EARLY ATTEMPTS TO CULTIVATE GRASSES. 197 



CHAPTER VII. 

 EARLY ATTEMPTS TO CULTIVATE GRASSES. 



Meadows of the Romans. It will be unsafe to enter into 

 details in reference to the time of introduction of most of our 

 valuable grasses. Even to the present day, there is much un- 

 certainty and confusion of the names of grasses. 



As a matter of history it may not be out of place to read a few 

 extracts from L. J. M. Columella, the old Roman, who wrote 

 about A. D. 50 : 



" The hay which grows naturally in a juicy soil, is reckoned 

 better than that which is forced by constant watering. Land 

 that shelves gently, if it is either flat or well watered, may be 

 reduced into meadow ; but such a level ground is most approved, 

 which, having a very small gentle descent, does not suffer the 

 showers nor the rivulets that flow into it, to abide long in it; or 

 if any water comes upon it, it creeps off slowly ; therefore, if in 

 any part it be low and marshy, and the water stagnates upon 

 it, it must be carried off by furrows ; for either great abundance 

 or scarcity of water, is equally pernicious to grass of all sorts." 



After speaking of removing brush, briars, and weeds, he says : 

 " It is important that we neither allow a hog to feed therein, 

 because, with its snout, it digs up and raises the turf, nor larger 

 cattle, unless when the ground is exceeding dry, because they 

 sink their hoofs into it and bruise and cut the roots of the herbs. 

 Nevertheless, the second year we will allow smaller cattle to be 

 admitted, after the hay harvest is over, provided the dryness 

 and condition of the place will suffer it. Then the third year, 

 when the meadow is become more hard and solid, it may receive 



FIG. 87. Cynosurus crist-if JIK (Crested Dog's tail): a, A whole plant ; 7>, c, two views of 

 a spikelet. (Plant from Sutton, spikelets by Scribner). 



