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to the state of natural food. Thus, when sugar is 
given to them, some dry fibrous matter should be 
sheep eat this grass with avidity. Hares also eat it ; but they 
give a decided preference to the smooth-stalked meadow grass, 
to which it is, in many respects, nearly allied. 
“ Poa pratensis , smooth-stalked meadow-grass. Oxen and 
horses are observed to eat this grass in common with others ; 
but sheep rather prefer the hard fescue, and sheep’s fescue, 
which affect a similar soil. This species exhausts the soil in a 
greater degree than almost any other species of grass; the 
roots being numerous, and powerfully creeping, become in two 
or three years completely matted together; the produce dimi- 
nishes as this takes place. It grows common in some meadows, 
dry banks, and even on walls. 
“ Cynosurus cristatus, crested dog’s-tail grass. The South 
Down sheep and deer appear to be remarkably fond of this 
grass : in some parts of Woburn Park this grass forms the 
principal part of the herbage, on which these animals chiefly 
browse ; while another part of the park, that contains the 
Agrostis capillar is, Agrostis pumilis , Festuca ovina , Festuca 
duriuscula, and Festuca cambrica , is seldom touched by them ; 
but the Welsh breed of sheep almost constantly browse upon 
these, and neglect the Cynosurus cristatus , Lolium perenne, and 
Poa trivialis. 
“ Agrostis vulgaris ( capillaris , Linn.), fine bent ; common bent. 
This is a very common grass on all poor dry sandy soils. It is 
not palatable to cattle, as they never eat it readily, if any other 
kinds be within their reach. The Welsh sheep, however, pre- 
fer it, as I before observed ; and it is singular, that those sheep 
being bred in the park, when some of the best grasses are 
equally within their reach, should still prefer those grasses 
which naturally grow on the Welsh mountains : it seems to 
argue that such a preference is the effect of some other cause 
than that of habit. 
“ Festuca ovina , sheep’s fescue. All kinds of cattle relish this 
grass ; but it appears from the trial that has been made with it 
on clayey soils, that it continues but a short time in possession 
of such, being soon overpowered by the more luxuriant kinds. 
