On Laying down Land to Permanent Grass. 
257 
Meadow fescue is another grass that in all stages of its 
growth is liked by stock. Tall fescue is much the same in 
habit as meadow fescue, but larger in growth, and is said to 
succeed on very wet heavy soils better than most grasses. The 
results of recent observations have led me to give a much higher 
value to this grass than is generally ascribed to it. 
The poas are a numerous genus, the most valuable of 
which is rough meadow grass, a useful kind when mixed 
with others ; but I consider it of second-rate quality, because, 
as far as my observation goes, it only grows well in years 
very favourable to the growth of all grasses, and when there 
is consequently an abundance of others superior to it. The 
Poa annua (annual meadow grass) is a small annual grass, a 
troublesome weed in roads ; it seems to spring spontaneously 
in all rich soils, especially on a footpath, or any place which is 
much trodden ; it grows all the winter when it is not freezing. 
Stock eat it greedily, and therefore I consider it should not be 
objected to in pastures. It is scarcely within the scope of 
this paper to say anything about the other grasses of this 
genus. 
Golden oat-grass (^Avena Jlavescens) is found frequently in good 
pastures. I once sowed it largely, but I have noticed that sheep 
eat all the superior grasses in preference. I therefore do not now 
sow this grass except on dry banks. Sheep's fescue is highly 
spoken of by many, but I have never known it eaten when 
sheep could get the better grasses ; but perhaps it is well to sow 
a little, especially on dry banks. 
Fiorin is perhaps the best known of all grasses, and, from its 
great resemblance to water-grass or couch of some countries, is 
looked upon as a troublesome weed by many. It affords an 
early and late bite when other grasses are scarce, and is therefore 
one of the valuable constituents of pastures. 
In addition to these a small quantity of the four clovers, viz., 
alsike, cow-grass, perennial red clover, and Dutch clover, ought 
to be sown. Alsike is said to do better than other clovers, 
where the land has been growing clover before and is what 
is termed clover sick. It is usual to sow far too large a propor- 
tion of clovers in relation to the true grasses ; for while sheep 
may have too much clover they cannot have too much grass. 
Clovers also are not so early as the better grasses, and are not 
such valuable feeding in the autumn, and grow only a little, if 
anything, in the winter, wherefore clovers only afford food in the 
height of summer, when there is an abundance of grass. 
Yarrow (^Achillea) is a herb that sheep especially like, and 
however great may be the quantity in a pasture, it is rare to see 
it in blossom where sheep are ; cattle have not such a predilection 
VOL. XVIII. — S. S. S 
