162 AN AMERICAN FARMER IX ENGLAND. 



side. The probability is, that in an average of ten years it will 

 prove the larger crop on the thickest sown, in both fields. 



The commonest grass seed sowed in England is rye-grass, or 

 ray-grass (perennial). It is a much smaller, closer-growing grass 

 than our timothy ; I think it has a sweeter taste, is probably bulk 

 for bulk, considerably more nutritious, and perhaps so pound for 

 pound ; but I think more fat and muscle can be made from an 

 acre, if sowed with timothy, than with rye-grass. A valuable 

 quality of rye-grass is its early spring growth. A field of rye- 

 grass will be up some inches, offering a tempting bite to cattle, 

 before a field of other grasses will begin to show a green surface. 

 I believe that it ripens earlier too than timothy, and is better for 

 mowing-ground on that account, to be sown with clover, which is 

 much injured by over-ripeness, if not cut till timothy is in its best 

 state to make hay. I have seen no timothy in England, but I 

 know that it is sometimes sowed. 



Rye-grass has stood at the head of the mowing grasses in some 

 parts of England for centuries. In districts of light and dry soil, 

 it is less in favor than elsewhere, but, I judge, beeomes of more 

 value with the improvement of husbandry generally. Marshall 

 (1796), writing from Gloucestershire, speaks of the general 

 strong prejudice of the farmers against ray-grass, " smothering 

 every thing and impoverishing the soil, until it will grow noth- 

 ing ! " they say ; and, arguing against them, he makes an obser- 

 vation of value with reference to the question of quantity of seed. 

 " If real ray-grass has ever been tried alone, and without success, 

 it has probably risen from too great a quantity having been sown. 

 Be it ray-grass or rubbish, I understand seldom less than a sack- 

 ful" (three heaped bushels) "an acre is thrown on, whereas one 

 gallon an acre of clean-winnowed real ray-grass seed is abundantly 

 sufficient on such soil as the vale in general is covered with." 

 The soil is " a rich, deep loam." 



