225 



one instance, during a dry summer, the last cropped space afforded a produce superior to th^t 

 f the early cropped space, as 2 to 1. I^ all these trials, the produce of the early space con" 

 ^^i of four crops, and that of the later three. It appears therefore, that no stock should he 

 ,^,l,„itted to seedling grasses, tdl after the time of their comlno- into flower. 



)ii 







III. 



Of the Grmses tchich naturally groiD in Moist Soils, or in Bogs, Lands 



that are periodically omrjloimi, and Irrigated 31eadoics. 



Ki.1. the superior pasture grasses will thrive under irrigation, provided the Avater-meadow he 

 properly constructed ; that is, if the water he placed perfectly under command, so as to he 

 admitted on the land, and carried off from it at pleasure. 



Bogs and lands that are periodically overflown, on which the water stagnates from the want 

 of drains, support few grasses of any value to the Agriculturist. They are principally the fol- 

 lo^ying : Marsh hent, (Agrostis palustris); awnless hrown bent, (Agrostis canina, vel. Triclwdium 

 canimm, var. mutica); awned creeping bent, (Agrostis stolonifera aristata); smaller-leaved creep- 

 ing bent, (Agrostis stolonifera angustifolia) ; creeping-rooted bent, (Agrostis repens); white 

 kilt, (Agrostis alba); flote fescue, (FestucaJtuitansJ; tall fescue, (Festuca elatior); turfy hair- 

 grass, (Aira cmpitosa) ; knee-jointed foxtail-grass, (Alopecurus geniculatus); water hair-grass, 

 (Aira aquatica); water-meadow grass, (Poa aquatica); long-leaved cotton-grass, (Eriopliorum 

 polysfachion); sheathed cotton-grass, (Eriopliorum vaginatumj. 



The above grasses, however, constitute but a small portion of the produce of marshy ground. 

 The following plants compose the bulk of produce : Different species of rushes, (Juncus); 

 sedges, fCarexJ; rush grasses, (SchcenusJ; club-rushes, (Cy per us J; cat's-tail rushes, (Typha); 

 bur-weeds, ( SparganiumJ , Of all these plants, as far as my observations have extended, two 

 or three species of Juncus only, are eaten by cattle. Mr. Taunton indeed says, that he has oh- 

 served cattle croj3 some of the species of Carew. The natural, or proper grasses, produced on 

 these stagnant lands, are of .a very inferior value. The Water-meadow Grass seems the most 

 valuable, as will appear by the following details of experiments made upon them. 



To the indigenous grasses natural to marshy and sour clayey lands, mentioned in the fol- 

 Wing series of specimens, I have added such foreign grasses as may be classed with them. 



3 M 



