486 On Grass Land. 



number of other grasses, to the amount of 97, the result of 

 which was annexed to Sir Humphry Davy's Lectures, and 

 has since been separately published, with more full details, 

 by an accurate and intelligent author, (Mr George Sinclair,) 

 under whose directions the experiments were carried on. 



The result of the whole investigation was, that tall fescue 

 grass (festuca elatiorj, stands highest, as to the quantity of 

 nutritive matter afforded by the whole crop, when cut at the 

 time of flowering ; that Timothy, or meadow cat's-tail grass, 

 (phleum pratense), affords most food, when cut at the time the 

 seed is ripe ; and that narrow-leaved meadow-grass, produces 

 the greatest quantity of aftermath ( 384 ). 



The paucity of grasses, hitherto cultivated, has been a re- 

 proach to the agricultural enterprise of British farmers ; but 

 though the catalogue is extensive, the list of those worth cul- 

 tivating, does not exceed from 10 to 12, and of these, some 

 have seeds so chaffy, and others so small, that they can neither 

 be dressed, nor easily sown. Some ripen very little seed, 

 while others are but ill calculated for general soils and situa- 

 tions ( 385 ). 



It may be proper here to add some account of the prick- 

 ly comfrey, (symphytum asperrimumj, an anomalous species 

 of plant, which has been lately introduced into this country 

 from Mount Caucasus. By the experiments tried with this 

 plant in Scotland, it appears likely to prove a valuable ac- 

 quisition. Indeed there is reason to hope, that when plant- 

 ed in a proper soil, it will equal, if not surpass, for bulk or 

 produce, every other herbage plant in use. It seems to be 

 peculiarly calculated for strong clays ; for though the bulk 

 of herbage the first year is not so great, yet the second year 

 the growth is most abundant. At first, cows, horses, and 

 pigs do not seem to relish it, but after they have been accus- 

 tomed to it for some time, they eat it very freely. When 

 full grown, it becomes coarse and woody, and should be 

 subjected to the flail, like furze or whins, or to the tanner's 

 bark-mill. 



1 0. Of laying down Arable Land into Grass, with a view of 

 recruiting its Fertility, and on convertible Husbandry. 



It cannot be doubted, that if one-fourth part of the land 

 which at present is sown with corn, for a few years after 

 every rotation or course of crops, were properly laid down in 

 grass, for the purpose of feeding stock, until it should become 

 again fit to bear abundant crops of grain, the practice would 

 be of the greatest benefit both to the farmer, and to the pub- 



