LIGHT SEEDS. 143 
that comes early enough to cut with it, but then this grass 
would have to be sown afresh each autumn, which, we fear, 
might prove impracticable. 
In some parts of the country meadow foxtail is known as 
“guinea grass,” because women and children in days gone by 
were wont to gather the heads and sell them at a guinea per 
bushel. 
The weed most objectionable to it is Holcus, or Yorkshire fog, 
which we have before alluded to in our remarks on “ Pernicious 
Weeds.” The seeds of Holcus closely resemble the seeds of 
meadow foxtail, but they differ in that the long awn on the 
former is conspicuous by its absence from the latter. 
In spite of the invariable dearness of the seed, meadow 
foxtail should always be included in a mixture for permanent 
pastures. A bushel of the seed weighs some 14 lb., and 
should contain in each about 400,000 germinating seeds. 
SWEET VERNAL (ANTHOXANTHUM ODORATUM, Linv.). 
Sweet vernal is an all-round grass. It thrives on any soil, 
coming early, and on light scaldy lands it flowers in May. On 
retentive soil it continues to grow late, but becomes coarse 
and reed-like where moist and spongy soil favour it. It 
throws a greenish flowering spike, with a ruddy bloom, which 
is easy to distinguish on a permanent pasture, where it is very 
hardy and thoroughly perennial, resisting the changes from 
heat to cold, and from wet to dry, better, perhaps, than almost 
any other similar species. 
The great advantage of sweet vernal lies in its constant 
supply of green leaves, but this foliage is too broad and coarse 
for lawns. Stock are not particularly fond of it except in a 
young state, and on some lands it is apt to grow too 
prominently, to the detriment of better grasses. 
Sweet vernal imparts a delightful aromatic smell to hay, and 
