WHAT IS NOW SOWN IN GREAT BRITAIN. 229 



M. Groetz found out what grasses were best adapted to his soils 

 by a slow process of testing each separately, then he used a 

 mixture of the seeds of those species which he had found did the 

 best. Chemical analysis might tell the same story or it might 

 not. 



WHAT IS NOW SOWJf IN GREAT BRITAIN. 



The following notes are taken from a recent admirable essay 

 by C. L. F. De Laune in Jour. Roy. Agr. Soc., 1882: 



te Gross ignorance prevails in reference to the kinds of grasses. 

 The use of short-lived grasses and of biennial clovers, coupled 

 with an insufficiency of proper seed, is the main cause of the 

 deterioration of new pastures after the first two or three years. 



" The five coarse grasses most valuable for permanent pasture 

 are the following : 



" Dactylis glomerata (Cocksfoot). 



" Festuca prafensis (Meadow fescue). 



" Festuca elatior (Tall fescue). 



" Phleum pratense (Timothy). 



" Alopecurus pratensis (Meadow foxtail). 



"These five should form the bulk of all pastures on good soil, 

 either for slrjep or cattle. 



" The most valuable of the finer grasses are : 



" Cynosurus cristatus (Crested dogstail). 



" Festuca duriuscula (Hard fescue). 



" Poa trivialis (Rough meadow grass). 



" Agrostis stolonifera (Fiorin). 



" Festuca ovina (Sheep's fescue). 



" Avena flavescen* (Golden oat-grass). 



"In much smaller proportion should be used permanent red 

 clover, cow grass (a kind of red clover), alsike, and white clover. 

 Seeds of yarrow ought never to be omitted. These should be 

 varied with the soil. 



