GRASSES. 



its well worthy of attention, though 

 perhaps not so great as they have 

 been supposed, if the natural place of 

 its growth and habits be impartially 

 taken into the account. From the 

 couchant nature of this grass, it is 

 denominated couch grass by practi- 

 cal men, and from the length of time 

 that it retains the vital power after 

 being taken out of the soil, it is call- 

 ed squitch, quick, full of life,' A:c. 



'• The culture of liorin is different 

 from that of other grasses. Though 

 the plant will ripen its seeds on a dry 

 soil, and these seeds being very small, 

 a few pounds would be sufficient for 

 an acre, yet it is generally propaga- 

 ted by stole nes or root shoots. The 

 ground being well pulverized, freed 

 from weeds, and laid into such beds 

 or ridges as the cultivator may think 

 advisable, 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 bot- 

 tom of these drills, the florin shoots 

 (whether long or short is of no con- 

 sequence) are laid lengthways, so that 

 their ends may touch each other, and 

 then lightly covered with a rake, and 

 the surface rolled to render it fit for 

 the scythe. In six months the whole 

 surface will be covered with verdure, 

 and if the planting be performed ear- 

 ly in spring, a large crop may be had 

 in the following autumn. Any sea- 

 son will answer for planting, but one 

 likely to be followed by showers and 

 heat is to be preferred. Those who 

 wish to cultivate this grass will con- 

 sult Dr. Richardson's New Essay oji 

 Fionn Grass (1813), and also The Far- 

 mers Magazine for 1810-14. Our 

 opinion," says Loudon, "is that nei- 

 ther florin, Timothy, nor floating fes- 

 cue is ever likely to be cultivated in 

 Britain ; though the latter two may 

 perhaps succeed well on the bogs and 

 moist, rich soils of Ireland, where, to 

 second the influence of the soil, there 

 is a moist, warm climate. 



" The preparation of the soil, and 

 the sowing of the usual meadow 

 grasses, ditfer in nothing from those 

 of clover and rye grass already given. 



Ff2 



" Grasses chiefly adapted for Pastu- 

 rage. — In treating of pasturage grass- 

 es, we shall make a selection of such 

 as have been tried to some extent, 

 and of which the seeds are in the 

 course of commerce. On soils in 

 good condition, and naturally well 

 constituted, no better grasses can be 

 sown for pasturage than those we 

 have described as tall grasses for hay 

 meadows ; but for early and late pas- 

 turage, and secondary soils, there are 

 others much more suitable. 



'• The pasture grasses for early pas- 

 turage on all soils are the Anthoxayi- 

 thum odoratum, Holcus odoratus, Avena 

 pubescens, and Poa annua. 



" The pasture grasses for late herb- 

 age on all soils are chiefly the dif- 

 ferent species of Agrostis (bents) 

 and Phlcum (cat's-tail). 



" The pasture grasses for poor or 

 secondary soils are the Cynosurus 

 cristatus, Festuca duriuscula and ovi- 

 na, Poa comprcssa, cristata, and angu^- 

 tifolia. 



" The grasses that afTord most nu- 

 tritive matter in early spring are the 

 meadow foxtail grass and the vernal 

 grass ; the former has been already 

 mentioned as one of the best hay 

 grasses. 



" The sweet-scented vernal grass 

 (Antho.tanthum odoratum. Fig. 4, a) is 

 common in almost all pastures, and 

 is that which gives the fragrance to 

 natural or meadow hay. It is chiefly 

 valuable as an early grass ; for, though 

 it is eaten by stock, it does not ap- 

 pear to be much relished by them. 

 From the Woburn experiments, it ap- 

 pears that the smallness of the prod- 

 uce of this grass renders it improper 

 for the purpose of hay ; but its early 

 growth, and the superior quantity of 

 nutritive matter which the latter-math 

 affords, compared with the quantity 

 afforded by the grass at the time of 

 I flowering, cause it to rank high as a 

 pasture grass on such soils as are 

 I well fitted for its growth, lands that 

 are deep and moist. 



" The downy oat grass {Avena pu- 



[ bcscens, h), according to the Woburn 



experiments, possesses several good 



j qualities, which recommend it to par- 



341 



