AGRICULTURE. 169 



sons it is very desirable that other artificial true grasses 

 should be introduced, not by any means to the exclusion 

 of alfalfa, but to meet requirements when the alfalfa is at 

 fault in degree. 



The ' Bromus schraderii ' is an exceedingly productive 

 grass, both in herbage and seed, and suitable for dry 

 chmates, — a cut-and-come-again plant, that can be mown 

 and grazed alternately during a season. Sown in the 

 autumn, or early in the spring, it matures in a few 

 months, and is of such strong growth, that scarcely any 

 other plant or weed can hold its way with it. It is 

 relished by all animals — cattle, horses, or sheep — and, in 

 all likelihood, will be found very useful on our farms. It 

 is very easily ' saved ' as hay, as it diies rapidly, and is 

 not liable to injure or mould, as is alfalfa, — matters of 

 considerable importance in ' campo' farms. The cultiva- 

 tion or tillage of the land is simply that of any other crop. 

 Plough, cross-plough, and harrow fine, and cover in the 

 seed with harrows and brush. It is a sub-perennial, from 

 its abundant seeding, readily reproducing itself, if allowed 

 to ripen one set of seed-shoots in the year. 



I have already made reference to permanent grass 

 pastures of perennial varieties. I am grazing a paddock 

 laid down with a mixture of grass-seeds commonly used in 

 laying down grass on good loams in the British Islands — 

 ' fescues,' meadow grasses, cocksfoot, perennial rye-grass, 

 timothy, &c. — which gives me the highest satisfaction, 

 yielding a large amount of feed, and growing and spread- 

 ing under conditions, and at seasons when the indigenous 

 annual grasses fail ; covering the ground with a sward 

 absorbent of moisture, and protecting the soil from the 

 sun. Sown early in the autumn, with a little barley, 

 they can be cut for soiling (green fodder) in spring, and 

 depastured in the autumn, and will, luadoubtcdly, prove 



