VARIETY OF GRASSES. 



137 



' Conspicuous among its fellows also lies the Large 

 Meadoio Cafs-Tail Grass, a very valuable grass, and 

 easily known by its size from the Small Meadow Cat's 

 Tail, which is comparatively worthless. 



If our hay-field be a rich 

 natural pasture, or irriga- 

 ted meadow, we shall also 

 find plenty of Meadow Fes- 

 cue Grass, a large plant 

 with succulent leaves, but 

 apparently much liked by 

 cattle. It delights in a deep 

 loamy soil, and makes ex- 

 cellent hay. 



There is also another 

 grass, rich and nutritive 

 when growing on a good 

 moist soil, but of no value 

 where the soil is light and 

 sandy. This is the Rough- 

 stalked Meadow Grass, form- 

 ing an important ingredient 

 in water-meadows. In dry 

 soils, it becomes shrivelled 

 up, and cattle refuse it alto- 

 gether ; but when in a flou- 

 rishing condition it seems 

 greatly liked by oxen, horses, 

 and sheep. Besides the 

 above, there is an almost end- 

 less variety of grasses well 

 worthy of attention. There 

 are also the different spe- 

 cies of clover, scenting the air, and making valuable, 

 herbage. 



It is not without a feeling akin to melancholy, that 

 one sees all this beauty and variety swept from the face 

 of the earth. "In the morning it flourisheth and 



ROUGH-STALKED MEADOV GRASS 



