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F.NCYCLOP-EDIA OF AGRICULTURE. 



SUPPLEMENT. 



gr u it v of leads, and there is alsoa difference in the number of seeds that grow from a given quantity." 

 (p.719.) 



B42S The weight of the seeds of grasses, per imperial bushel, is next given by Mr. I .aw sou ; and the dif- 

 ferences between the seeds ofdinerenl rpeclej In this r eip e cl is moct remarkable. Of thirty ipeciei, f li«* 

 hoariest appears to be the common perennial rye grass, a bushel of which weighs from eighteen to thirty 

 pounds : and the next heaviest appears to be the crested dog's-tail grass, which weighs twenty-sis pounds. 

 The lightest seed Is that of .4 vena [Trlsetum] flavescens, a bushi I of * bicfa weighs only five pounds, and 

 the next lightest is the meadow fox-tail grass, which weighs Ave pounds and a quarter. Aathoxanthmn 

 odoratum and /flopecurus geniculatus weigh each six pounds ; A\ra flexuosa, six pounds and a quarter ; 

 /'6a glaiic.i. seven pounds and a half; /J'lymus arenarius and Festuca duriuscula, each nine pounds and 

 a half; and the remaining species weigh from ten to sixteen pounds. Rye weighs sixty-two pounds 

 the bushel. 



tl of el met and other herbage plants are much less various. Burnet weighs twenty-four 

 pounds and a hall : saintfoin weighs twenty-six pounds; Achillea Millefolium, twenty-eight pounds and 

 a quarter ; ribwort, fifty-one pounds and a half; Medicago lupulina (the nonsuch of English farmers, and 

 the yellow do* er of the Scotch; weighs sixty-three pounds and three quarters ; and the different species 

 of clover ( TYlfdlium), from sixty-two to sixty-rive pounds. 



M27. With reference to the culture of grasses in Britain, Mr. Lawson observes that, wherever land pro- 

 ducet the cereal grains and Other cultivated plants, the pasture and herbage grasses will grow with vigour. 

 Plants of this kind, he observes, are improved by different kinds of soils, and more especially with rela. 

 tion to their states of dryness or moisture. Asa convenient arrangement for practical purposes, he classes 

 all soils under light, medium, and heavy : and he has composed twelve different tables, each containing 

 the quantity of grass seeds, per Scotch acre, for these three divisions of soil. Whoever, whether in Bri- 

 tain or America, wishes to sow grasses on a large scale, will find it worth their while to correspond with 

 Mr. Lawson, with reference to the subject of these tables, because every year he is adding to his expe- 

 rience, and in all probability improving the selection. We shall, therefore, not copy them into our pages 

 in detail, but merely give their titles, with a few remarks, chiefly with a view of showing how much 

 greater the number of species is which Mr. Lawson recommends than what is commonly sown, and yet 

 bow much smaller is the quantity of seed per acre. 



8428. Grass and herbage teeth fir alternate husbandry. For one year's hay, twenty-two pounds of an- 

 nual rye grass, ten pounds of red and two pounds of white clover. For one year's hay and one year's 

 pasture, eight pounds of annual and eighteen pounds of perennial rye grass ; three pounds of Phleum 

 pretense, five pounds of red and five pounds of white clover, and two pounds of nonsuch. For one year's 

 hay and two years' pasture, twenty-eight pounds of perennial rye grass, two pounds of Phleum pre- 

 tense, two pounds of red, six pounds of white, two pounds of cow clover, and two pounds of nonsuch. 

 These proportions are for soils suited for the turnip husbandry ; in heavy soils, from two to four pounds 

 of /Mileum pretense may be added for one year's grass. 



8429. Grasses and herbage plants for permanent pasture. Of proper grasses, seven species are em- 

 ployed ; of proper clovers, three species, and also the nonsuch. The proportions are given for laying 

 down without a crop and also with a crop ; and it is worthy of remark, that in the latter case the quan- 

 tity required is not much above half what it is in the former. Without a crop, seventy-five pounds are 

 required for a light soil, and eighty-two for a heavy soil ; while with a crop, forty-one pounds and a half 

 in the one case, and forty-five lbs. in the other, only are required. 



8130. Grasses, S/c for permanent pasture in ornamental parks. Of proper grasses, fourteen species are 

 employed, besides the clovers mentioned in the preceding paragraph. It is added, that JchiUen .Ville- 

 fOhum may be added in dry soils ; saintfoin in dry calcareous soils ; wild endive in heavy soils ; and from 

 one to two pounds of parsley per acre on lands where sheep are apt to get the rot. 



8431. Grasses and herbage plants for lawns, bowling-greens, tfC, kept constantly under the scythe. Of 

 proper grasses, fifteen species are employed, together with the common white clover. On each soil, 

 Pacey's perennial rye grass, more than one fourth part of the proper grasses, and the quantity of white 

 clover per acre, varies from six to twelve pounds. 



8432. Grasses and herbage plants for grounds much shaded with trees. Twelve species of proper grasses 

 and white clover. 



8433. Grasses, SfC., for heathy and moory lands which have been pared and burned, or scarified for the 

 purpose of producing herbage. The following cheap mixture is recommended : — Mixed hay seeds twenty- 

 five pounds, and white clover, six pounds, with a crop ; and forty pounds of mixed hay seeds, forty-five 

 pounds of rye. and nine pounds of white clover, without a crop. When land of this description is situ- 

 ated 500 feet and upwards above the level of the sea, sheep's fescue and the two allied species, and 

 Pt>3 glauca, may be added, at the rate of two pounds each. 



8434. Grasses for improved deep peaty ground intended to lie in grass. Perennial rye grass, ten pounds ; 

 .Phldum pretense, eight pounds ; Jgrdstis stolonifera, two pounds ; .dlopecurus pratensis, two pounds ; 

 and 7*rif61iuni repens, eight pounds, are recommended, when they are to be sown with a crop ; when with- 

 out a crop, the proportions are, eighteen, twelve, three, three, and twelve pounds. 



8435. Grasses for latui in preparation for irrigation. We shall take the liberty, in this case, of copying 

 the table verbatim : — 



43G. Grasses for lands which are occasionally subject to the overflowing of lakes and rivers, or which 

 alwatft in a very wet state. These are, /'6a aquatica, six pounds ; ?da fluitans, six pounds ; Fes- 



843G. 

 are i 



tuca /oliacea, four pounds ; .Phleum pretense, six pounds ; ^lopecdrus geniculatus, six pounds T^gros'tis 

 stolonifera, four pounds. 



8437. Grasses for rabbit warrens, or light sandy soils. These are perennial rye-grass, fourteen pounds ; 

 Anthoxanthum odoratum, one pound ; Fcstiica duriuscula, one pound ; Festuca ovlna, one pound • 

 Festuca rubra, one pound; Cynosurus cristatus, two pounds; .Poterium Sanguisorba, four pounds ; 

 Achillea Millefolium, half a pound ; Trifblium rdpens, six pounds ; Trifolium minus vel procdmbens, 



