412 HORTUS GRAMINEUS WOBURNENSIS. 



culms are mown previous to ripening the seed, the ground is 

 much impoverished by it. The new varieties, however, of this 

 species of grass, which have been discovered of late years, remove 

 in a considerable degree the serious objections which applied to 

 the common rye-grass. These new varieties were before men- 

 tioned, at pp. 82 and 211 et seq. For the Alternate Husbandry, 

 rye-grass should be combined with other species of the natural 

 grasses and with clovers. 



Hard fescue (Festuca duriusculd) early attains to maturity ; the 

 culms are succulent and nutritious ; it grows quickly after being 

 cropped, and springs pretty early ; but it is very deficient in the 

 weight of produce. 



Meadow fescue (Festuca pratensis) is very productive and 

 nutrient, but does not spring sufficiently early, and seldom attains 

 to perfect maturity in two years. In some soils this grass attains 

 to a maturity of produce in as short a time as rye-grass. 



Tall oat-like soft-grass (Holcus avenaceus) attains to maturity 



Yarrow (Achillea millifoliurri), or Thousand-leaved Grass, has long been con- 

 sidered a bad weed in pasture and arable lands. It has a creeping root, which is 

 difficult to extirpate on light soils. Sheep are said to be fond of it, and Dr. Ander- 

 son has recommended it for cultivation ; but its productive and nutrient properties 

 are very inferior to many other plants equally adapted to light soils. Linnaeus says, 

 that its properties are vulnerary and styptic. An essential oil is extracted from the 

 flowers. 64 dr. of the leaves and stems cut when in flower (June 26) afforded 98 

 grains of nutritive matter. 



An ointment made of the leaves is reckoned good against the scab in sheep. 

 There is every reason to believe that yarrow is only useful as a part of the food of 

 cattle in a medicinal point of view. 



Since the above was first printed, further observation and experience of this 

 plant induces me to consider yarrow as an essential ingredient of the most fattening 

 and healthy pastures. In all the pastures most celebrated for fattening or for daily 

 produce, which I have examined in Devonshire, Lincolnshire, and in the Vale of 

 Aylesbury, yarrow was present more or less in almost every part of the surface. 



Chicory, Succory (Cichorium intybuti). This plant is common on the borders of 

 corn-fields and poor gravelly soils. The cultivated variety was first pointed out as 

 a plant for cultivation, in this country, by Arthur Young, Esq., who brought the 

 seed from France in 1788. In some instances it appears, by Mr. Young's experi- 

 ments, to be more productive than lucern (Annals of Agriculture). Succory has 

 broad succulent leaves, and the stems become hard with age ; it is therefore unfit 

 to be made into hay. 80 dr. of the herbage lost in drying 52 dr., which shews it is 

 more difficult to make into good hay than the clovers. The quantity of seed 

 required to sow one acre is thirteen pounds, but a good deal depends on the rich- 

 ness of the soil. It requires to be sown in drills. 



64 dr. of the herbage, cut previous to the time of flowering, afforded 60 grains of 

 nutritive matter. 



