36 PERMANENT AND TEMPORARY PASTURES 



better in pastures among other varieties than when two of 

 them happen to be contiguous. On deep, rich, moist soils this 

 grass grows luxuriantly, and on marshy land it throws up 

 flower-culms all through the summer. In wet, peaty land the 

 plant comes so large and reed-like as to deceive those who are 

 not experienced botanists. It also thrives under the shade of 

 trees and does remarkably well under irrigation. Yet, strange 

 to say, Sweet Vernal grows freely on thin moors and sandy 

 dunes, and appears to be capable of living in soil which will 

 not support any other useful grass. 



When out of flower the plant is easily recognised by its 

 sweet-smelling, short, broad leaves, as well as by the fringe of 

 long hairs which surround the neat, obtuse ligule. The leaves, 

 too, are somewhat hairy on both upper and lower surfaces. 

 When the stalk is masticated a lavender-like flavour can be 

 detected. 



The agreeable perfume imparted to hay by Sweet Vernal 

 has created a demand for seed out of all proportion to the 

 supply. The seed is gathered by hand from plants growing 

 wild in the woods and clearings of Central Germany, and only 

 a very small quantity is sent to this country. The result is 

 the frequent substitution of the annual species A. Puelii, 

 which is every year largely exported from Hamburg under 

 the name of Sweet-scented Vernal. This grass (A. Puelii), 

 which is not a native of Britain, cannot be made partially 

 permanent even by the process of cutting, for it flowers 

 all the summer long, and if prevented from seeding at hay 

 time, the flower-heads are thrown up later, and, as cattle 

 do not relish them, seed is produced and the plant dies. It 

 is therefore extremely important to secure the true perennial 

 Anthoxanthum odoratum, which is, and always must be, a 

 costly seed. 



fond of it in the winter months. It has the merit of shooting very early in the spring. 

 Towards the end of February, after a few days of mild and moist weather, it 

 commenced to sprout strongly, and I observed that all kinds of cattle preferred it to 

 other grasses.' 



