AGRICULTURAL GRASSES 27 



adapted to Scotland as to the North of Europe generally. 

 There is scarcely a forage plant known which endures cold so 

 well, and spring frosts do it little harm. Even in the severest 

 winters, when other grasses suffer much damage. Foxtail re- 

 mains comparatively uninjured. The distribution of the plant 

 in this country is very unequal. In Devonshire it is un- 

 common, and in South Wales rarely seen, but it is plentiful 

 in most of the alluvial meadows bordering the greater rivers 

 of England. Where this grass is entirely wanting T should 

 scruple to recommend the sowing of any quantity in new 

 pastures ; but the great excellence of the herbage renders a 

 trial on a limited scale desirable. 



Sometimes Foxtail is carelessly mistaken for Timothy, 

 but, besides other differences, the former comes to maturity 

 quite a month before the latter. Both flourish in strong soils, 

 and a stiff loam or clay is necessary to fully develop the fine 

 qualities of Foxtail, and to maintain the herbage in a gi*een 

 state during hot dry weather. On well-drained retentive land 

 the growth is very luxuriant, and during prolonged rain a 

 heavy crop may be beaten down, when the plant is liable to 

 rot at the roots. This fact again points to the necessity of 

 mowing in good time. Although it is useless to sow seed on 

 undrained land, this is one of the best grasses known for land 

 under irrigation, and the water-meadows in the South of 

 England, in which it grows freely, produce immense crops. 



On very dry soils Foxtail is so stunted and diminutive as 

 almost to lose its distinctive characteristics ; but even under 

 such conditions it may sometimes be worth using in small pro- 

 portion, and wet seasons will prove that this is not a mistaken 

 policy. In parks and paddocks surrounding residences, where 

 a green appearance and constant growth are important, seed 

 should be sown freely. The result will gratify the eye of the 

 proprietor and benefit the cattle which graze upon the pasture. 

 True seed of Alopecurus pratcnsis is generally expensive, 

 and it is so light and delicate in formation as to need 



