HORTUS GRAMINEUS WOBURNENSIS. 39 



Festuca pratensis, Phleum pratense, and Poafertilis, about the end 

 of July ; and the third about the first or second week of Septem- 

 ber, consisting of Poa nemoralis angustifolia, Avena Jlavescens, 

 Hordeum pratense, Agrostis stolonifera latifolia, and Trifolium pra- 1 

 tense. The seed of the Achillea milifolium (yarrow), Trifolium 

 repens (white clover), may be had of the agricultural seedsmen : 

 as also that of Festuca ovina hordeiformis, Poa nervata, and Poa 

 fertilis, in quantity at least sufficient to begin a stock. 



To form a stock for the perpetual supply of the seeds of the 

 most valuable grasses at the least possible expense, it is therefore 

 necessary to take advantage of this gregarious or social propen- 

 sity of grasses, (if I may be allowed the use of either expression,) 

 and by combining those valuable species only which ripen their seed 

 at the same period, effect the exclusion of the seeds and .plants of 

 inferior species of grasses, and thereby insure the supply of pure 

 seed, and render extraordinary expense in weeding unnecessary. 



The extent of this stock-ground for seed must, of course, be 

 regulated by the quantity of seed that may occasionally be wanted 

 for the farm. It must be in three divisions, at least, corresponding 

 to the above three different combinations of the valuable grasses ; 

 and if sown with the proportions of the different seeds hereafter 

 stated, will require of the farmer, from time to time, that care and 

 attention only which is bestowed on the best managed pasture land : 

 of which this stock-seed ground will be found to constitute not the 

 least valuable part, independent of the important object for which 

 it is made. There are a number of other valuable grasses pecu- 

 liarly adapted for certain soils and situations, but these will be 

 mentioned in the course of the details of experiments.* 



* A very excellent and ingenious mode of saving the seeds of Down grasses, or of 

 those grasses which are peculiarly adapted for elevated dry soils, has been suggested 

 by Mr. Blaikie, in the Farmer's Journal for March 17th, 1823. It is there recom- 

 mended to fence off by hurdles, or other temporary fencing, a sufficient space of these 

 pastures for seed, choosing such portions as have the best kinds of grasses ; and to 

 mow these enclosures for seed, in succession, at three, four, or more, different 

 periods of the season. By these means the seeds of the early, midsummer, and 

 late vegetating grasses, will be obtained, and which could not, it is evident, be 

 obtained by one mowing in one season. This is a highly valuable mode of obtain- 

 ing the seeds of those grasses adapted for downs ; which to cultivate separately 

 for the seed, would be found a fruitless undertaking. Fence the selected turf 

 effectually, and early in the season, and prepare the enclosure for being mowed by 

 picking the stones or rubbish from the surface, which should be well rolled. As 

 -the season advances, and the early grasses begin to arrive at maturity, employ a 



