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works which, as a rule, are at the same time of a tiring nature. 



But as it is our intention to consider the various grasses and 

 furthermore some of the luguminous plants more from a practical 

 point of view, we venture that even such readers as alluded to 

 above will find some useful knowledge in these lines either new 

 to them or lost sight of in the study of the more theoritical side 

 of the matter. 



And then, in regard to the value of the various species of 

 Natural Grasses, we must say, that it is the general opinion now 

 of the most competent and experienced men, that these merits 

 which cannot be estimated too highly, have been but too long 

 neglected, seeing what benefits are to be derived from their use 

 for various purposes, of which that of laying down permanent 

 pasture-land, for alternate grazing and hay-making purposes, is 

 decidedly the most important-one. 



If in former times the Ryegrasses (perennial and Italian) 

 and Clovers were chiefly the ingredients for laying down pasture- 

 and grazing-lands, we would say, that these answered the purpose 

 fairly well, if the farmer had in view a pasture or meadow for say 

 2 or 3 years' lay, as such a mixture would produce the maximum 

 of good fodder in a minimum of time. But even to reach that 

 aim we know a little better now. We know at least this, that for 

 that purpose we can use to great advantage in connection with 

 the Ryegrasses and Clovers, certain Natural Grasses, the nutritive 

 value of which surpasses that of the Ryegrasses and which, though 

 more slowly than these, do as yet develop fastly enough to render 

 good service in pastures and meadows of so short a duration. 



For, although everybody knows, that it is the Ryegrasses, "'par 

 excellence", which come to the front in a very short time once 

 they have been sown, and yield a good crop of hay the first year, 

 yet practice and experiments during the last few decades have 

 taught likewise, that amongst the Natural Grasses also, there are 

 a few species which, though they don't produce the first year so 

 large a quantity of hay as the Ryegrasses do, display the second 

 year all their luxury and the full abundance of quantity. Nor is 

 this all. For, amongst the Natural Grasses, there are even a few 

 which, though developping not quite so luxuriously as the Rye- 

 grasses, yet just like these do actually produce also a fairly good 

 crop the first year and, therefore, though it would be unwise to 

 sow them alone, may be used with great advantage in connection 

 with the Ryegrasses and Clovers and help these to increase not 



