CULTIVATION OF GRASSES. 229 



remarkably quick after being cropped by cattle. Five 

 or six days' growth in summer suffices to give a good bite. 

 Its good properties consist in its early and rapid growth, 

 and in its resistance of drought ; but all agree, that to ob- 

 tain its greatest value, it should be kept closely cropped. 

 Sheep, it is said, will pass over every other grass to 

 feed upon it. If suffered to grow long without being 

 cropped, it becomes coarse and harsh. Arthur Young 

 and Mr. Cook commend it highly, and the latter culti- 

 vates it on an extensive scale at Holkham. Colonel Pow- 

 ell, of Pennsylvania, after growing it ten years, declares, 

 that it produces more pasturage than any cultivated grass 

 that he has ever seen in America. On being fed very 

 close, it has been found to afford good pasture after re- 

 maining five days at rest. It is suitable to all arable soils. 

 It abounds in seed, which is easily gathered ; but, on 

 account of its peculiar lightness, (the bushel not weigh- 

 ing more than twelve or fourteen pounds,) it should be 

 spread on a floor and sprinkled with water a day or two 

 before it is sown, that it may become saturated, and 

 more easily germinate. Two bushels of seed are sown 

 to the acre, when sown alone ; and half this quantity 

 when sown with clover. The orchard-grass should be 

 cut early w^hen intended for hay, as it diminishes two sev- 

 enths in value, as hay, by being permitted to ripen its 

 seeds. When cut early with clover, the after-growth, or 

 rowen, is very abundant. 



4. Tall Oat-grass^ [Jlvena elatior.) Dr. Muhlen- 

 burgh, and Mr. Taylor, of Virginia, place this at the 

 head of good grasses. " On the continent of Europe," 

 says Dickson, "in comparison with common grass, it is 

 found to yield in the proportion of twenty to t^vo." Dr. 

 Muhlenburgh says, of all others it is the best grass, and 

 earliest for green fodder and hay. The Doctor was prob- 

 ably not advised of its deficiency in nutritive matter, as 

 indicated in the experiments of Sinclair. It possesses 

 the advantage of early, late, and quick growth, for which 

 the orchard-grass is esteemed, and is well calculated for 

 a pasture grass. We have measured it in .Tune, when in 

 blossom, (at the time it should be cut for hay,) and found 

 20 XV. 



