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ANIMAL MANAGEMENT. 



The Chief Grasses and Plants of English Hay. (See plates.) 



Useful grasses. — The Meadow grasses {poas). These are widely 

 distributed grasses of which four varieties, the " Smoothed stalked 

 meadow grass," the " Rough stalked meadow grass " the " Evergreen 

 meadow grass," and " Annual meadow grass," are commonly found in 

 meadow hay. They do not grow to any great size, but they produce a 

 good bottom, and both the rough and smooth-stalked varieties especially 

 have highly nutritive properties, all animals exhibiting a marked partiality 

 for them. The flowering head of grasses of this class is somewhat 

 difficult to distinguish from the fescues, and the distinction can only be 

 made by practice, but as both are excellent it is not very important. 

 The famous " blue grass " of Kentucky is the smooth-stalked meadow grass. 



The " Fescues,^' another large class, have several varieties which are 

 frequently met with, the " Meadow " and the " Tali " being constantly, 

 and " Hard " and the " Sheep's fescue" occasionally seen. These latter 

 are chiefly found on good upland pastures used for sheep grazing and 

 though fine and small are very nutritious. The Hard Fescue is one of the 

 best pasture grasses, eaten with relish by all stock and though not very 

 large is of superior quality and value. It takes its name from the crisp 

 feel of the spikelets when the flowering head is ripe. 



The " Meadow Fescue " is of moderate size but most nutritious and 

 productive, is readily eaten by all stock, and may be regarded as one of 

 the most valuable grasses the country produces. 



The "Tall Fescue," a much larger grass, is not so highly esteemed, 

 but is nevertheless a distinctly good variety. Other varieties are the 

 " Fine," " Various leaved" and " Red fescues." 



" Meadow Fox tail," so called from its distinct resemblance to a " brush," 

 produces a large quantity of herbage in proportion to its stalk, which 

 makes it an excellent hay and pasture grass, and is also very hardy, 

 growing well under trees ; it is easily distinguished by its very characteristic 

 flowering head. 



"Meadow Cat's tail" or "Timothy" grass, named after its importer, 

 Mr. Timothy Hanson. In its native country (America) crops of this grass 

 may attain a height of 6 feet, but here it is not nearly so tall ; it is ex- 

 tremely hardy, flourishing best on a damp, cool soil, but apt to get woody 

 if cut late ; an excellent hay grass. Its flowering head may be distinguished 

 from the Fox tail by its comparative hardness and bristle-like feel and 

 by the absence of the short fine hairs which cover the latter. 



" Crested Dog's tail " is a pasture rather than a hay grass, its herbage 

 not being very bulky, but it is nevertheless very nutritious and a notable 



