On some Varieties of the Fo.i lail Grass. 
273 
sowing — wliich, in putting in all other grass-seed, I have found to be 
eminently beneficial, if the ground was dry and well pulverized — have 
not assisted the growth of these foreign foxtails ; but that, on the con- 
trary, such parts as I sowed without rolling- in succeeded abundantly, 
while those which I rolled gave me very few plants. This effect may be 
limited to my peculiar clay soil, or to the state of the soil, or it may be 
general. I merely throw out the remark to the intent tliat, if you 
should take these foxtails into cultivation, you may repeat the experi- 
ment, and adopt the practice which you shall find most successful. 
A valuable quality of the foxtails is, that thick radical leaves retain 
their verdure to a late period of the summer, particularly in moist 
ground : hence, if, through coveting a larger hay crop, you let your 
grass stand till the later species, as catstails, &c., are in blossom, you 
do not experience a total loss in your foxtails : whereas, some early 
grasses — as, for instance. Arena pubesceiis — have entirely lost their 
radical leaves soon after their flower has unfolded. 
I have in cultivation another valuable early grass, nearly allied hereto. 
I received it under the name of Phleum Iwslii ; but, to my ignorant 
and unbotanical eye, it looks not like a Phleum, but exactly like a fox- 
tail. It is very productive of seed, rather heavier than any foxtail, 
shaped like a foxtail seed, and of a light honey-colour, or slightly 
tawny-yellow. It is clearly not our meadow-foxtail. It is about a 
week later than A. nigricans and its black brother ; and has the 
valuable property of thriving well, and coming thus early, on a stiff 
cold clay. When you recollect that though we have many nourishing 
pastures on clays, they consist almost wholly of late grasses, vou may^ 
be disposed to think that a tall productive grass, which will come 
early on such soils, is well worth attention, whatever its name be. 
From its great similarity in habit, growth, shape, and earliness, I 
have been induced to subjoin the mention of this to my wearisome dis- 
course upon foxtails, which I will here end by saying, that, if you wish 
to cultivate A. nigricans on a farmer-like scale, Messrs. Booth, Ham- 
burg, will have it for sale this year, for the first or second time ; there- 
fore their quantity will probably be limited, and an early application 
may be therefore advisable. 
I remain, Sir, 
Your verv obedient servant, 
W. P. Tauntok. 
Ashley, Stockbridqe, Hants, 
July 25, 1842. 
VIII.— On Pipe-Tiles. By John Read. 
To Ph. Pusey, Esq. 
[Tliis account arrived too late to be included in the article on Under-draining.] 
Sir, — I beg to inform you that I am just returned from the Weald of 
Kent, after taking a survey of the land on which I commenced the pro- 
cess of under-draining in the year 1188, the good effects of which are to 
VOL. IV. T 
