VARIETIES OP GRASSES. 207 



Nature abhors a vacuum, and, if the meadow is rich and re- 

 mains for a series of years in grass, fills up these vacant spaces 

 with other varieties. But would it not be better for us to take 

 time by the forelock, and sow a greater variety of seed, and not 

 waste years in waiting for nature to make up for our deficiency ? 

 In her abhorrence of vacuums she may put in such kinds of 

 grass or weeds as we do not like, and it is always better to fore- 

 stall and guide her in the operation. Where she gets her seeds 

 to fill up the vacant spaces is a mystery. Some of them may 

 have lain dormant in the earth, only waiting for favorable cir- 

 cumstances under which to germinate ; others may be brought 

 by the winds and the fowls of the air, or be disseminated in the 

 top-dressing. We were surprised, a few years since, by seeing 

 our fields covered with the meadow fescue, of which we had 

 never sown a seed, and did not even know the grass. It still 

 lingers in our meadows ; but whence it came is as mvich a mys- 

 tery as the change of the wind. We found it an excellent early 

 grass, and should not object to it as a standard variety to be 

 sown regularly. 



When land is stocked down for grazing, a variety of grasses 

 which will ripen in succession is desirable, and we have varieties 

 that are maturing in succession for six months of the year. In 

 April the spear-grass blossoms, in May we have the meadow 

 fox-tail,' the sweet-scented vernal, and white clover. The 

 number of grasses that blossom in June is legion. This is the 

 carnival, or rather the graminivorous, season for grazing stock, 

 more grasses coming to perfection during this month than at 

 any other season. We can only mention the most important — 

 Timothy, the various fescues, orchard grass, June grass, rye- 

 grass, and red clover, which we class among the grasses, 

 though strictly it is a leguminous plant. In July come red- 

 top, foul-meadow, and English-bent. In August we have 

 floating fox-tail, blue-grass and creeping-meadow ; and in 

 September the hairy-panic, red grass and poverty grass, with 

 many of the above-mentioned which continue in blossom from 

 month to month. It is worthy of observation that almost every 

 grass will continue growing if mowed or cropped before it goes 

 to seed. As the production of seed is the great end aimed at 

 in nature, no plant seems contented till it has accomplished 

 this end, but lives and struggles against all obstacles till it 



