G R A S S. 
'JDS 
ceeds from little fharp points, vifible when the flieath of 
the leaf, which covers the ilalk, is mag-nified : befides, 
the latter has a long pointed membrane at the bafe of 
the leaf, while in the former it is a Ihort blunt one. 
And further, it only.throws up tiowering-ftems or bents 
once in a feafon; from which peculiarity, combined 
with its hardinefs and verdure, it appears well fuited 
for the lawns or grafs-plats of pleafure-grounds. This 
fcantinels of producing flowering Items is however un¬ 
fortunate, inafmuch as it renders its feed very fcarce, 
and will not allow it to produce abundantly, even when 
fovvp with this particular view'.—See Poa pratenfis. 
Rough-stalked Meadow Grass. 
Though this grafs has much fimilarity to the preced¬ 
ing in its appearance, efpecially in the mode of flower¬ 
ing, it differs ellentially in its qualities, as the former is 
chiefly found in dry paftures, while the latter princi¬ 
pally occurs in water-meadows. It delights in ftrong 
loamy and clayey foils, and in fituations that are Ihel- 
tered ; on which account, though there are few more 
productive, or better adapted for the purpofe of hay or 
pafturage, in dry foils it is tender, and liable to be in¬ 
jured by I'evcre cold or froft ; and in moifl: rich ground 
it has been obferved to grow tall, while in poor land it 
has been found equally diminutive and unproductive. 
On the continentjt is greatly elteemed both for dry paf¬ 
tures and water-meadows, as it multiplies much by feed 
as well as root. It is therefore neceiritry to permit the 
feeds to fall, before mowing, in order to preferve the 
quantity undiminiflied. The produce is admira’ble for 
tire feeding of all torts of cattle. It is, however, con. 
fidered by fome as inferior to the lall fort, from its pro¬ 
perty of going off after being cut, being fupplanted by 
thole of the bent kind: but its radical as well as Item- 
leaves grow larger.—See Poa trivialis. 
Meadow Fescue Grass. 
This grafs comes near in its appearance to Ray Grafs, 
but to which it fcems greatly fuperior, at lead for the 
purpofe of improving meadows ; as being larger, and 
more productive of foliage. It is Ilridtly perennial and 
hardy, th.riving well both in wet and dry grounds ; and 
it abounds in the belt meadows, in the bed hay didridts : 
in fliort, it feems well calculated to fupply the defects 
ot Ray Grafs. Befides, it has the quality of producing 
more leeds than mod of the other forts of natural 
gralfes, wiiich are ealily gathered, and grow readily. 
It is however inferior to the three firll forts in one pro¬ 
perty, w hich is, that it does not produce its flowering- 
deras fooner than about the middle of June, which is a 
lortnigiit or more later than the fecond of them ; though 
it cannot be coiindered as a late grafs, fince thofe of the 
bent and fome other lorts flow'er later by three weeks 
or more. Upon the witole, few of the natural grades 
merit the attention Of the Firmer and grazier more than 
this ; it being of certain growtli, eaiy culture, abun¬ 
dantly productive, ayd remarkably fweet, in alniod all 
del'criptions of meadow or padure land,-—See Festuca 
pratenii.s. 
Sheep’s Fescue Grass. 
This fpecies lias been much valued both for the pur- 
pol’es of padure and liay ; Iheep and other forts of live 
dock, being very lond of it, are foon rendered fat in paf¬ 
tures wliere it prevails. But from its often ati'ording in 
dry lieathy fituations, and commons, rather a.Tcanty 
produce, and its foliage being fmall, it has been difcou- 
raged as a hay grafs. It is nevertlielefs laid to be ca¬ 
pable of thriving on any foil, with proper care and cul¬ 
ture ; but bed on thole of the light I’pongy kinds, fince 
it can live witii lefs moidure th.ia mod other gralfes. 
And it is aiTerted to be one of tiie excellencies of this 
grafs, that it will edablilh itfelf upon Inch foils as 
fcarcely any other plant can be made to live on; and is 
hence of much utility in clothing barren fpots, that 
migjjt othertvife have remained uncovered for a great 
length of-time. Some agriculturids erroneoufly ob- 
ferve, that if it were fown on rich mold foils, the grades 
and other plants, which are natural to fuch lands and 
fituations, would foon overpower it, and in a very fhort 
time there would fcarcely be a blade remaining on the 
ground ; and were it for the purpofe of fheep-feed to be 
fown on the high downs and heath lands, the animals 
would darve upon them in dry I'ummer feafons. But 
this is certainly a great midake. Where a clofe matted 
turf, without a great produce, is required, it will ever 
be found ufeful.—See Festuca ovina. 
The Hard Fefate is an early and more prodmSive grafs, 
tliough with fine foliage; and grows abundantly on 
downs, and in rich meadows. It is well adapted for 
being combined with other gralfes in forming Ilieep paf¬ 
tures; and it helps to conditute the bed hay.—See 
Festuca duriufcula. 
Crested Dog’s-tail Grass. 
This fpecies is much recommgnded as a favourite and 
wholefome food for Iheep. 11 is found in the founded 
and riched padures, but grows bed in dry fituations, 
and will not thrive in meadows that are very mold. It 
flowers nearly at the fame time as the Meadow Fefcue 
Grafs, but is not very abundant in foliage. The ap¬ 
pearance of its bents in poor, high, mold padures, fug- 
geds an idea of its being an indifferent plant. But its 
abounding in mod of tlie riched grazing padures in-dif¬ 
ferent parts of the kingdom, and its being in fome the 
principal herbage, befides that the butter made from 
padures wliere this grafs chiefly abounds being ef- 
teemed excellent in flavour, proves that it is a valua¬ 
ble grafs. As its flowering dems and heads are feldona 
conlumed by cattle, its feeds may be collected, even 
where the padures are fed, with great eafe and facility. 
On the continent it is in high edimation as a padure 
grafs ; yet from the fibrous nature of its roots, not ad¬ 
mitting the running down much into tiie foil, there is 
danger of its being dedroyed in dry fummer feafons. 
Since it abounds greatly in the bed padures, and is a 
blade-grafs that flioots up the fird after the land has 
been mown, its thicked tufts are faid to afford much 
food for dieep in the time of fnow and fevere weather in 
the winter feafon. Thofe who are not accudomed to 
didinguidi the difference of gralfes wit.h botanical accu¬ 
racy, may defpil'e it, as of an improper and ufelefs kind ; 
but the dieep and the ox, as better judges, will foon 
convince them of its importance. From the rapidity of 
its growth it is apt to get coarfe, if not cut down in 
proper time. The feed is fmall and - dne, yet may be 
obtained with facility by palling the ftem in a tight 
mazier through the hand.—SeeCVNosuRUs cridatus, 
Ray or Rye Grass, 
This grafs is in condant cultivation, though it is de¬ 
ficient in lome of the properties requifite for meadow or 
padure lands. The objection on the fcore of its pro¬ 
ducing littie more than flower-derns or bents, is faid to 
be only found valid when it grows in upland padures 
and dry fituations ; in rich and mold meadows its foliage 
is more abundant; and it feems probable that it is 
highly nutritious in feeding cattle: its foliage is of a 
rapid growth, the flowering dems continually diooting 
forth. It IS, iiowever, a grafs that varies greatly, ac¬ 
cording to fituation and circumdaiices. It feems bed 
adapted to loamy and fandy foils ; but it will fiicceed 
on all excepr Itid' clay, and even on that it may be 
grown. On the richer forts of the two fird kinds of 
land, it frequently turns out both,a good vernal and 
permanent padure griifs, when properly mixed with 
other forts ; and it is particularly adapted to the feed 
of dieep. It is not, Jiowever, fo early as fome of the 
gralfes defcribed above. As a ready means of convert. 
