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94 Cocksfoot, Most Valuable of Grasses. 



collected from meadowy on the Rhine in Holland, and 

 adds that it is possible that, from the damp nature of 

 the climate where it is collected, it may be more 

 succulent than the wild native plant. 



From the facts previously given, it seems evident that 

 the whole subject of the difference of production in 

 grasses of the same kind, but grown under different con- 

 ditions of soil and climate, deserves close investigation, 

 as, even from my individual experience, it seems evident 

 that there are far greater differences in the result than 

 might be supposed from sowing seeds of the most 

 superior kinds, and that these results probably are 

 carried on over a much greater length of time than one 

 would be inclined, at first sight, to suppose. I now 

 propose to take each forage plant separately, and offer 

 some remarks as to its quality and general merits. 



Cocksfoot grass (Dactylis glomerata) calls for little 

 remark, as, to use the words of Mr. Faunce de Laune, 

 " it is by far the most valuable of all grasses, because 

 it grows on all soils, it produces the greatest amount 

 of keep, it is the most nutritious grass ; it also seems 

 to grow faster and stronger in extremes of weather, 

 either wet or dry, than any other grass." Taking 

 into consideration its productiveness, it is the cheapest 

 grass that can be grown for land that is to lie in 

 grass for four or more years, for though timothy seed 

 to start with is cheaper than cocksfoot the productive- 

 ness of the latter grass in the course of about three 

 years pays for the extra cost of its seed. It is certainly 

 the most valuable for temporary pasture, and Sinclair 

 says that, " for alternate husbandry, it appears to 

 have a greater variety of merits for this purpose than 

 almost any other grass. It soon arrives at maturity, 

 it bears cropping well, is very productive, and its 

 nutritive powers are considerable. It is much less 

 impoverishing to the soil than ryegrass, and when 

 ploughed it affords a greater quantity of vegetable 

 matter to the soil. It has been objected to cocksfoot 



