45 



As the name indicates, it is noted for its nice smell which, if 

 the variety is in bloom and occurs in the field in a somewhat 

 large proportion, is scented to a considerable distance. It is also 

 this variety, which more than any other gives that nice smell to 

 the newly made hay, if the hay-crop has been saved in good 

 condition. It produces a fair quantity of foliage, the blades, given 

 the shortness of the stems, being rather broad-shaped. 



As for the agricultural value, the opinions on it are more or 

 less divided. It is given out that, though its nutritive value cannot 

 be doubted, it is not much cared for by the cattle on account of 

 its somewhat bitter taste. Our own experience of several years, 

 however, tells us quite a different tale. If we say, that the hay 

 mowed from fields, composed of practically nothing but Sweet- 

 Vernal, after the seeds have been saved from same, therefore at 

 a time when the plants have become rather hard indeed and when 

 the best part of the nutritive value is out of them, is taken up 

 by the cattle with no sign of dislike, it stands to reason, that there 

 can be no question of aversion, if the cattle can graze on it when 

 the grass is in its most suitable feeding-state, i. e. either before 

 or during the flowering-time and in connection with other grasses; 

 or, when speaking of the hay, if such has been mown in good 

 time and also in connection with other grasses, which as a rule 

 form the bulk in the fields. 



In our opinion, therefore, it should not be left out of the mix- 

 tures for permanent pastures; but a fair, not too large a propor- 

 tion, should always be put in. 



A ill ho van I hum odoratum. Puelli (Sweet-Vernal, Puelli). 

 Though the seed of this plant has a striking resemblance to that 

 of the true Sweet-Vernal, yet they are two entirely distinct 

 species. The Puelli is of not the least agricultural value. It is an 

 annual, short-growing and poorly-leaved plant; it occurs as a weed- 

 grass only in rye-fields on sandy soils. It is never being grown as 

 a crop, but the seed together with the chaff and foreign matter, 

 is being sifted out of the rye-crops. It should not be used in 

 mixtures for permanent pasture, but might find at best a use for 

 cheap lawn-mixtures and then only along with perennial varieties, 

 as it is bound to disappear, if (as is generally the case with lawns) 

 it is regularly being mown and has consequently no opportunity 

 of sowing itself again by the ripened seeds falling off on the soil. 



