10 



This grass (locally called zacate) is cultivated exclusively in low, wet 

 ground, and is flooded occasionally after the manner of rice, being first 

 started in seed beds and then transplanted to the previously flowed 

 field. How far this custom prevails in other eastern countries we do 

 not know, but from the general antiquity and uniformity of the prac- 

 tices of husbandry in those countries we may suppose that this practice 

 is there of ancient origin. 



But as far as western nations are concerned the cultivation of spe- 

 cial grasses for hay is a modern improvement. Mr. Martin J. Button, 

 in a recent work on "Permanent and Temporary Pastures," states that 

 Lolium perenne, or perennial rye grass, was the first grass gathered 

 separately for agricultural purposes. He further states that it has 

 been known since 1611, the date of the earliest agricultural book which 

 mentions it. Mr. George Sinclair, in his advertisement to the fourth 

 edition of the " Hortus Gramineus Woburnensis," says: 



The time has been in this country [i. e., England] when providing sufficient for- 

 age for live stock in winter was a matter of the greatest difficulty, and great losses 

 were sustained, and many advantages given up, on account of the absolute want of 

 winter fodder. Old turf, suitable either for grazing or for the scythe, was supposed to 

 be a creation of centuries, and that a farmer, who wished to lay down a meadow in his 

 youth, must see the end of his " three score years and ten " before he could possibly 

 possess a piece of pasture capable of keeping a score of sheep or a couple of cows. 

 So much was the want of grass land felt among arable farmers in times past that the 

 tenancy of it was eagerly sought, its value was consequently highly prized, and 

 heavy fines were imposed for breaking it up. The banks of rivers were usually made 

 commonable, in order that the surrounding farmers might each have a share; and 

 these meadows were in many cases irrigated in order to increase still more the scanty 

 stock of winter fodder. 



Perennial rye grass, as we have seen, began to be cultivated early 

 in the seventh century, and it seems to have been about the only grass 

 so cultivated for a hundred years longer. In 17G3 it is said that a Mr. 

 Wynch brought from Virginia into England the Phleum pratense, under 

 the local name of Timothy grass, it having been cultivated in the 

 United States for some forty years. This was also soon established as 

 an agricultural grass in England, and a few years later was followed 

 by the introduction of orchard grass (Dactylis glomerata) from Virginia, 

 by the Society of Arts ; at least this statement is made by Mr. Parnell 

 in his work on British grasses, but is probably an error. It is con- 

 sidered doubtful by Mr. Charles Johnson in the "Grasses of Great 

 Britain," who says it is eminently European, being distributed natu- 

 rally over the whole of Europe and the adjoining parts of Asia, It is 

 not known to be native in the United States. 



As to Phleum pralense (Timothy grass), it is naturally widely diffused 

 over Europe, but it is admitted by all thatits cultivation was first under - 

 takon in the United States, where it is also indigenous in mountainous 

 regions. It is, however, well known that in Europe up to about the year 

 1815 there were but three or four kinds of grass generally cultivated. 



