FORAGE. 51 



No. 2. Meadow Fescue (Festuca pratensis) is a very good upland grass. 

 It forms a considerable bulk of the permanent grass on good upland soils. 

 Its presence denotes good soil. It varies much in its forms, often almost 

 resembling rye-grass, and at other times branching out even more than 

 represented in Fig. 2. There are several other varieties of Festuca, some 

 of which are larger, others smaller than the pratensis. 



No. 3. Meadow Foxtail (Alopecurus pratensis) is a very good early 

 grass, and is found on good deep soils. It requires moisture, and there- 

 fore will not flourish on light dry soils. It closely resembles cat's tail, 

 but is distinguished from it by long hair-like awns. 



No. 4. Meadow Cat's tail, or Timothy (Phleum pratense), is a very 

 good grass, and often forms a considerable bulk of good upland hay. It 

 is, however, best adapted for moist rich soils. 



No. 5. Crested Dog's-tail (Cynosurus cristatus) is a very good upland 

 grass. It is well adapted to light and medium soils. Having long roots, 

 it will resist dryness better than most other upland grasses. 



No. 6. Sweet-scented Vernal (Anthoxanthum odoratum), though it has 

 no great nutritive value, is very beneficial in hay on account of the 

 fragrance which it imparts. It is a very early grass, and runs early to 

 seed. Hence, if it is found in flower in hay, it is especially favourable as 

 a test that the crop has been cut in good time. If, on the other hand, it 

 has run to seed, it shows that the cutting has been delayed. 



The above are the best upland grasses ; and in proportion as upland 

 hay contains them, it is good. Some few of them, it will be seen, require 

 that the soil sKould be moist as well as rich. 



86. Of inferior grasses, 



No. 7. Cock's-foot (Dactylis glomerata) is a somewhat inferior grass. 

 It grows on both good and inferior soils. It also flourishes under the 

 shade and drip of trees. Hence it is sometimes termed Orchard-grass. 

 It is coarse and hard, but as it contains a good deal of nutriment, it is 

 constantly employed as a mixture by agriculturists. 



No. 8. Smooth Meadow-grass (Poa pratensis) is inferior, and contains 

 but little nutriment. It grows abundantly on all soils, whether wet or 

 dry. There are numerous varieties of this grass, some fine, some coarse, 

 according as the soil is dry or wet ; but they all bear a general resem- 

 blance. 



No. 9. Soft Meadow-grass (Holcus mollis) is another abundant but 

 inferior grass. It grows on all soils. When dried as hay, it has a soft 

 spongy feel. It contains but little nutriment. 



No. 9 a shows the same in early flower. 



No. 10. As much may be said of Yorkshire fog (Holcus lanatus), which 

 it very closely resembles. 



These last two grasses are found to a certain extent in all samples of 

 hay, but in inferior hay they form the great bulk. 



