THE SELECTION OF GRASSES AND CLOVERS. 33 



feet in lieight, and in warm forcing situations will produce two 

 heavy crops of hay in one season. 



The [)lant starts into growth very early in spring, and after 

 the crop 1ms been cut there is one peculiarity which must be 

 borne in mind, or much waste may result. This grass absorbs 

 moisture in the same manner as Trifolium incarnatum, and there- 

 fore it cannot be left with impunity to the influence of the 

 weather. In a dry time, however, as the stems are not succulent, 

 Avena elatior is one of the easiest of grasses to make into hay, 

 and the hay keeps particularly well. 



This grass cannot be called strictly perennial everywhere, 

 but it is fully twice as long-lived as Italian Eye Grass, and grows 

 as much herbage in its first year. In the second and subsequent 

 years of its existence it is far superior to its better-known rival. 

 For permanent pastures it may generally be regarded as unsuit- 

 able, on account of its uncertain duration, as well as because of 

 its coarseness. 



The rapid growth of Avena elatior makes the plant a gross 

 feeder, and it will absorb any reasonable quantit}^ of manure, 

 especially of the nitrogenous class. 



The seed needs to be buried rather deeper than that of 

 any other grass. For a three years' ley one-fifth of the entire 

 sowing would not be an unreasonable quantity on a good deep 

 soil, but its high price makes it necessary to be content with 

 a smaller seeding. 



When sown in autumn a much larger produce is obtained 

 in the following year than from a spring sowing. 



This grass must not be confounded with Avena. hu.lbosa — a 

 worthle-'s weed which is too well known in arable land ; still less 

 with Avena fatiui, tlie Wild Oat, which it in no way resembles. 



Cynosurus cristatus (Crested Dogstail) is one of tlie chief 

 sheep grasses of British agriculture. Combined with Hard Fescue 

 and Sheep's Fescue it may be said to compose the best of our 

 upland sheep pastures. It constitutes a valuable bottom grass, 



1) 



