No. 199] 149 



of our grasses; its foliage begins to shoot and put on a fine verdure 

 c|uite early in the spring. Every animal that lives on grass is fond 

 of it; makes hay that may be classed among the best. It delights in 

 rather a dry than moist soil, and still it thrives well in rich meadows, 

 if they lay a little low. It was of this grass that the American prize 

 bonnet, in imitation of leghorn, was manufactured some years ago. 



Fowl Meadow grass was first discovered in a meadow in Massa- 

 chusetts. It is supposed the seed was brought there by water fowl : 

 hence its name. It is an excellent grass for wet meadows, and has 

 been known to yield three tons to the acre in one season. It remains 

 so long green that it may be mown at any time from July to October; 

 it makes very good hay for both horses and neat cattle. 



Floating Fescue grass. This plant delights in very wet grounds, 

 and is often found in rich swamps, bogs, ditches and ponds ; it is 

 singular in its habits, growiog as well in as out of the water : it flow- 

 ers in June. Horses and cows especially, are very fond of it, and it 

 is said the Cottenham and Chedlar cheese owe their great excellence 

 to this grass, and it imparts a rich and peculiar flavor to the milk of 

 cows fed upon it ; their butter also is of the best quality. It is a 

 native of our country. One gentleman who had every chance of 

 knowing its qualities says, it is greedily devoured by every species 

 of stock, not excepting poultry, which eagerly devour the seeds : 

 these are sina'il but very sweet and nourishing. 



Ribtand grass. This grass, if it possesses the fine qualities which 

 it is said to do, is likely to become of great value in our husbandry ; 

 it is no doubt American, The late Judge Buel had such an opinion 

 of it that he said it bid fair to become the game grass of the north. 

 The value of this promising grass was discovered incidentally, and is 

 thus told by Mr. Robinson, of New-Hampshire. A neighbor wishing 

 to get rid of some of the roots which encumbered his garden, pulled 

 them up and threw them into an adjoining bog, where they took root 

 and spread over a large space, excluding every other plant. The 

 water flowed through the roots at all seasr-ns. yet the turf had become 

 so solid as to bear a cart and oxen, i': makes the best of hay and 

 pasture — produces a great burdea, anJ springs up immediately after 



