THE NATURAL HISTORY OF BRITISH GRASSES. 53 
which it does for a time, but requires a constant renewal of 
the dressing to quite keep it under. 
2. Poa trivialis — rough-stalked meadow-grass. — This 
Species is mostly confined to low and damp situations, often 
forming a great part of the bulk of hay in river-side mea- 
dows, but growing in the greatest abundance in irrigated 
pastures, especially in such parts as though not stagnant 
are always moist. Under the most perfect irrigation-system, 
it is by no means abundant. As an upland grass it is never 
met with in nature, and if employed in a mixture for such 
situations it usually disappears in a few years. In its 
favourite habitat it yields a large bulk of hay, but is usually 
very late in its growth, and this is followed by a good bite 
of aftermath; but our observations confirm us in the 
opinion that it is very watery in its composition, and its 
herbage is by no means of’ the sweet quality that belongs to 
the best species. Sinclair, however, speaks very highly of 
its properties, and in this he is followed by Parnell; he 
says, “the superior produce of this Poa over many other 
species,* its highly nutritive qualities, seasons in which it 
arrives at perfection, and the marked partiality which horses, 
oxen, and sheep have for it, are merits which distinguish it 
as one of the most valuable of those grasses which affect 
rich soil and sheltered situations.””— Hort. Gram. Woburn., 
. 88. . 
: Now, we cannot say that we have observed any partiality 
of cattle for this grass, and feel inclined to the belief that 
the following circumstances have contributed not a little to 
an over estimation of its qualities in this respect. If we 
examine its progress we shall find that it is nearly a month 
later than the general mass of the meadow grasses; so that 
it is no wonder that cattle should choose the green leaves 
of this species at a time when its congeners are in culm; 
but this is no argument for its superior value; on the con- 
trary, we are constantly being told, in the language of 
the farmer, that hay from such situations has not the 
* Here he does not mean of Poa, but other species of grasses. 
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