176 FOWL MEADOW. 



tinguished from June grass, by having a rough sheath, 

 while the latter has a smooth one, and by having a fibrous 

 root, while the root of June grass is creeping. It 

 possesses very considerable nutritive qualities, and 

 comes to perfection at a desirable time ; is exceed- 

 ingly relished by cattle, horses, and sheep. For suitable 

 soils it should form a portion of a mixture of seeds, pro- 

 ducing, in mixture with other grasses which serve to 

 shelter it, a large yield of hay, far above the average of 

 grass usually grown on a similar soil. It should be cut 

 when the seed is formed. Seven pounds of seed to 

 the acre will produce a good sward. The grass loses 

 about seventy per cent, of its weight in drying. The 

 nutritive qualities of its aftermath exceed very consid- 

 erably those of the crop cut in the flower or in the 

 seed. 



Fowl Meadow grass is another indigenous species, 

 of great value for low and marshy grounds, where it 

 flourishes best ; and, if cut and properly cured, makes 

 a sweet and nutritious hay, which, from its fineness, is 

 eaten by cows without waste. According to Sinclair, 

 who experimented, with the aid of Sir Humphrey Davy, 

 to ascertain its comparative nutritive properties, it is 

 superior, in this respect, to either meadow foxtail, 

 orchard grass, or tall meadow oat grass ; but it is 

 probable that he somewhat overrates it. If allowed to 

 stand till nearly ripe, it falls down, but sends up innu- 

 merable flowering stems from the joints, so that it con- 

 tinues green and luxuriant till late in the season. It 

 thrives best in mixture with other grasses, and deserves 

 a prominent place in all mixtures for rich, moist pastures ; 

 and low mowing-lands. 



Rye grass (Fig. 61) has a far higher reputation abroad 

 than in this country, and probably with reason ; for it is 

 better adapted to a wet and uncertain climate than to a 



