The Smaller Grasses. 105 



at 50 in the table. Sinclair considera that its early 

 gi;owth and hardy and permanent nature uphold its 

 claim to a place in the composition of all permanent 

 pastures ; but, as its seed is scarce and dear, its use 

 cannot be recommended while there are other grasses 

 which have superior qualities, and are much cheaper. 



Crested Dogstail (flynosurus cristatus). — The produc- 

 tive power of this grass is small, and the reader will 

 perceive that it stands at 45 in the table ; but Arthur 

 Young speaks highly of it, and so does Sinclair, and he 

 goes so far as to say that " a sward of the best quality, 

 particularly under circumstances where sheep are a 

 principal object, cannot be formed without an admixture 

 or proportion of the crested dogstail grass." It has the 

 merit of being very drought-resisting, and it thrives 

 well on dry lands. Many farmers dislike it on account 

 of its wiry culms, but there can be no doubt that 

 it is useful for filling up the bottofti of a pasture. 



Wood Meadow grass {Poa nemoralis), as regards pro- 

 ductiveness, stands on the same level as crested dogs- 

 tail — i.e., 45 — in the table, and Sinclair says that " the 

 early growth of this grass in spring, and its remarkably 

 fine, succulent, and nutritive herbage, recommend it 

 strongly for admission into the company of the superior 

 pasture grasses." But I cannot find that it is ever 

 spoken of as a good drought-resisting grass ; and, though 

 it may be very suitable for lawns or pleasure grounds, 

 the practical farmer would, I think, rather see any 

 space that might be given to it filled with a safer grass. 



Fine-leaved Fescue {Festuea ovina tenuifolia) stands 

 last on the table, with a productive power as low as 40. 

 It grows and thrives on mountain pastures, and is 

 valuable in lawn mixtures, but should never be included 

 in mixtures for laying down any kind of pasture. 



Nerved Meadow grass {Poa nervata). — This grass 

 cannot be obtained from seedsmen in this country, and 

 I had some difficulty in procuring seeds from North 

 America. From these I grew a certain number of 



