96 PLANT LIFE ON THE FAIIM. 



may here be mentioned in merest outline for the purpose 

 of illustrating the subject of this chapter, and of affording 

 matters for consideration by the practical cultivator. 



The total number of different kinds of plants that have 

 been found on the plots is 89, of which 20 are grasses, 

 10 leguminous, and the remainder, occurring usually in 

 smaller proportions and belonging to many natural orders, 

 are conveniently grouped as " miscellaneous." The 

 numbers and relative proportions of these, as noted in 

 %e growing herbage or recognized in the samples taken 

 from it, differ very much in different seasons, and more 

 especially according to the nature of the manure employed. 



The plants vary among themselves, the grasses having 

 certain characters in common, the leguminous plants 

 differing from the grasses, and both more or less from 

 the miscellaneous plants, the members of which latter 

 group differ very considerably among themselves. The 

 variations alluded to depend of course on the varying 

 organisation, hereditary endowments, internal structure, 

 habit, constitution, and mode of life of the several plants. 

 Some of these points are much more influenced by external 

 conditions of soil and climate than others. 



The Grasses.* Of the 18 grasses which commonly 



* In the text the Latin names of the plants mentioned are employed aa 

 more precise and uniform in their application, not varying in different 

 localities, and being in universal use in botanical works ; but as these 

 names may not be familiar to some readers, the most commonly adopted 

 English names are here supplied. It should be remembered that only the 

 more important of the pasture plants are here alluded to. 



GRASSES. 



Anthoxanthum odoratum = Sweet vernal grass 

 Alopecurus pratensis = Meadow fox tail grass 



