HORTUS GRAMINEUS WOBURNENSIS. 9 



disease termed red-water, of which several died. But in the 

 adjoining field, which contained the natural grasses, cock's-foot 

 grass, rough-stalked meadow grass, rye-grass, foxtail-grass, and 

 white clover, the sheep were not affected with that, nor any other 

 disease, and they left untouched the stems of the cock's-foot, 

 which were here of a more tender succulent nature, than those on 

 the edges of the other field, which were so greedily devoured by 

 the clover sheep. 



It may remain only to observe, that if the hard stalks of the 

 cock's-foot in the clover field had been in sufficient quantity, 

 they would, most probably, have prevented the disease from 

 attacking the sheep ; but this could not have been by virtue of 

 the dry Jib re only of the culms, because in the adjoining field, 

 where every thing was contrary to disease, the sheep rejected the 

 culms altogether. The dry, or mechanical action of the culms, 

 was here wanting ; yet the animals continued healthy, and fat- 

 tened, because the bitter extractive was in greater proportion in 

 the leaves or herbage than in the culms which they rejected ; and 

 also proved beneficial, though combined with succulent food, 

 which could have nothing of the action of the dry hay or straw 

 before mentioned. 



The succulency, or the quantity of superfluous moisture con- 

 tained in the food of cattle, and the relative proportions which the 

 saline matter and bitter extract bear to the gluten, sugar, and 

 mucilage of the nutritive matters of different plants, influencing 

 thus their nutritive powers when used in a green state, these pro- 

 perties, therefore, will be particularly considered in estimating the 

 comparative value and merits of the different grasses, and other 

 plants, that will hereafter be recommended to the notice of the 

 Agriculturist. 



A knowledge of the quantity of nutritive matter afforded by 

 different crops, and the number and proportion of the nutritive 

 vegetable principles formed by them, will be found likewise to 

 throw a light on the cause of the exhausting or impoverishing 

 effects of different plants to the soil ; a point of much importance, 

 as connected with the theory and practice of alternate cropping 

 with green crops and grain. The facts which have offered them- 

 selves in support of this, will be stated hereafter, when the merits 

 of the grasses, and ameliorating plants adapted to the alternate 

 husbandry, come under discussion. 



It was before remarked, that the little attention that has been 



