AGRICULTURAL GRASSES 33 



adapted to Scotland as to the North of Europe generally. 

 There is scarcely a forage plant known which endures cold so 

 well, and spring frosts do it little harm. Even in the severest 

 winters, when other grasses suffer much damage, Foxtail re- 

 mains comparatively uninjured. The distribution of the plant 

 in this country is very unequal. In Devonshire it is un- 

 common, and in South Wales rarely seen, but it is plentiful 

 in most of the alluvial meadows bordering the greater rivers 

 of England. In districts where this grass is entirely wanting 

 I should scruple to recommend the sowing of any quantity in 

 new pastures ; but the great excellence of the herbage renders 

 a trial on a limited scale desirable. 



Sometimes Foxtail is carelessly mistaken for Timothy, 

 but, besides other differences, the former comes to maturity 

 quite a month before the latter. Both flourish in strong soils, 

 and a stiff loam or clay is necessary to fully bring out the fine 

 qualities of Foxtail, and to maintain it in a green state during 

 hot dry weather. Still, it luxuriates in warmth, and on well- 

 drained land in moisture also, but during prolonged rain a 

 heavy crop may be beaten down, and then it is liable to rot at 

 the roots. This fact again points to the necessity of mowing 

 in good time. Although it is useless to sow seed on undrained 

 land, this is one of the best grasses known for land under 

 irrigation, and the water-meadows in the South of England, 

 which always include it, produce immense crops. 



On very dry soils Foxtail is so stunted and diminutive as 

 to appear to be almost a different variety, but even under such 

 conditions it may sometimes be worth using in small propor- 

 tion, and wet seasons will prove that this is not a mistaken 

 policy. In parks and paddocks round residences where a 

 green appearance and constant growth are important, seed 

 should be sown freely. The result will gratify the eye of the 

 proprietor and benefit the cattle which graze upon the pasture. 

 True seed of Alopecurus pratensis is generally expensive, 

 and it is so fight and delicate in formation as to need 



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