SQQ^Cultivation of Arabic Land Meadow Fefcite, Sheep s Ft fine Gi aijls* 



Meadow Fefcue Grafs * This is a grafs that comes near in its appearance to 

 Kay Grafs, but to which it fecms greatly fuperior, at leaft for the purpofe of form 

 ing or improving meadows ; as being larger, and more productive of foliage. In 

 is frridlly perennial and hardy, thriving well not only in wet but in dry grounds ; 

 orowinf in all lunations, from the fund-pits at Chariton to the ofier-grounds at 

 Batterfea ; and it abounds in the belt meadows, in the be ft hay difh icts : in fliort, 

 it feems well calculated to fupply the defects of Ray Grafs. Beiides, it has the 

 quality of producing more feeds than mod of the other forts of grades, which arc 

 eafily gathered, and grow readily. It is however inferior to the three fir It of the 

 above grades in one property, which is, that it does not produce its flowering-Hems 

 fooner than about the-midcile of June, which is a fortnight or three weeks later 

 than the fecond of them ; though it cannot be confidered as a late grafs, as thole 

 of the bent and fome other forts flower later by three weeks or more.-j- 



The able botanift mentioned above obferves, that no plant whatever deferves 

 more the attention of the farmer than this, it being of certain growth, eafy cul 

 ture, productive, and remarkably fweet. It will thrive in either dry or wet foils, 

 an advantage which moft others do not podefs ; it appears to be little inferior to 

 fox-tail, except in point of the early growth. 



One reafon why this as well as many other grades were not formerly more ge 

 nerally introduced into cultivation, was the difficulty of diftinguifhing the grades 

 from each other; but which, from the fludy of agricultural botany, is now in 

 fome meafure done away : but a greater till lately, has always prefented itfelf, 

 which was the difficulty of procuring pure feeds of the different forts : this too 

 has now been in a great degree remedied by the exertions of Mr. Salilbury, who, 

 with fome country gentlemen, have laid down land fudicient to fupply the princi 

 pal feedfmen and others with large quantities ; and it may be expected that in a 

 ihort time the markets will be generally fupplied with them as well as with rye- 

 grafs, which was the only one to bepurchafed till within thefe few years. 



Sheep s Fefcue.% This grafs has been much praifed by fome, both for the pur- 

 pofes of pafture and hay ; fheep and other forts of live flock being very fond of it, 

 and foon rendered fat in paftures where it prevails. But from its affording in dry 

 heathy expofed fituations, and commons, but a very fmall produce, and its foliage 

 being hard and wiry, as well as from its appearance in dry fummers being unplea- 

 fantly brown; and in rich moift ones, where the foliage retains its verdure, and 

 becomes much taller ; from its being in its nature a fmall plant, it cannot be pro- 



Festuca pratensis. i Curtis s Observations. J Fcstuca ovina. 



