115 



mg 

 to 



ties of the ^^ro^te stolonifera, which have been enumerated; this will be mnnlf... 



, 1 ., p . ' ^^"^''^ '-'*^ mamrest, on referri 



to the details of experiments made upon them, as given under the head of grasses natural 

 moist soils. , 



On comparing the specimens of these difFerent varieties, their reseinblance to each other is so 

 great, that they may be easily mistaken for each other, without a close inspection, and some know 

 ledge of botany to assist it. It was before observed, that this variety, (larger creeping Bent or 

 Fiorin), appears to be confined to rich ancient pasture land, as its natural place of o-rowlh" ill 

 ihe other varieties to various soils and situations ; and that when taken from these different soi^s 

 and cultivated together under the same circumstances, they retain tlie discriminatin<>- chj 



IP., - - — -H ^^aracters 



betore mentioned. 



On damp clayey soils the second variety is the most common grass. To moors and bog soils 

 the third variety is chiefly, or (at least according to my observations), altogether confined! To 

 light sandy soils, particularly when more or less shaded, the fourth variety is peculiar • and 

 the fifth variety is seldom found but in the bottom of ditches, or by the sides of rivulets. ' Th 

 first variety being therefore scarce, and the others very common, there is little room for ...... 



prise at the contradictory results of experiments that have been made on one or other of these 

 inferior varieties, by Gentlemen equally eminent for agricultural knowledge, under bhe convic 



sur- 



e name- 



scovery 



tion of their being one and the same grass as recommended by Dr. Richardson under th. „„.._ 

 of Fiorin ; whereas, though they agree in the general habit of Dr. Richardson's variety," and 

 mdeed in every respect, except in the characters before described, their inferiority in every' agri- 

 cultural merit is so great, as to justify the opprobrious epithets that have been bestowed upon 

 them by those who, from the above causes, have differed from Dr. Richardson's statements of 

 the merits of the first variety, or Fiorin, and prevented that justice being done to the di 

 which it may have deserved. 



The above details will assist the Farmer in deciding on the comparative merits of this grass, 

 as a constituent of a mixture of grasses for permanent pasture; from which it will doubtlesl 

 appear worthy of attention, but its value not so great as has been supposed, if its habits or man- 

 ner of gT0^vth be Impartially taken into the account, when compared with the produce and 

 nutritive powers of other grasses. 



This grass, when cultivated by Itself, cannot be profitably depastured, on account, principally, 

 of Its peculiar manner of growth, which has been compared to that of strawberries. It sends 

 out runners or stolones, which strike root at the joints; the feet of cattle mixing part of the 

 soil with these, render the most valuable part of the plant unfit for food. In its combined 

 state in ancient pastures, this objection is lost, as the root-leaves and consolidated turf of the 

 various grasses, prevent completely such an effect from the feet of the cattle, which will be evi- 

 dent on a few moments' examination of a close-eaten turf of sucli pastures as now described. In 

 this state it is much less productive than when cultivated singly, as the fibrous roots of the 



stolones derive their only nourishment from the moisture secreted among the root-leaves of the 

 uther grasses. 



L 



The chlefadvantage of this grass in permanent pasture, is its late growth. It remains in a 

 degree inactive, till other grasses have attained to perfection, and wh en their productive powers 

 become exhausted, those of Fiorin and its varieties begin; and it will be found, on inspection. 



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