820 



PRACTICE OF AGRICULTURE. 



III. 



5104. With respect to the cultvre of these grasses, it may be considered as ne same as 

 that given to rye-grass, as discussed when treating of clover and rye-grass (5002.). The 

 seeds of all of them are sold by the principal seedsmen, or may be gathered on grass- 

 fields, or hedge wastes, by women or children at an easy rate. 



SuBSECT. 2. Of tall or Hai/ Grasses of permanent Duration. 



5105. iVb ;)ermnen/ grass has been found equal to the rye-grass for the purposes of 

 convertible husbandry, but others have been selected which are considered superior for 

 hay meadows. The principal of these are the fescue, fox-tail, and meadow-grass. Agricul- 

 turists, indeed, are not all agreed on the comparative merits of these grasses with rye- 

 grass, but there are none who do not consider it advisable to introduce a portion of each , 

 or most of these species along with rye-grass, in laying down lands to permanent pasture. 

 The nutritive products of these grasses, of perennial rye-grass, and of that singular 

 grass florin, are thus given by Sir H. Davy : 



581 



5106. Of the fescue grass there are three species in the highest estimation as meadow 

 hay grasses, viz. the meadoM'^, tall, and spiked fescue. (Jig. 581 a, b, c.) The F. praten- 

 sis (a), or the meadow or fertile fescue grass, is found in most rich meadows and pastures 

 in England, and is highly grateful to every description of stock. It is more in demand 

 for laying down meadows than any other species excepting the rye-grass. By the 

 Woburn experiments, the value of this grass at the time the seed is ripe, is to that of the 

 grass at the time of flowering, as 6 to 18. The loss which is sustained by leaving the 

 crop of this grass till the seed be ripe is very great. That it loses more of its weight 

 in drying at this stage of growth, than at the time of flowering, perfectly agrees with the 

 deficiency of nutritive matter in the seed crop, in proportion to that in the flowering 

 crop : the straws being succulent in the former, they constitute the greatest part of the 

 weight ; but in the latter they are comparatively withered and dry, consequently the leaves 

 constitute the greatest part of the weight.. It may be observed here, that there is a great 

 difference between straws or leaves that have been dried after they were cut in a succu- 

 lent state, and those which are dried by nature while growing. The former retain all 

 their nutritive powers ; but the latter, if completely dry, very little, if any. 



5107. The tall or infertile fescue grass {Festuca elatior, E. B. b.) is closely allied to the festuca pratensis, 

 from which it differs in little, except that it is larger in every respect. The produce is nearly three times 

 that of the F. pratensis, and the nutritive powers of the grass are superior, in direct jjroportion, as 6 to 8. 

 The proportional value which the grass at the time the seed is ripe, bears to that at the time of flowering, 

 is as 12 to 20. The proportional value which the grass of the lattcrmath bears to that of the crop, is as 

 16 to 20 ; and to that at the time the seed is ripe, as 12 to 16 inverse. Curtis observes, that as the seeds of 

 this plant, vvhen cultivated, are not fertile, it can only be introduced by parting its roots and jilantins; thorn 

 out J in this there would, says he, be no great difficulty, provided it wore likely to answer the expense. 



