AGRIGULTUEAL GEASSES. 39 



in determining its presence in pastures. Lower sheaths yellowish 

 white ; leaves tapering from base to tip ; young leaves folded on 

 the mid-rib ; ligule truncate. 



At Eothamstead and Kidmore this grass appeared to thrive 

 equally on the unmanured plots and on the plots dressed with 

 mineral manures alone. The plant manifested antipathy for 

 ammonia salts, and an appreciation of nitrate of soda. 



The botanical description and chemical analysis are given on 

 page 148, facing an illustration. 



DACTYLIS GLOMEEATA 



(Bough Cocksfoot). 



This is one of the most widely distributed of all the grasses. 

 It is indigenous in hedgerows and ditches in almost all parts of 

 England, and shows considerable variations in character in dif- 

 ferent soils and situations ; but prior to its introduction from the 

 States in the eighteenth century. Cocksfoot does not appear to 

 have been sown for agricultural purposes. On dry calcareous 

 land the plant is stunted and wiry, while in fertile valleys and 

 rich land it grows to an immense size. Its proper place is on 

 good, strong, damp soils in low-lying districts, where it produces 

 a great quantity of leafy herbage. In such land the culms do not 

 change so quickly to woody fibre as on a drier soil, and the 

 stalks are eaten down by stock with greater rehsh. Even on the 

 land which best suits this grass, I would sow less of it than is 

 generally advised, and use larger proportions of Meadow Fescue, 

 Tall Fescue, and Foxtail instead. For Cocksfoot is an unsightly 

 grass, growing in great tufts ; the foliage is harsh to the touch, 

 and the coarse hard stems, two or three feet high, are not only 

 objectionable to the eye, but they prevent the hay from fetching 

 top market price, and the flower-heads are extremely Uable to 

 ergot. Besides, the aftermath of Cocksfoot is inferior in quality 

 to that of Foxtail, and on thin soils, in a dry season, the former 

 is hable to be very much withered by rust. 



