[ 324 J 



the seed, are inferior to that of a great number of 

 other grasses ; their latter math is, however, abun- 

 dant 



Tall fescue grass stands highest, according to 

 the experiments of the Duke of Bedford, of any grass, 

 properly so called, as to the quantity of nutritive mat- 

 ter afforded by the whole crop when cut at the time of 

 flowering ; and meadow cat's-tail grass affords most 

 food when cut at the time the seed is ripe ; the high- 

 est latter math produce of the grasses examined in the 

 Duke of Bedford's experiments is from the sea mea- 

 dow grass. 



Nature has provided in all permanent pastures a 

 mixture of various grasses, the produce of which dif- 

 fers at different seasons. Where pastures are to be 

 made artificially such a mixture ought to be imitated j 

 and, perhaps, pastures superior to the natural ones 

 may be made by selecting due proportions of those 

 species of grasses fitted for the soil, which' afford res- 

 pectively the greatest quantities of spring, summer, 

 latter math, and winter produce ; a reference to the 

 details in the Appendix will shew x that such a plan of 

 cultivation is very practicable. 



In all lands, whether arable or pasture, weeds of 

 ever description should be rooted out before the seed 

 is ripe ; and if they are suffered to remain in hedge 

 rows, they should be cut when in flower, or before, 

 and made into heaps for manure j in this case they 

 will furnish more nutritive matter in their decomposi- 

 tion j and their increase by the dispersion of seeds will 

 be prevented. The farmer, who suffers weeds to re- 



