1S37.] 



FARMERS' REGISTER, 



671 



banJry," in 1677, sinCe which time there have 

 been numerous iniprovementson the common sort, 

 of which those best known are Pacey's, Russell's, 

 Whitworth's, ami Ruck's, which are all consider- 

 ed pprennial. IMr. Taunlon, liowever, oliserves, 

 '• tiiat not only in his experimental groimd, but in 

 his field culture, on chalks, and on the deepe;^ and 

 richest loamy sand, lie has experienced the utter 

 eradication of every variety of the most approved 

 species ; thoui^h he does not leel himself warrant- 

 ed to infer that there is no species of rye-grass 

 which is perennial on certain soils, as his experi- 

 ence induces him, on the contrary, to believe that 

 in ditferent parts of the kingdom it is indigenous.". 

 It is, notwithstanding, found to flourish on most 

 kinds of soil, and grows under circnmstances^ of 

 difli^rent management on many upland situations, 

 though sound and somewhat moist midlands are 

 tlie most appropriate. It soon arrives at perfec- 

 tion, and produces in its first years of growth a 

 gooil supply of early herbage which is much liked 

 by cattle, and has been described by Marshall, as 

 of such forcing quality, that, " no matter how 

 short the first spring grass may be, so the cattle 

 can get hold of it, they are sure to thrive amain.*" 

 This, however, may be easily accounted lor, as 

 there is not at that season of the year another 

 blade of grass to lower its value. 



These apparent merits' have doubtless upheld 

 its use among farmers as a favored grass, and it is 

 not uuconuDonly sown in arable land, along with 

 clover, tor a single crop; but the lattermath is very 

 inconsiderable, and it impoverishes the soil in a 

 very jireat degree, if the culms — which are inva- 

 riably left untouched by cattle, when they grow 

 strong and coarse — are not cut before the seeil ar- 

 rives at perfection. Notwithstanding this, it is, 

 however, sometimes left to stand for seed, in which 

 case it is thrashed like other grain, but the straw 

 only serves as litter. To this we have also to add, 

 upon the authority of Mr. Sinclair, that if the nu- 

 tritive powers of rye-grass be compared with 

 cock's-lbot, it will be tbund inferior in the propor- 

 tion of nearly five to eighteen ; also inferior to 

 meadow fox-tail in the proportion of five to twelve, 

 and to that of meadow fescue, as five to seven- 

 teen.f The chemical analysis on which he founds 

 that assertion must, however, be received with 

 some degree of caution ; for it unquestionably docs 

 not accord with the experience of farmers. 



There is, however, another species of this plant 

 which has been lately introduced from the continent 

 under the name of Italia ii rye-grass, and is distin- 

 guished from the common species by its larger 

 leaves, by being of a daiker green, and by grow- 

 ing to a greater height. On comparative trials 

 with some of the most favorite kinds of the com- 

 mon rye-grass, it has been found to exhibit a great 

 superiority of growth, and it has been represented 

 as being softer, more juicy, and more greedily 

 eaten by cattle, whether in a green or dry stale. 

 It is also said to be of such a hardy nature, that, 

 when cut in Novemi)er, it has put forth fresh 

 shoots of a foot in length in the close of Decem- 

 ber, and has been found to stand the'-winter in the 

 north of Europe. Its durability in the soil, as k 

 perennial grass, remains yet, however, to be 



* Rur. Econ. of Gloucestersh., vol. i. p. 162. 

 t Hort. Gram. Woburn., p. 215. 



proved; and, although the experiments which 

 have been already made, seem to confirm the high 

 character which has been given of it in other re- 

 spects, yet further experience seems necessary to 

 determine its real value.* 



Tr{f(iUum repens, or white clover, is also known 

 under the name of " Dutch clover,'' from our hav- 

 ing first learnt its use fi'om the Flemings, and 

 from large quantities of the seed being imported 

 li'om Holland. Its fiivorite soil is limestone, but 

 it is one of the most general grasses throughout 

 this country, beinjj found in almost every situation 

 from the lowest to the highest meadow, though 

 on very poor land, it is often so small, and grows 

 in such a creeping manner among the lower leaves 

 of other herbage, that it is scarcely perceptible 

 until brought up by top dressings ; which probably 

 has given rise to the very general opinion, that it is 

 indigenoys to some soils. The central root pene- 

 trates to a considerable depth, and the plant is 

 thereby enabled to resist the efl'ects of drought, 

 particularly on sandy soils : the branches which 

 trail on the surface send fibrous roots from their 

 joints down to the ground, and hence this species 

 of clover maintains itself in land of opposite quali- 

 ties ; for if the surface be too dry to afii^rd nourish- 

 ment to the foliage, it is preserved by the roots. It 

 is not, however, so nutritive as the common annual 

 red clover, nor does it form a good pasture when 

 sown by itself, for it has been found to occasion 

 disease in sheep ; but, combined with other grass- 

 es, it is a valuable plant. f 



Trifnlium prateiise, or native red clover, known 

 also by the name of " marl-grass," is a perennial 

 plant, while that species, which also bears blossoms 

 of the same color, and is so generally cultivated in 

 arable land, is only biennial. There is likewise a 

 variety termed " cow-grass," which is still more 

 permanent than the former, and is therefore more 

 generally sown among grasses. This bears a rich 

 purple flower, v/hich comes into bloom in the 

 month of July, and was found by Mr. Taunton to 

 furnish a darker colored and heavier swath than 

 any other part of his experiment ground ; it is, 

 therefore, decidedly perennial ; and, considering 

 that no manure had been applied to this spot 

 during the previous eight years, it proves that it 

 will clothe even a light sandy soil with luxuriant 

 herbage. 



Hanunculus acris, or butter-cup, and /?umex 

 acetosa, or sorrel, are only noticed to be avoided, 

 for although they are both found in our pastures — 

 the former particularly in some of the richest — yet 

 they are never seen to be eaten by cattle of any 

 description, unless pressed by necessity. The 

 presence of sorrel also indicates a state of acidity 

 in the soil which can only be corrected by the ap- 

 plication of lime. 



From this number, any intelligent farmer may 

 select those seeds which are the most appropriate 

 to his land; for it is ver}^ diiiicult to furnish any 

 general rule on the subject. On laying down land. 



* In the Bulletin des Sciences Jlgricoles, it is stated 

 to be generally sown in the autumn, at the rate of 16 

 to 18 lbs. per acre, and the seed roiled in ; that in the 

 next autumn, the turf is covered like an old meadow, 

 and the crop of the following year is more than double : 

 its growth, also, is so rapid, that if sown with clover or 

 lucerne, it will quickly choke them. 



t Sinclair, Hort. Gram. Woburn., p. 223. 



