On Natural Grasses. 97 



Peck per acre. 



Dactylis glomerata, Cocksfoot, 3 



Lolium perenne var. Best variety of perennial rye-grass, 3J 



Festuca duriuscula, Hard fescue, I gi 



Festuca glabra, Smooth fescue, J 



Festuca hordiijbrmis, Long-awned sheep fescue, 



Phleum pratense, Meadow catstail, 



Anthoxanthum odoratum, Sweet vernal, - . - 



Agrostis stolonifera, Fiorin, 



AvenajlavescenSi Golden oat- grass, - - ; \ 



Cynosurus cristatus > Crested dogstail, ,. . 4 



Trifolium repens, White clover, . - - 



Medicago lupulina, Yellow clover or nonsuch. .. , 



Trifolium minus, Smaller flowered clover, 



Total quantity about three bushels and one peck per acre. 



The great importance, of having all the different species intimately 

 mixed or combined, so that not two individual plants of the same spe- 

 cies should stand together, or be without an intervening plant of a 

 different species, has been alluded to. This intention is greatly assisted, 

 in preparing the seeds for sowing, by first mixing the larger and lighter 

 seeds together, sowing the mixture as regularly as possible over the 

 surface, and then combining the smaller and heavier seeds toge- 

 ther, and sowing them in like manner equally over the surface. Thus 

 the division of the seeds into two separate mixtures, and giving each 

 a separate cast, will insure the equal and regular distribution of all the 

 different species over the whole surface. But however judiciously the 

 different grasses may be selected for the soil, the exact proportions of 

 each used, and the process of sowing them accurately executed, yet, 

 notwithstanding all that, should the soil be not properly prepared for 

 the reception of the seeds, the object will be as far from being gained, 

 as would a crop of turnips or of wheat be secured, by the careful se- 

 lection of the seed merely, and neglecting the proper preparation of 

 the soil for the crop. The soil should be made perfectly clean of 

 root, as well as of seed or annual weeds. It should be in good heart, 

 and if not so, manure should be applied in sufficient quantity. Should 

 there be the least suspicion or danger of stagnant moisture, ample 

 draining ought to be effected. The tilth should be fine. The seeds 

 should be covered very slightly, that is, sufficiently to prevent the rain 

 from washing up the seeds, and exposing them to the sun and air, 

 and to the depredation of birds. The slight mixture requires rather 

 more covering than the smaller and heavier seeds. The season for 

 sowing the seeds of the perennial grasses depends much on the na- 

 ture of the soil, and of the local climate of the site *. In warm sandy 

 soils, and where the local climate is favourable, autumnal sowing is to 



In returning a large space of ground in Thirlstane Park, to improved per- 

 manent pasture, circumstances prevented the Earl of Lauderdale, from having 

 the seeds sown until late in June, and yet a crop of hay, obtained the same sea- 

 son. was estimated at one and a half tons per acre. The weather, however, was 

 moist, and the preparation of the soil, and operation of culture, were effected in 

 the most skilful manner. The want of moisture is what renders the summer 

 months ungenial for grass seeds. 



