286 
On the Italian Rije-(jrasx. 
man wish to inspect my growth this year, which is upwards of 100 acres, 
it would give me great pleasure to see them in SufFolk. 
I have the honour to be, my Lord and Gentlemen, 
Your obedient and faithful servant, 
Joshua Rodwell. 
Alderton, April 21 tli, 1844. 
Buchanay Farm, April 29th, 1 844. 
Sir, — Agreeably to your directions I have tried the specimens of Italian 
grass by weight, which I have done with the greatest care and without 
prejudice; I selected ten plants or entire roots of each sort in each of 
two different fields, which I find by weighing to come as follows : — 
lbs. oz. 
Pale grass pulled and dirt beaten out of roots, the ten 
weighed . . . , . . . . 0 14 
Brown, with same treatment . , . . .14 
Pale grass with roots cut off jnst above ground . . 0 10 
Brown ditto 0 14 
In another Field. 
llis. o/. 
Pale grass treated as above (ten roots) , . .18 
Brown ditto ........ 2 0 
Pale without root . . . . . . .11 
Brown ditto ........ 1 7 
The pale grass is produced by the seed with a long tail ; the seed of 
the brown grass has but a very short tail, and is much the heaviest seed. 
I did for some time advocate the pale grass, but I am brought by 
experience to become an advocate for the brown, which everything tells 
me is quite superior. First, I believe that 1 peck of the brown grass sown 
on 1 acre, will produce a bottom equal to 3 pecks of the pale grass. 
Secondly, in point of quality the cattle will soon decide that, for feed 
what kind of cattle you choose with it, they will very carefully select the 
brown from the pale, whether green or in hay ; if in hay the pale is so 
very coarse that they will select the brown from it, and if fed on the 
layer green, the pale is always the last that is eaten. Tiiirdly, and what I 
think is of great importance, I am persuaded the brown is the best pre- 
paration for wheat, on account of its not growing in such large rough 
hollow bunches. The pale by growing all in bunches never forms on the 
face of the land what we call n tough flag, while the brown, on the con- 
trary, by spreading on the surface, forms a face equal, if not superior, 
to any grass I have ever seen; and I quite believe, in fact I am quite 
sure, that, sow what quantity you will of the pale grass, you cannot get a 
good bottom without some of the brown with it. If you, Sir, or any one 
else, look at our layers this sprinjj, I am sure there will be sufficient evi- 
