APPENDIX E.-—~INDIGENOUS GRASSES OF BRITAIN. 199 
situations, it would produce an excellent hay crop, and also afford 
good pasture. I have cultivated it for several years, and find it to 
answer almost in every soil. I have planted it in peat soil, and 
found it to succeed astonishingly. It flowers in June, and seeds in 
July. Cows, horses, and sheep are all fond of it. 
10. Alopecurus pratensis!. This grass has been highly and justly 
extolled by every author who treats of the British grasses; and so 
far as I have observed, I consider it as one of the best, particularly 
for an early hay crop, on any tolerable soil, if not in a very high 
situation; and it is peculiarly well fitted for drained meadows. 
When I was in London, about the year 1786, I saw a patch of 
about twenty square yards of this grass, cultivated by Mr. Curtis, 
who on the same ground had patches of almost all the British 
grasses; but in my opinion, this A/opecurus exceeded them all, in 
quantity and quality as a hay crop. And it is an early grass; it 
flowers in May, and ripens in June. Its seeds adhere long to the 
spike, and are easily collected. 
11. Holcus lanatus?. This grass has also the name of Yorkshire 
fog in some places of Scotland, probably owing to the thick tuft of 
leaves which it produces at the root. The late Rev. Dr. Walker, 
and other good judges, have greatly extolled this Holcus. It, no 
doubt, is very early, and prospers in any moist situation, however 
poor the soil. It also produces abundance of leaves, and even a 
full crop of hay; yet Dr. Martyn remarks, in Flora Rustica, that it 
is not much esteemed as a cultivated grass. For my own part, I 
regard it as inferior to many others. To make tolerable hay for 
feeding, it should be cut as soon as the spikes are formed. In that 
case, two crops may easily be had in the season. It has also 
this advantage, that when sown on meadows recently improved, its 
bundled roots might exclude the growth of carices. Its seeds are 
easily gathered. 
12. Anthoxanthum odoratum*®. This grass has been praised by 
Mr. Curtis for its early appearance, and readiness to grow in any 
soil or situation. This I can confirm from my own observation. I 
have seen this grass growing from the richest meadow, to the 
summit of our loftiest mountains. It produces a great number of 
radical leaves, and continues growing throughout the whole season. 
It communicates a pleasing odour to hay, or to any thing with which 
in has been in contact. Its seeds are easily collected. 
' Meadow fox-tail grass. 
® Soft meadow grass. 
* Sweet scented vernal grass. 
