40 PEEMANENT AND TEMPOEAEY PASTUEES. 



It has been computed that an acre of Cocksfoot will sustain 

 twice as many sheep as an acre of Timothy. This may be true 

 of the early growth, but it certainly does not hold good of the 

 later crop, for the productiveness of the two grasses is pretty 

 nearly reversed after midsummer. 



Eecently a writer has given Cocksfoot greater prominence 

 than older authorities assigned to it. As a result old pastures 

 have unfortunately been ruined by a sowing of Cocksfoot, and 

 new pastures have had to be broken up because this grass was 

 sown in too great proportion. Concerning its immense cropping 

 power on strong moist soils there cannot be two opinions ; but it 

 does not endure long-continued drought so well as Foxtail, and is 

 entirely out of place in upland meadows. When a fine hay crop 

 is the chief desideratum, Cocksfoot should be omitted altogether, 

 and its place be filled by Meadow Fescue. 



The relative position which Dr. J. Augustus Voelcker assigns 

 to the feeding value of Cocksfoot is given in his report at page 138. 



The valuable qualities of Cocksfoot are even better realised 

 in a three or four years' ley than in a permanent pasture.^ With 

 Eye Grass and Clover it forms a superior feeding ley, and yields 

 a very bulky crop for consumption on the farm, where its coarse- 

 ness is not objectionable. Full maturity is not attained until the 

 second year. 



Cocksfoot comes into flower in June, and meadows in which 

 it abounds must be cut early so that the flowering culms may be 

 in a young stage of growth. After cutting, the plant quickly 

 starts again, and while tender the herbage is much relished by all 

 kinds of cattle. Mere size or coarseness is not a standard of 

 excellence, for a smaller crop of Cocksfoot from a rich, light 



' The Swiss authority, Dr. F. G. Stabler, is very emphatic on this point. He 

 says : ' It is chiefly in temporary meadows that it is most advantageous. Yet if sown 

 too largely at first it has the same fault as if sown alone, forming cushions, and con- 

 sequently an unequal turf. It is better to begin by sowing but little, and, after allowing 

 other sorts to develop properly, to sow a little more later. Only in exceptional cases is 

 it necessary to sow more than 15 per cent, at first. A good rolling is very beneficial in 

 spring. This levels the tufts.' 



