THE SELECTION OF GEAS8ES AND CLOVERS. 25 



independently and upon its own merits. I would lay great stress 

 upon the necessity of starting with a clear understanding of the 

 condition and capabilities of the soil. The subsoil, too, must 

 be taken into account, for sooner or later its influence will tell 

 decisively upon tlie existence of certain grasses. Then the pur- 

 pose of the grass crop must not be overlooked. Whether it is 

 chiefly for hay or entirely for grazing will prove an important 

 consideration in determining the sorts to be sown. Even the 

 kind of cattle the land is intended to carry is worth more than a 

 passing thouglit. Milch cows, fatting stock, sheep and horses, 

 or a combination of these animals, can be provided for if a 

 deiinite object is held steadily in view. 



I propose to describe the grasses and clovers which are sown 

 for permanent pastures and alternate husbandry, stating their 

 relative value, fitness for certain purposes, and such other par- 

 ticulars as will indicate the sorts and proportions to be used on 

 the various soils and under the conditions Usually prevailing in 

 this country. I can scarcely hope to render it a very easy matter 

 to make the selection in any case ; the subject is much too 

 complex for that. But I am anxious, as far as may he in my 

 power, to prevent a repetition of the costly blunders which have 

 too often characterised this branch of British agriculture. 



Agrostis alba— var. stolonifera {Florin, or Creeping Bent 

 Grass). — This plant thrives in spongy soil which is not firm 

 enough to produce better herbage, and in land which cannot 

 be drained it will get a living where other grasses perish. In 

 mountainous countries where rain falls frequently and abun- 

 dantly and the atmosphere is moist it grows freely, as well as 

 in light land and on peat. It affords very early feed in spring, 

 but its power of yielding late keep in autumn is its most re- 

 markable feature. Florin has been pastured as late as the 

 middle of December, and the herbage if allowed to remain until 

 the following spring is not deteriorated. This is all that can 

 be said in its favour. Cattle only eat it when they can get 



