OF THE COUNTY OF DOWN. 131 



Holcus lanatus. White grafs. This is the white hay fo 

 much prized in this country, but Mr. Sole agrees with 

 me, Bath Tranfaclions, p. 147, that it is neither good for 

 meadows nor pafture. Mr.Templeton. Imuft beg leave 

 to diffent both from Mr. Templeton and Mr. Sole; upon 

 foils rich and well prepared this grafs throws up a 

 great quantity both of leaves and ftems, and feems pe- 

 culiarly grateful to all kinds of cattle. On turf-bogs, 

 that have been manured with afties or dung, this is one 

 of the firft graffes, both as to quantity and quality. 

 When cut merely for hay, it ought to be taken before 

 the ears clofe, juft when it has attained its greateft 

 height; but when the feed is to be faved, they muft be 

 allowed to clofe, otherwife, the procefs of fructification 

 not being completed, the feed will not grow. J. D. 



Lolium perenne. Rye-grafs ; the moft excellent early 

 pafture grafs we have on dry grounds; I have obferved 

 it to be particularly fine on the ftony loams of the county 

 of Down ; it appears to me better for pallure than hay. 



Phleum pratenfe. This is the far famed Timothy- 

 grafs, but I think it does not deferve the great name it 

 has got, it is of too rigid a confidence ; as farmers fay it 

 does not bulk well, and as it is one of the latefl graffes, 

 others much better growing with it will be fpoiled, be- 

 fore it is fit for cutting. Mr.Templeton. Notwithfland- 

 ing this refpectable opinion, I have feen very fine crops, 

 all of this grafs, or nearly fo, in the neighbourhood of 

 Caftle-Dobbs, in the county of Antrim; and although 



s 2 it 



