AGRICULTURAL GRASSES. 55 



any other grass, but its aftermath is inconsiderable, so 

 it is principally to be cultivated for the hay crop. Dae- 

 tylis glomerata is excellent for its large produce of foliage, 

 which is good for hay, and still better for aftermath, but 

 its culms have very little nourishment in them. 



The qualities of the indigenous artificial grasses will 

 be treated in their proper place, among the British 

 species; the following introduced ones are recommended 

 by Sinclair and others : — 



Lolium Italicum — Italian Rye Grass. — This is im- 

 ported annually in seed ; it grows freely, and is an ex- 

 cellent meadow grass. Like the allied species, L. perenne 

 and its varieties, it is better for hay than for aftermath. 

 Pacey's Rye Grass (L. Paceyanum), RusselPs Rye Grass 

 (L. P.Mssellianum) , and the Evergreen Rye Grass L. sem- 

 pervirens), are varieties of L. perenne, which are most 

 approved. All these will be described in treating of 

 L. perenne. Dixon's Rye Grass and Ruck's Rye Grass 

 found most favour with that eminent agriculturist 

 Francis Blackie, Esq. 



Poa fertilis — Fertile Meadow Grass. — This is a native 

 of Germany, introduced by Mr. Sinclair, and greatly ap- 

 proved by him. He considers it next in value to Alope- 

 curus pratensis and Dactylis glomerata, as it produces 

 nearly as much foliage as they, and its substance is of 

 a still more nutritious character, especially its aftermath. 

 According to the botanist Host, this grass is indigenous 

 in moist pastures, and about the banks of rivers and ponds 

 in Germany. It somewhat resembles our Poa nemoralis, 

 but has a larger and more spreading panicle, and the 

 spikelets are more oval. Hares and rabbits are very 

 fond of it ; it grows about a foot and a half high, and per- 

 fects abundance of seed. 



