CHAP. II 



OUR PASTURE GRASSES 



produce, with 2,722 lbs. of aftermath. The seed, which requires special care 

 in sowing owing to its small size, is saved from wild plants ; and is often 

 adulterated with those of Brown bent-grass {Agrostis canind), Tufted hair-grass 

 (Aira cizspitosa) and Spreading wind-grass {Apera Spica-venti). Fiorin is apt 

 to get the mastery in a field, and to destroy other more desirable grasses. 

 Indeed, the very poorest pastures in this country are made up almost entirely 

 of this grass, which should be omitted altogether from mixtures of pasture 

 seeds. The creeping roots become exceedingly troublesome weeds in arable 

 land. 



AlOPECURUS — FOXTAIL-G RASS 



Meadow Poxtail-Grass {Alopecurus pratensis). — Strictly perennial, un- 

 tufted, generally forming short underground stolons ; flowering in April, May 

 and June ; and ripening seed 

 during June and July. The 

 sweet-tasted produce, both green 

 and dried, forms nutritious and 

 much relished food for all stock. 

 Sharing with Sweet-scented ver- 

 nal the quality of being the 

 earliest of fodder-grasses in 

 spring, it gives a small crop the 

 first season, attaining to full 

 maturity only the third year; 

 withstands the most extreme 

 cold ; grows well under trees ; is 

 one of the most valuable "top- 

 grasses " ; yields abundantly ; and 

 succeeds best in good soils con- 

 taining humus, especially in clays 

 and rich, moist, sandy loams, 

 from which 3 crops a year can 

 be taken, the lattermath being 

 specially large. It soon dies out 

 from poor and dry lands ; and 

 though adapted for moist situa- 

 tions, and consequently for irri- 

 gation, it will not endure stagnant 

 water. Sinclair secured, at the 

 time of flowering, 20,418 lbs. of 

 green, or 6,125 ^^s. of dried, 

 produce per acre on clayey loam ; 

 and Vianne records 28,026 lbs. 

 green fodder, or 8,932 lbs. hay, 



from 2 cuttings on an acre of fertile loam. The harvesting of fine seed is 

 difficult, as the spikes ripen unequally ; and it is generally necessary to strip it 

 by hand before carefully drying it in an airy place. Moreover, the seed is 

 often seriously destroyed by the larvae of a small fly. Slender foxtail-grass 

 {Alopecurus agrestis), Yorkshire fog (^Holcus lanatus) and Creeping soft-grass 

 {Holcus mollis) seeds are frequently used as adulterants. The first-named 

 impurity is somewhat difficult to distinguish. Good seed should have 

 about 65 per cent, of germination and 95 per cent, of purity, lo lbs. being 



Meadow Foxtail-Grass. 

 {Alopecurus pratensis.) 



