EFFECT OF SHADE. 255 



which grows in great perfection in the south of Prance, 

 is very unreliable south of Philadelphia, from the heat, 

 and north of it from the cold. 



The growth of grass south of the parallel of 39° is 

 similar to that on the dry and arid sands in higher north- 

 ern latitudes. Most of the higher English grasses fail, 

 in such situations, to form a close turf, and give place 

 to the tufted or jungle grasses, or to such as refuse to 

 grow in close companionship with others. In going 

 west from the Mississippi River a close-cultivated turf is 

 rare ; and the same is the case, as already seen, south 

 of Washington, or perhaps south of Baltimore, and of 

 the line running west from there to the Mississippi. 

 The clovers may be cultivated to some extent ; but, 

 though valuable as forage plants, they become poor 

 substitutes for the close and beautiful sward of a cooler 

 climate. In California several species of medicago are 

 highly esteemed, and are known under the general term 

 of " California clover." 



It must be evident, from what has been said, that the 

 climate of the United States is not so well adapted, as 

 a whole, to bring the higher grasses to perfection, as 

 that of England. A moist and equable climate is best 

 adapted to all this class of plants, — that is, to promote 

 their rich luxuriance of growth. The nutritive quali- 

 ties of grasses grow^n under greater heat and a drier 

 climate are, undoubtedly, superior ; and this is a fact 

 familiar to every observing farmer. Grass grown in a 

 wet season, or very moist climate, bears a striking re- 

 semblance to that grown under the shade of trees. 



The remarks of a practical farmer of Kentucky well 

 express the general estimate made by most farmers in 

 reply to the second question proposed in the circular 

 given on a preceding page. " Just so far," says he, "as 

 there is shade, is the grass deficient in saccharine and 



