32 PERMANENT AND TEMPORARY PASTURES 



Foxtail is the more nutritious plant. Foxtail is, in fact, 

 essentially a landlord's grass, for which he may willingly 

 pay in the full assurance that the future of the pasture will 

 justify the outlay. 



Foxtail begins to bloom about the middle of April, but 

 by the third week of May it is practically in full flower, and 

 should there be a sufficient proportion of it in a meadow to 

 warrant early mowing, the crop ought to be cut ; for although 

 ripening does not, as is the case with nearly all other grasses, 

 seriously deteriorate the quality, it is wasteful to allow the bulk 

 of its palatable and nourishing herbage to be shrivelled up and 

 lost on the ground while other varieties are maturing. The 

 necessity for early cutting should influence the proportion of 

 Foxtail included in a prescription for a meadow, but in laying 

 down a pasture this consideration need not be entertained. 

 After taking a crop, it is one of the quickest grasses to again 

 commence growing, shooting up its green herbage before other 

 varieties make a start, and in bulk the aftermath frequently 

 exceeds the early growth. 



One characteristic which gives Meadow Foxtail a high 

 value is the immense amount of leafy herbage produced in 

 proportion to the quantity of stalk, and for this reason the 

 extent of its presence in a pasture often remains unsuspected. 

 The early growth is also in its favour. Other conditions being 

 equal, a pasture which contains Foxtail in abundance will carry 

 stock ten days in advance of a pasture in which it is wanting. 

 These facts have doubtless originated the idea that Foxtail is 

 peculiarly a pasture grass, but it yields so good a crop and of 

 such excellent quality that it is almost of equal service for 

 making into hay. As one of the few grasses that thrive under 

 trees, it should be plentifully used in sowing down orchards 

 and shady pastures. 



In the North, Meadow Foxtail is not much sown for hay, 

 because in high latitudes the culms seed long before other 

 herbage is fit for the scythe. Otherwise this grass is as well 



