24 



PRACTICE OF AGRICULTURE. 



?ART IIL 



Sect. II. Grasses chiefly adapted for Pasturage, 



5124. Of pasturage grasses we shall make a selection of such as have been tried to some 

 extent, and of which the seeds are in the course of commerce. On soils in good condi- 

 tion, and naturally well constituted, no better grasses can be sown for pasturage than 

 those we have described as tall grasses for hay -meadows ; but for early and late pas- 

 turage, and secondary soils, there are others much more suitable. 



5125. Thi ]}asture grasses for earl?/ pasturage on all soils, are the anthoxanthura odo- 

 ratum, holcus odoratus, avena pubescens, and poa annua. 



5126. The pasture grasses for late herbage on all soils are chiefly the different species 

 of agrostis and phleum. 



5 1 27. The pasture grasses for poor or secondary soils are the cynosurus cristatus, festuca 

 duriuscula and ovina, poa compressa, cristata, and angustifolia. 



5128. The grasses that afford most nutritive matter in early spring, are the fox -tail 

 grass and the vernal grass ; the former has been already mentioned as one of the best 

 hay-grasses. 



5129. Tlie sweet-scented vernal grass, {Anthoxanthum odoratum, Jig. 583 a) , is common 



in almost all pastures, and is that which gives the fragrance to natural or meadow-hay. 

 It is chiefly valuable as an early grass, as, though it is eaten by stock, it does not appear 

 to be much relished by them. From the Woburn experiments, it appears that the small- 

 ness of the produce of this grass renders it improper for the purpose of hay ; but its early 

 growth, and the superior quantity of nutritive matter which the lattermath affords, com- 

 pared with the quantity afforded by the grass at the time of flowering, causes it to rank 

 high as a pasture-grass, on such soils as are well fitted for its growth j such are peat-bogs, 

 and lands that are deep and moist. 



5130. The downy oaf grass, (Avena jmbescens, b), according to the Woburn ex- 

 periments, possesses several good qualities, which recommend it to particular notice ; 

 it is hardy, early, and more productive than many others which affect similar soils and 

 situations. Its growth after being cropped is tolerably rapid, although it does not attain 

 . to a great length if left growing ; like the poa pratensis it sends forth flower-stalks but 

 once in a season, and it appears well calculated for permanent pasture on rich light soils. 



5131. The annual meadoiv grass (Poa annua, c), is the most common of all grasses, 

 and the least absolute in its habits. It is almost the only grass that will grow in 

 towns and near works where the smoke of coal abounds. Though an annual grass, it 

 is found in most meadows and pastures perpetually flowering, and affording an early 

 sweet herbage, relished by all stock, and of as great importance to birds as wheat is tO' 

 man. It hardly requires to be sown, as it springs up every where of itself. However^ 

 it may not be amiss to sow a few pounds of it per acre wherever perpetual pasture (not 

 hay) is the object. 



5132. The fine bent grass (Agrostis vulgaris, d), is one of the most common' 

 grasses, and according to the Woburn experiments, one of the earliest. The A. palus- 

 tris is nearly as early in producing its foliage, though both flower late, and neither are 

 very prolillc either in bulk or nutritive matter. 



5133. T'he narroiv-leaved meadoio grass (Poa angustifolia, e), though it flowers' 

 exp, yet is remarkable for the early growth of the leaves. According to the Woburn 

 experiments the leaves attain to the length of more than twelve inches before the middle' 

 of April, and are soft and succulent; in May, however, when the flower- stalks make 

 their appearance, it is subject to the disease termed rust, which affects the whole plant ; 

 the consequence of whicli is manifest in the great deficiency of produce in the crop at 

 the time the seed is ripe, being one half less than at the time of the flowering of the' 



