36 . MEADOW FOX-TAIL. 



100 parts of the grass dried at 212" Fahr. 



Albuminous or flesh forming principles 12 32 



Fatty matter / " • " .o ;^ 



Heat producing principles, starch, sugar, gum, etc. . . 43.12 



Woody fibre 33.83 



Mineral matter or ash 7.81 



100.00- 

 This well known English grass is one of the earliest 

 and most valuable grasses produced in England. 

 It vegetates with extraordinary lux^^riance and is 

 therefore both as a first crop and as after grass justly 

 considered as holding the first place among the best 

 grass whether used as green fodder or made into hay; 

 cattle are fond of it, though it is said to^beless relish- 

 ed by oxen than by any other stock. It requires 

 two or three years to arrive at maturity. It has 

 been found more hardy against frosts than_ many 

 other grasses, a property which recommends it for 

 cultivation in this country. It sends forth its spikes 

 almost as soon, and in some situations quite as early,, 

 as the sweet scented vernal and is consequently 

 equally valuable as an early grass, and as it is much 

 longer and quicker in its growth, it is of course 

 much more productive. It shoots very rapidly after 

 mowing, producing a very plentiful aftermath, but 

 on account of its not attaining its full productive 

 powers under three years growth it is inferior to 

 orchard grass for the purposes of alternate croppings 

 and to many other grasses besides. Yet for perma- 

 nent pasturage or meadow on medium or fertile soils 

 it should never form a less proportion than one eigth 

 of any mixture of different grasses prepared for that 

 purpose. Its merits demands this whether with re- 

 spect to early growth produce, nutritive qualities or 



