FOODS AND FEEDING. I07 



feature of many of our sheep downs, where, with the Hard and Sheep's 

 fescues it is responsible for a great deal of the grazing. The serrated 

 appearance of its flowering head cannot fail to distinguish it from other 

 varieties. 



" Rye Grasses."— Of the many known varieties of Rye grasses two are Rye 

 chiefly found in hay, the Perennial and Italian. Rye grasses may be grasses, 

 distinguished by the flattened appearance of the flowering head, the 

 spikelets of which stick out alternately from each side of the stalk, the 

 whole grass looking as if it had been pressed flat ; they may be cut 

 comparatively later than others owing to the fact that they do not 

 deteriorate so rapidly after flowering. Perennial Rye grass is smaller 

 than the Italian variety, from which it may also be distinguished by the 

 long hairy awns of the latter. Itahan Rye grass is a biennial plant, much 

 larger than the perennial variety, producing enormous yields, particularly 

 on sewage farms, where it is grown for use as a green crop ; both are 

 excellent feeding grasses. 



"Yellow Oat grass," so named from the golden appearance of its Oat 

 flowering head, is a valuable hay grass which flourishes particularly in grasses, 

 the South of England and the Thames Valley. 



" The Tall Oat grass," a much larger variety than the last mentioned, 

 has rather a bitter flavour, and is in consequence not so well regarded in 

 this country ; but on the continent and especially in Sweden, where it is 

 abundantly cultivated, it is very highly esteemed. The oat grasses may 

 be recognised by their general resemblance in appearance to oats, though 

 much smaller. 



" Cock's Foot," known in America as Orchard Grass, from the fact that Cock's 

 it flourishes beneath trees, is a rough, tall grass with a very distinctive foot, 

 flowering head ; it grows in large tufts, and is liable to become extremely 

 coarse if not cut sufficiently soon ; it is, however, an excellent grass and 

 liked by horses. 



" Fiorin," one of a family commonly known as Bents, is constantly found Fiorin. 

 in hay, but does not appear to be of very great feeding value ; the "Bents, 

 colour of the flowering heads varies from white to purple and they are 

 characterised by their hairlike fineness. 



" Sweet Vernal " is a grass of excellent quality though only of medium Sweet 

 size and not producing a great quantity of herbage ; it has, however, such an Vernal, 

 extremely pleasant aroma and is so much relished by all animals that it is 

 a universal favourite ; it grows very abundantly in Devonshire and also 

 in the Eastern counties. It is to this grass that the aroma of hay is 

 chiefly due. 



