54 ON THE IOOD OF SHEEP. 



of the lungs ; they never eat it, but when forced to it 

 through hunger. 



Q. Are there not some meadows better than oth- 

 ers for the making of good hay ? 



A. The best grasses for making hay for sheep are 

 found in greater proportion in high and dry meadows, 

 than in low and moist ones ; but there is always a 

 mixture of grasses of different qualities, in both situ- 

 ations. 



Q. Can hay be obtained from good grasses with- 

 out a mixture with bad ? 



A. That a pasture may produce such grasses only, 

 as are good for sheep, it is necessary, to plough the 

 ground, and to sow such as are wanted : it is by this 

 means artificial grasses are obtained. 



Q. What are the artificial grasses used for sheep ? 



A. Artificial meadow may be made with dog, or 

 twitch grass (fromental) (1), sheep grass, or sheep 

 fescue grass (coquiole) (2), ray grass (3), &c. The 

 name of gramineous is given to those grasses, and to 

 all such as have long narrow leaves, long stalks, and 

 ear out : artificial meadows are made with lucern, 

 trefoil, burnet, &.c. ; those grasses are sown alone, or 

 mixed together at pleasure. 



Q. What are the qualities of dog or twitch grass? 



A. It rises higher than any other meadow grass ; 

 it grows in all sorts of soils, but produces more in 

 good than in poor soils : it is cut early, and whether 

 for feeding or hay, is excellent for sheep. 



(1) A vena elatior, L. (2) Festuca ovina, L. (3) Lolium perenne, L- 



