HORTUS GRAMINEUS WOBURNENSIS. 337 



effected, to obtain the most valuable sward the soil is capable of 

 producing, the seeds of the following grasses should be sown ; 

 and experience will prove, that under such circumstances, they 

 are the best for this purpose. 



Barley-like sheep's-fescue (Festuea ovina hordeiformis) - 3 pecks. 

 Cock's-foot grass (Dactylis glomerata) - 3 



Crested dog's-tail grass (Cynomrus cristatus) - - 1 



Yellow oat-grass (Avenajiavescens) - - - 2 



Rye-grass (Lolium pererme) - 1 



Flat-stalked meadow-grass (Poa compressd) - - 1 



Various-leaved fescue (Festuea heterophylla) - 1 \ 



Hard fescue (Festuea duriuscula) 



Lesser bird's-foot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus) - - 1 Ib. 



White clover (Trifolium repens) 



From a variety of experiments that I have made on a small 

 scale, with a view to ascertain the quantity of seed that would 

 produce the best sward in the shortest space of time, I feel con- 

 vinced, that any quantity less than four or five bushels per acre of 

 the above mixture should not be used under the circumstances of 

 soil now described. 



Barley proves always less injurious to the grasses, when sown 

 with them, than any other of the white grain crops*. The nutri- 

 tive matter of barley contains more sugar and proportionally less 

 gluten or albumen, than any other species of corn. 



The defect of sandy soils in germinating seeds is clearly owing 

 to the sudden deprivation of moisture which they suffer when a 

 course of dry weather commences just before, after, or at the time 

 the seed begins to vegetate. For when sandy dry soils are duly 

 supplied with moisture, seeds sown on such, sooner vegetate than 

 on any other kind of soil, whether of a richer or more tenacious 

 nature. 



The manner of growth of tares offers a remedy for the defect of 

 white grain, or upright growing crops. The stems of tares spread 

 out and shade the surface of the soil from the effects of the sun. 

 But, unless tares are sown very thin, they will be found to destroy 

 the seedling grasses, by excluding the air. In every instance, 

 however, where the seeds of annuals are sown with the perennial 

 grass-seeds, it should be remembered, that every plant of these 

 occupies a space, to the detriment of the expected sward ; and the 



