THE SELECTION OF GKASSES AND CLOVERS. 79 



to sow patches in the covers. The seed germinates so slowly 

 tliat it may be six or seven weeks before making a start. 



Bromus Schrsederi (Schrceder's Brome Grass). — This grass 

 is not strictly perennial, and there is a prejudice against it be- 

 cause of the harshness of its foliage ; still it is a valuable forage 

 plant. From the sweetness of its taste and the readiness with 

 which it is eaten by stock, there can be little doubt that it is 

 highly nutritious. It is one of the earliest grasses to start in a 

 temporary pasture, and I strongly urge a more extended trial of 

 it in mixtures for two or three years' leys which are mainly to be 

 fed off. In warm moist seasons especially its usefulness will be 

 manifested. Several years ago I saw a field of this grass which 

 kept an extraordinary flock of sheep which were penned on it 

 during a hot summer. The crop was ready at one end of the 

 field as soon as the sheep had finished at the other. This grass 

 grows so strong as to crowd out weeds. It feeds on the surface, 

 and will thrive on the thinnest soil. It has not been sufficiently 

 cultivated in England. 



Bromus inermis (Aivnless Brome Grass). — This grass is 

 much used in the South-east of Europe, and grows an extra- 

 ordinary amount of fodder. From trials made of it in this 

 country I believe it is likely to be of great value to the English 

 agriculturist. All kinds of stock eat it greedily, and take it even 

 in preference to Italian Eye Grass. Compared with that grass, 

 Bromus inermis starts earlier in spring, yields quite double the 

 crop at the first cut, and the analysis made for me by Dr. J. 

 Auo-ustus Voelcker shows the Bromus to be the richer in albu- 

 minoids and nitrogjen. 



Ammophila arundinacea {Sea Reed, or Mat Grass). — An 

 Act passed in the reign of Elizabeth, and renewed in the reign of 

 George II., proliibited the pulling up or otherwise destroying of 



