i 



So MINUTES OF 



On Natural Grasses. 



PLAN.'i'AGO Lanceolata. jR/Aifor^ Plantain. 



This plant (stri(*tly speaking) does not rank amongst the class of natural 

 grasses; but as it appears in so great quantity in most of our meadows and pas- 

 tul-es, not to mention iVhere might be deemed an unpardonable omission. 



Horses, cattle, and sheep are very fond of it, but it is not ver}^ productive. 



The seeds of this plant may very readily be bought at the London seed 

 shops. 



Thi.s plant is perennial, and flowers in June and July. 



The first eight sorts oi Natural Grasses, are all that the husbandman ought 

 to sow in laying land down to pasture, and according to the nature of the soil, 

 the seed of that grass most suitable to it should predominate; but two grasses 

 No. 9 and ]0, should be held in utter abhorrence. 



And if it had not been to make them so well known, that they might be en- 

 tirely rejected, I should not have troubled my readers with either a view or 

 a detail of them. And sorry am I to see the Holcus Lanatus, recommended in 

 some of the prize essays communicated to the Board df Agriculture in 1801. 



Having given specimens and descriptions of eight of the best natural gras- 

 ses; I shall next point out their mode of culture, application, and the great ad- 

 vantages that would arise from a more general use of them in laying land down 

 to pasture. . 



The first thing to be done in laying land down to pasture, is to bring it into 

 a very fine clean tilth by fallowing it completely, and to allow eight or ten tons 

 of duns: to an acre. 



The next thing to be done is to plough the land into ridges of a width 

 proportioned to the degree of moisture in the soil, and tlien to sow it with cole, or 

 turnip seed at the proper season. But whatever is the fallow crop, as potatoes, 

 cabbages, &c. early in the April following, the land should be ploughed and har- 

 rowed well the length way, then rolled and harrowed alternately the cross way of 

 the ridges, two, three, or four times, uutil you get the ridges into the form and 





