16 THE COMPLETE FARMER 



difficult by reason of hard pan, stones, or wetness. These 

 should be improved as permanent meadoAvs and pastures; 

 and it is of the first importance to the farmer to know the 

 grasses Avliich will render them most conducive to profit ; for 

 that our grass gTounds are as susceptible of improvement as 

 our tillage grounds, by a suitable selection of seeds and suita- 

 ble management, must be apparent to every reflecting mind. 

 The improvement and productiveness of our cattle and sheep 

 husbandry, which at this time deservedly engage much of the 

 public attention, depend materially on this branch of farming.' 



After adverting to the sources from which the writer de- 

 rived most of his information, he proceed? : 



' Siveet-scented Vernal Grass. Tliis is a grass of diminu- 

 tive growth, and is not worth cultivating for hay. It is 

 nevertheless considered as valuable in pasture on account of 

 its affording very early feed, and growina: quick after being 

 cropped. We are advised by Muhlenburg that it delights 

 in moist soils, by the Bath papers that it does well in clay- 

 ey loams, and by Dickson that it grows in almost any soil, 

 including bogs and sands. G. Sinclair says it is eaten by 

 oxen, horses, and sheep, though not so freely as some other 

 grasses are."^ 



Meadoio Fox Tail possesses all the advantages of early, 

 growth with the preceding, and is much more abundant in 

 product and nutriment. It generally constitutes one of five 

 or six kinds which are sowed together by the English far- 

 mers for pasture ; and affords withal a tolerable crop of hay. 

 It does best in moist soils, whether loams, clays, or reclaim- 

 ed bogs. Sheep and horses have a better relish for it, says 

 G. Sinclair, than oxen. 



Bough Cock's Foot. Dr. Muhlenburgh and T. Cooper 

 concur in opinion that this is the orchard griss of the Uni- 

 ted States, though some that I have raised as orchard grass 

 does not seem to correspond Avith the figure of the dactylis 

 glomerata, in the second volume of Dickson's Farmer's Com- 

 panion. In England, cock's foot is taking the place of rye 

 grass with clovers. Arthur Young speaks in high commen- 

 dation of it; though all A\Titers concur in the opinion, that 



* Judge Buel does not seem to have been personally ac(iuainted with 

 this invaluable grass. Its proper situation is high, well drain'ed meadows. 

 It constitutes, in such meadows, in Massachusetts, at least one-half of 

 the whcle crop. Its chief fault is that it is too early for the other grasses, 

 but it affords a second and even third crop if cut early. It is the grass 

 which gives the finest flavor so grateful to milch cows. 



