Cultivation of Arable Land* Arrangement of Grafts, for different Soils. S33 



It is a plant that may be cultivated for cattle ; but its principal ufe is, as has 

 been feen, for fheep paftu rage. It fucceeds on moil forts of foils, as thofe of the 

 fandy, clayey, and peaty kinds. It is aflerted to form a large proportion of the 

 natural parturage of cxten five tracks on the moft fertile parts of the South Downs; 

 and it abounds much on moft other downs of the chalky kind.* Its moft benefi 

 cial application is in the way of an early green feed for ftaeep, or other forts of 

 ftock. It mould be always made ufe of while in its more young and tender ftate 

 of growth, as being better relifhed by the animals. In foils that are fertile and 

 fuited to its cultivation, it is faid, under proper management, to fometimes afford 

 good pafturage in the latter end of January, and through the whole of the two fol 

 lowing months. The fevere weather in winter affedls it lefs than moft other her 

 baceous plants, being fo hardy as in fome cafes to vegetate in that feafon, when 

 the weather is a little open. If not fed down, it may be cut at the above period 

 as a green food for animals. Its property of refilling the effects of drought in the 

 fummer feafon, is likewife a circumftance of much importance in its favour. It 

 has alfo the quality of getting thicker and more clofe on the land by time.f 



For the purpofe of hay it is a plant that is faid to afford a large produce, but 

 which requires to be cut rather early, to prevent its coarfenefs. The feed is faid 

 to be of much advantage in the feeding of horfes, and alfo the chaffy material. % 



There are many other plants, both of the tare or vetch and fvveet pea, as well as 

 other forts, that are faid to have been found highly valuable, efpccially when kept 

 clofely fed down by cattle; but the trials that have yet been made with them arc 

 much too few to allow us to fpeak of them in this place. 



The different field-grafles and herbaceous plants which have been defcribed 

 above, may be arranged and found ufeful in refpect to foil, allowing for particu 

 lar circumftances, fomewhat in the following order : for 



Clayey Soils. Marl or Cow Grafs ; Rough Cock s-foot Grafs ; Crefted Dog s- 

 tail j Meadow Fefcue Grafs ; Meadow Fox-tail Grafs ; Rough-ftalked Meadow 

 Grafs ; Tall Oat Grafs ; Trefoil ; Meadow Soft Grafs, or Y orklhire White ; Mea 

 dow Cat s-tail or Timothy Grafs. 



Loamy Soils.- White Clover; Ray or Rye Grafs ; Meadow Fefcue Grafs ; Mea 

 dow Fox-tail Grafs; Crefted Dog s-tail Grafs ; Poa or Common Meadow 

 Grafs ; Meadow Soft Grafs, or Yorkftiire White ; Meadow Cat s-tail or Timothy 

 Grafs; Smooth-ftalked Meadow Grafs; Sheep s Fefcue Grafs ; Hard Fefcue 

 Grafs; Yarrow, and Lucern. 



* Young in Communications to the Board of Agriculture, vol. III. 

 t Annals of Agriculture, vol, XXJ. * Ibid, 



