G8 PEEMANENT AND TEMPOEAEY PASTUEES. 



herbage is coarse, the stalks soon become hard, and their in- 

 creased feeding value in that state is of no avail if cattle refuse 

 to graze them, as they undoubtedly do ; or if the presence of this 

 grass in abundance lowers the price of the hay. When seed is 

 freely shed there is a danger that the plant will take almost 

 exclusive possession of the land, especially on those formations 

 which favour its growth. And once sown it is a very difficult 

 grass to eradicate. All points considered, great judgment is 

 requisite in order to realise the full advantage of Timothy, and 

 at the same time to maintain the general efficiency of the pasture. 

 It certainly should not be sown where hay of fine quality is an 

 absolute necessity. 



Timothy is not so suitable for sowing with clovers for alter- 

 nate husbandry as other grasses, because of its late flowering ; 

 but with Cow Grass, which flowers considerably later than 

 Broad Clover, this difficulty does not arise, and perhaps it would 

 be impossible to find two plants which could more suitably be 

 sown together. For alternate husbandry Timothy offers very 

 substantial benefits, and the only objection to its employment for 

 a term of years is the trouble experienced in getting rid of it 

 when the ley has to be broken up. 



In the Kidmore experiments with manures, sulphate of 

 ammonia appeared to have a very marked efiect in promoting 

 the growth of this grass. 



The botanical description and chemical analysis are given 

 on page 166, facing an illustration. 



POA PEATENSIS 



[Smooth stalked Meadow Grass). 



Although there is a general resemblance between this grass 

 and Poa trivialis, the two plants differ materially in habit, charac- 

 ter, and structure. Poa pratensis is unlike Poa trivialis in having 

 broader and blunter foliage, an obtuse ligule to its leaf, smooth 

 stalks, and creeping roots that send out long stolons which take a 



