SECTION II. 



Of the Grasses and other Plants which constitute the Produce of 

 the richest Natural Pastures* 



IT has long been a prevailing opinion, that rich pasture land, 

 when once broken up for a course of crops, cannot for a great 

 length of time be again brought to so good a sward; and this 

 opinion is founded on the best grounds on experience. The 

 causes why those grasses, which constitute this valuable sward, 

 cannot be renewed in as great perfection after a few years' re- 

 moval from their natural soil, must either be, that these plants 

 require many years to attain to that degree of productiveness, or, 

 that the soil has been too much deteriorated by the crop, or 

 course of grain crops, taken previous to renewing the grasses : 

 or, Jastly, that the seeds of grasses different from those which 

 composed the valuable sward, have been employed in their stead. 

 Whether to one, or all of these points, the want of success is to be 

 imputed, it is of importance to inquire. 



Grasses, like all other vegetables, possess a peculiar life, in 

 which various periods may be distinctly marked. Some species 

 of grass are annual, or arrive at perfection in one year, and then 

 die away : as different species of brome-grass, foxtail-grass, rye- 

 grass, oat-grass, &c. Other species, in two or three years attain 

 to that degree of perfection which they never exceed : as perennial 

 rye-grass (Lolium perenne), rough meadow-grass, (Poatrivialis), 

 meadow cat's-tail-grass, (Phleum pratense), tall oat-like soft-grass 

 (Holcus avenaceus), round cock's-foot-grass (Dactylis glomerata), 

 &c. ; and there are but few grasses that require more than three 

 years to bring them to that state of productiveness which they never 

 exceed, if properly treated during that time : meadow fescue 

 (Festuca pratensis), meadow-foxtail (Alopecurus pratensis) , meadow 

 barley (Hordeurn pratense), smooth meadow-grass (Poa pratensis) , 

 and meadow oat-grass (Avena pratensis), are of this number. 

 These facts, obtained from the results of experiments and atten- 

 tive observation, made on these grasses when cultivated singly, 

 and also when combined with others, as in their natural places of 



