AGRICULTUEAL GRASSES. 41 



loam has been proved by analysis to be more than equiva- 

 lent to a heavier crop taken from fen land, and the quality is 

 always higher before flowering than after the seed has been 

 developed. Experiments show that in April ten per cent, of 

 the herbage of this grass consisted of nutritive matter ; while at 

 midsummer the proportion was only about three and one-third 

 per cent. These are important facts to be borne in mind in lay- 

 ing down a new pasture. To make Cocksfoot into hay at the end 

 of April, however, would necessitate the sowing of this grass 

 alone, because other varieties are not ready for cutting at that 

 time ; and Cocksfoot manifests such a strong tendency to grow in 

 clumps, that, with no other grass to fill up the interstices, there 

 would be almost as many gaps as plants. 



The great size of Cocksfoot points to its usefulness in covers, 

 although unfortunately it does not answer well with brushwood. 

 Yet it thrives under trees, as is implied by its American name of 

 ' Orchard Grass.' On pastures which are much shaded, a con- 

 siderable proportion should be sown in company with Foxtail, 

 Various-leaved Fescue, and other grasses which are reliable under 

 dripping foliage. 



Upon an understocked pasture Cocksfoot will send up its 

 flowering stems, and I strongly advocate running the mower over 

 in time to prevent seeding. 



The thick, yellow base of the shoot, compressed above, and 

 the strongly keeled leaf, with its erose hgule, will distinguish this 

 species at all seasons of the year, in the absence of the flowering 



head. 



Cocksfoot when stimulated with ammoniacal manures has a 

 remarkable tendency to smother and starve out the clover plants 

 of a pasture in which it abounds. 



The botanical description and chemical analysis are given on 

 page 150, facing an illustration. 



