160 The Position of Pastoral Plants since 1885. [Sess. 



for alternate husbandry and partial laying down of permanent 

 pasture. Of the fescues, Festuca pratensis has not come up to 

 expectation ; it seems to want adaptation for the former 

 purpose, and is perhaps whimsical regarding immediate con- 

 ditions for the latter. The tall fescue (F. elatior) on rich 

 ground, and hard fescue (F. duriuscula) on poorer soil are 

 valuable auxiliaries. 



Of the meadow-grasses, the rough-stalked Poa trivialis on 

 a clay soil, and the smooth P. pratensis on a dry soil, have 

 proved themselves valuable. 



Recent cultivation has tended to improve the quality of 

 timothy grass (Phlcitm pra tense) grown in moderately cold 

 climates, by reducing the tendency of the roots to become 

 bulbous, when they are difficult to eradicate by ploughing, and 

 cause much loss to cereal crops. 



Both in the cold season of 1912 and in the great drought 

 of 1911 crested dog's-tail grass {Cynosurus cristatus) did well 

 and is to be recommended for alternate use. Sweet vernal 

 grass (Anthoxanthum odoratum) was comparatively satisfactory, 

 but it has been greatly replaced by A. puelii. Amongst 

 alternate grasses, the value of cock's-foot (Dactylis glomerata) 

 has been proved, and its quality has been refined by recent 

 cultivation. I found the seed from New Zealand the best, 

 yielding a fine leafy grass. This grass has to some extent 

 in pastures taken the place of fox-tail (Alopecurus pratensis) 

 and the yellow oat-grass (Avena fiavescens). It seems probable 

 that some improvement might be made in permanent or 

 natural grasses by the addition of certain others, or by 

 fostering some that are not in prominent use, such as 

 purple molinia {Molinia ccendea) on a poor soil and the 

 reedy meadow-grass {Poa aquatica) upon undrained rich soils. 



Importance must be attached to the purchasing of the right 

 seed, which as far as possible should be obtained from a 

 place with a soil similar to that of one's own district, but 

 having a milder climate. 



This remark about seeds also applies to the other branch 

 of ordinary pastures — the clovers — the red (Trifoliitm pra- 

 tense), white {T. repens), and alsyke (7 T . hybridum). Recent 

 years have shown little change in the use of yellow suck- 

 ling (T. jiliforme) and of medick {Medieago lupulina). In 



