VEGETABLES, 



221 



-and Stoisghton, where it has covered a large tract of 

 land without the assistance of man."* 



White clover is undoubtedly a native plant of the 

 United States. In every part of America the ground 

 is spontaneously covered with this grass, *' growing' 

 frequently with a luxuriance that art can rarely 

 equal in Europe."! Even in the Indian country, far 

 westward, fields are seen covered with this grass, 

 the nourishing quality of which is not exceeded by 

 any other within our knowledge. The flesh of sheep 

 fattened on this .grass is peculiarly high flavoured. 

 There are other grasses, natives of the United 

 States, v^hich form part of our pastures, but they are 

 less valuable than those already mentioned, and do 

 not grow with equal luxuriance. 



The southern states are not less favoured by Pro^ 

 izidence, with excellent native grasses, and other 

 plants, for cattle. There, a vertical sun will not per- 

 mit the artincial grasses of the more northern states 

 to grow, but they find excellent substitutes in the fol- 

 lowing plants. 



1. Crab grass, or crop grass. ( Syntherumayfivcz^ 

 €0jc^ serotina^ et i>illosa, J This grass bears one or 

 two cuttings during the season ; and grows to the 

 height of two or three feet. It makes its appear- 

 ance in the latter end of April and beginning of May, 

 with the crops which are then advancing, and does 

 not mature itself until the latter €nd of Summer, 

 about the time the crops are made. It was hence 

 called crop^ grass : and, by adulteration, is now call- 



* Dr. Fisher, quoted by Morse, 



t Mr. Strickland's Report to the British Board oi AgriCulturev 

 U 2 



