CULTIVATION OF PLANTS. 233 



sheep, and cattle are extremely fond of it, and actually prefer 

 fiorin hay to any other hay whatever. 



The "Complete Grazier" says that "fiorin may be laid 

 down in the months of September, October, and November. 

 The land should be laid completely dry, and if the soil to be 

 lain down be a ley, it should be summer fallowed, and all 

 stones, roots of weeds, and other rubbish, carefully gathered 

 and removed." When the surface of the ground is well pul- 

 verized, it is generally laid into ridges; small drills, an inch 

 or two deep, and six or nine inches asunder, are to be drawn 

 along its surface, with a hand or horse-hoe, or on soft lands 

 with the hoe-rake. In the bottom of these drills, the fiorin 

 shoots, either long or short, are laid lengthways, so that their 

 ends may reach each other; then lightly covered with a rake, 

 and rolled, to render it fit for the scythe. In six months the 

 whole surface will be covered with verdure. It may be also 

 raised from the seed. When it takes possession of wet clayey 

 soils, its roots penetrate to a considerable depth, and from their 

 vivacious properties, it is very difficult to extirpate them. 



The "Farmer's Assistant" says it is a native of this coun- 

 try, and states on the authority of a Mr. GREEN, that it was 

 growing twenty years since, in great profusion, in the neigh- 

 bourhood of Albany. The late Judge PETERS, the enlighten- 

 ed and able advocate of agricultural improvement, introduced 

 it in Philadelphia county in the year 1812, by importing a 

 quantity of the strings from Ireland. But for some reason its 

 cultivation was not persevered in; and, at present, we believe, 

 it is almost wholly unknown to American practice. It is not 

 a grass to be connected with alternate husbandry, for after it 

 has obtained a footing in a suitable soil it is scarcely to be 

 eradicated. 



10. Smooth Stalked Meadow Grass, 



Is a native plant, and better adapted to laying down perma- 

 nent pastures and meadows than any other grass, with the ex- 

 ception perhaps of rye grass. According to SCOLE, an emi- 

 nent farmer, it is the best of all the grasses; its foliage begins 

 to shoot and put on a fine verdure early in the spring, but not 

 so soon as some other grasses. Every animal that eats grass 

 is fond of it, while at the same time it makes the best of 

 hay, and affords the richest of pastures. It delights in rather 

 a dry than a moist soil and situation; but it thrives most luxu- 

 riantly in rich meadows. It was of this grass that the Ame- 

 rican prize bonnet, in imitation of Leghorn, was manufactured 

 by Miss WOODHOUSE. It yields an abundance of seed, which, 

 20* 



