36 ON THE CULTIVATED GRASSES 



and particularly on such as are of a calcareous sandy nature, or are incumbent on limestone. 

 On such of these as are too thin or dry for producing good crops of corn and grass, it may 

 be grown with very beneficial results. 



8. Petroselinum sativum (^Common Parsley). — Fr. Persil ordinaire ; Ger. Petersilie. 

 — ^A somewhat fusiform-rooted biennial or triennial ; flowers in July ; height one to three 

 feet ; colour of the flowers light yellow. Native of Sardinia, from whence it is said to have 

 been first introduced into Britain in the year 1548.- Parsley is eaten by most of our 

 herbivorous domesticated animals, particularly sheep ; and from being believed to act as 

 a preventive of the red-water and liver-rot in that animal, it has been recommended for 

 sowing in their pastures. Although its biennial duration does not suit well for this 

 purpose, it may be used in small quantities, say at the rate of about one pound to the 

 imperial acre, when the soil is of a light and medium description ; and if the pasture is 

 not kept very bare, it will be found to ripen, and scatter a sufiicient quantity of seed to' 

 perpetuate its existence. Of the numerous varieties cultivated, the common Plain-leaved 

 is that generally employed in field culture. 



9. Plantago lanceolata (Common Plaintain, or Rib Grass). — Fr. Plantain des pres ; 

 Ger. Spitzwegwich. — A fibrous-rooted perennial ; flowers in May and June ; leaves 

 lanceolate, tapering towards both ends, spreading, prostrated or lying on the ground ; 

 spikes or heads dark-coloured ; stems without leaves, angular, and rising to the height 

 of twelve or eighteen inches. Grows naturally in dry pastures. The Rib Grass produces 

 its foliage at an early period of the season, when it is eaten by cattle, sheep, and horses ; 

 on which account its mixture with grasses on dry pastures was formerly recommended 

 and practised. It has, however, got deservedly into less repute, from its close spreading 

 leaves occupying too great a surface, to the partial exclusion of the more profitable grasses 

 and clovers, and also from live-stock, in general, seeming to manifest rather a dislike to 

 its stalks and leaves, as the season becomes more advanced. 



10. Poterium Sanguisorba [Co7?mion Burnet). — Fr. Pimprenelle ; Ger. Pimpinelk. 

 — A fibrous-rooted sub-perennial ; height two to three feet ; grows naturally on chalky 

 pastiires in England ; flowers in June and July. The Burnet was formerly sown either 

 along with, or as a substitute for, clover, amongst grass seeds, for hay or pasture, to a very 

 great extent, in some of the chalky districts of England ; but its cultivation has declined 

 although still grown to a considerable extent. It has never been cultivated much in 

 Scotland, nor does it seem deserving of more general encouragement, except, perhaps, 

 in small quantities, as a mixture, on light sandy or calcareous soils, and with Lucerne and 

 Sainfoin on sandy links. 



11. Trifolium hybridum [Hybrid, or Alsike Clover). — Fr. Triple hybride (de Suhde) ; 

 Ger. Schwedischer oder Bastard Klee. — Is so named from being intermediate in its appearance 

 between the white and red clovers. Heads globular, stalked ; stems branching, and in 

 habit of growth not so upright as those of Common Red Clover ; roots fibrous, perennial ; 

 flowers in June and July. The T. hybridum is now well known as Alsike Clover. The 

 seeds reached us originally from Sweden under this name. It is deservedly in repute as 

 one of the best perennial clovers, and well adapted for this country. From the result of 

 our own experiments it is found to thrive on soils which are termed by farmers clover-sick. 

 For this quality, especially, it has proved a most valuable acquisition to our cultivated field 

 plants, and is now used and generally approved of in all mixtures of grasses and clovers. 



12. Trifolium incarnatum {Scarlet, Crimson, ox Italian Clover). — Fr. Triple incarnat ; 

 Ger. Incarnat Klee. — Spikes or heads oblong, and nodding to one side, of a beautiful bright 



