188 FORAGE PLANTS. 



CHAPTER XIX. 



THE GRASSES FORMATION OF MEADOWS OR UPLAND 

 MOWINGS. 



654. The culture of the natural and artificial grasses 

 and other forage plants arose from the necessity of 

 providing sustenance through the winter, or inclement 

 season, for the domestic animals on which the success of 

 agriculture so much depends. It is evident that this 

 department of farming is of the highest , importance, 

 especially when we consider how dependent the raising 

 of stock must be upon it. 



655. The grasses may be classed, for convenience, 

 un^er two general divisions, the natural and the artificial. 

 The natural grasses comprise all the true grasses, or 

 plants with long, simple, narrow leaves, and a long sheath 

 divided to the base, which seems to clasp the stem, or 

 through which the stem seems to pass. Each leaf has 

 many fine veins, or lines running parallel with a central 

 prominent vein or midrib. The stem is hollow, with very 

 few exceptions, and closed at the joints. 



656. The artificial grasses are mostly leguminous plants, 

 with a few others which are cultivated and used like the 

 grasses, though they do not properly belong to that family. 

 The clovers, lucerne, sainfoin, medic and other similar 

 j ilants, are included among the artificial grasses. 



657. Lands laid down with the natural grasses are 

 designed as more permanent mowings than those sown 

 uiih the mtilicial ones alone. They are sown with a 

 number of species of the true grasses, must of which are 



