads less on the ground ; its spikes are longer ; the seed is 

 lighter, smaller, and less in quantity. It is preferred by cattle to any 

 other grass. It grows through winter; is earlier in spring; does not 

 suffer from heat ; and continues growing luxuriantly till checked by 

 frost. The true species is perennial, and prospers well in the neighbor 

 hood of Detroit. The great difficulty we have found with it, is that 

 cattle, horses, and sheep are so fond of it, that when mixed with many 

 other varieties they leave all the rest, and eat this grass deep into the 



