COMMON PASTURE GRASSES. 



29 



Phalaris is a somewhat recent introduction. It grows 

 very luxuriantly, and makes its chief growth in the 

 winter. During its first season stock eat it greedily, 

 but from the second season onwards so 

 many seed stalks are produced 'that the 

 grass is less relished. Still it produces a 

 large amount of fodder that is sufficiently 

 palatable. It is often said that Phalaris 

 is difficult to eradicate after being down 

 some years. It is true that if the land is 

 ploughed and only slightly worked the 

 Phalaris will come up again, and the same 

 is true to a certain extent of Cocksfoot. 

 The roots of any strong growing grass will 

 require a good deal of working down 

 before the land is ready to sow again, 

 and incorporating the copious sod of 

 Phalaris with the soil will in many cases 

 be a considerable advantage. It seems 

 therefore that anyone wishing to assist 

 the production of winter feed in permanent Fig. 17. 



v i -, x , . Phalaris bulbosa. 



pastures should try Phalaris. 



The seed is now becoming more plentiful, and sells at 

 about Is. 6d. per pound. 



REFERENCES. 



The general characters of the agricultural grasses as grown-: in 

 England are well described in " Agricultural Botany " by John 

 Percival. 



For characteristics of growth of grasses in New Zealand see 

 Cockayne, Journal N.Z. Department of Agriculture, March, 1914. 



Elaborate descriptions and beautiful plates of grasses wuT. ? be 

 found in " The Best Forage Plants," by Stebler and Schroeter, 

 translated by McAlpine. 



