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10 
This grass (locally called zacate) is cultivated exclusively in low, wet 
ground, and is flooded occasionally after the manner of rice, being first 
started in seed beds and then transplanted to the. previously flowed 
field. How far this custom prevails in other eastern countries we do 
not know, but from the general antiquity and uniformity of the prae- 
tices of husbandry in those countries we may suppose that this practice 
is there of ancient origin. 
But as far as western nations are concerned the cultivation of spe- 
cial grasses for hay is a modern improvement. Mr. Martin J. Sutton, 
in a recent work on ‘‘ Permanent and Temporary Pastures,” states that 
Lolium perenne, or perennial rye grass, was the first grass gathered 
Separately for agricultural purposes. He further states that it has 
been known since 1611, the date of the earliest agricultural book which 
mentions it. Mr. George Sinclair, in his advertisement to the fourth 
edition of the ‘‘ Hortus Gramineus Woburnensis,” says: - 
The time has been in this country [%. e., England] when providing sufficient for- 
age for live stock in winter was a matter of the greatest difficulty, and great losses 
were sustained, and many advantages given up, on account of the absolute want of 
winter fodder. Old turf, suitable either for grazing or for the scythe, was supposed to 
be a creation of centuries, and that a farmer, who wished to lay down a meadow in his 
youth, must see the end of his ‘‘ three score years and ten” before he could possibly 
possess a piece of pasture capable of keeping a score of sheep or a couple of cows. 
So much was the wantof grass land felt among arable farmers in times past that the 
tenancy of it was eagerly sought, its value was consequently highly prized, and 
heavy fines were imposed for breaking itup. The banks of rivers were usually made 
commonable, in order that the surrounding farmers might each have a share; and 
these meadows werein many cases irrigated in order to increase still more the scanty 
stock of winter fodder. 
Perennial rye grass, aS we have seen, began to be cultivated early 
in the seventh century, and it seems to have been about the only grass 
so cultivated for a hundred years longer. In 1763 it is said that a Mr. 
Wynch brought from Virginia into England the Phlewm pratense, under 
the local name of Timothy grass, it having been cultivated in the 
United States for some forty years. This was also soon established as 
an agricultural grass in England, and a few years later was followed 
by the introduction of orchard grass (Dactylis glomerata) from Virginia, 
by the Society of Arts; at least this statement is made by Mr. Parnell 
in his work on British grasses, but is probably an error. It is con- 
sidered doubtful by Mr. Charles Johnson in the “ Grasses of: Great 
Britain,” who says it is eminently European, being distributed natu-. 
rally over the whole of Europe and the adjoining parts of Asia. It is 
not known to be native in the United States. 
As to Phleum pratense (Timothy grass), it is naturally widely diffused 
over Hurope, but itis admitted by all thatits cultivation was first under- 
taken in the United States, where it is also indigenous in mountainous 
regions. Itis, however, well known that in Europe up to about the year — 
1815 there were but three or four kinds of grass generally cultivated. 
