30 PERMANENT AND TEMPORARY PASTURES 



better in pastures among other varieties than when two of 

 them happen to be contiguous. On deep, rich, moist soUs this 

 grass grows luxuriantly, and on marshy land it throws up 

 flower-culms aU through the summer. In wet, peaty land the 

 growth is so large and reed-like as to deceive those who are not 

 experienced botanists. Sweet Vernal also thrives under the 

 shade of trees and does remarkably well under uTigation. Yet, 

 strange to say, it grows freely on thin moors and sandy dunes, 

 and appears to be capable of living in soil which wiU not 

 support any other useful grass. 



When out of flower the plant is easily recognised by its 

 sweet-smelling, short, broad leaves, as well as by the fringe of 

 long hairs which surround the neat, obtuse ligule. The leaves, 

 too, are somewhat hairy on both upper and lower surfaces. 

 By masticating the stalk a lavender-like flavour can be 

 detected. 



The agreeable perfume imparted to hay by Sweet Vernal 

 has created a demand for seed out of aU proportion to the 

 supply. Seed is gathered by hand from plants growing 

 wild in the woods and clearings of Central Germany, and 

 only a very small quantity is sent to this country. Hence 

 the frequent substitution of the annual species A. Puelii, 

 which is every year largely exported from Hamburg under 

 the name of Sweet-scented Vernal. This grass {A. Puelii), 

 which is not a native of Britain, cannot be made partially 

 permanent even by the process of cutting, for it flowers 

 aU the summer long, and if prevented from seeding at hay 

 time, the flower-heads are thrown up later, and, as cattle 

 do not relish them, seed is produced and the plant dies. It 

 is therefore extremely important to secure the true perennial 

 Anthoxanthuvi odoratum, which is, and always must be, a 

 costly seed. 



fond of it in the winter months. It has the merit of shooting very early in the spring. 

 Towards the end of February, after a few days of mild and moist weather, it 

 commenced to sprout strongly, and I observed that all kinds of cattle preferred it to 

 other grasses.' 



