THE CULTIVATOR. 
35 
ras 
a knowledge of the comparative value of all the British and some fo¬ 
reign grasses worth cultivating. The result is given in the appendix 
to Sir H. Davy’s Agricultural Chemistry , and of which an abstract will 
be given at the close of this article. 
With respect to the general culture of grasses, though no department 
of agriculture is more simple in the execution, yet, from the nature of 
grasses, considerable judgment is required in the design. Though 
grasses abound in every soil and situation, yet, all the species do not 
abound in every soil and situation indifferently. On the contrary, no 
class of perfect plants are no absolute and unalterable in their choice 
in this respect. The creeping-rooted and stoloniferous grasses will 
grow readily on moist soils; but the fibrous-rooted species, and espe¬ 
cially the more delicate upland grasses, require particular attention as 
to the soil in which they are sown; for in many soils they will either 
not come up at all, or die away in a few years, and give way to the 
grasses which would naturally spring up in such a soil, when left to a 
state of nature. Hence in sowing down lands for permanent pasture, 
it is a good method to make choice of those grasses which thrive best 
in adjoining and similarly circumstanced pastures for a part of the seed, 
and to mix with these what are considered the very best kinds. 
The grasses here to be treated of, may be classed as tall sorts, or 
those best fitted for hay; and dwarf grasses, or those fit only for pas¬ 
turage. 
Sec. I. Of the tall growing, or hay grasses. 
The hay grasses for the purposes of agriculture, may be advanta¬ 
geously divided into those of temporary, and those of permanent dura¬ 
tion. 
Subject 1. Of tall or hay grasses of temporary duration. 
The most valuable of this division are the biennial, or, as it is com¬ 
monly but erroneously called, the annual and subperennial rye-grass, 
the cocks-foot grass and woolly soft grass. Where a crop of hay is de¬ 
sired within the year, resort must be had to those plants which are 
strictly annual; and none are more suitably adapted to this purpose 
than the common oat, cut and made into hay when it comes into flower. 
Indian corn and millet are also adapted for this use, sown broadcast, 
and cut and gathered for hay. 
The biennial rye-grass, (Lolium perenne, var. bienne, L.) is almost 
universally sown in Great Britain, either with or without clover, 
among corn crops, with a view to one crop of hay the succeeding sea¬ 
son. It is preferred to the perennial variety. It prefers a rich loamy 
soil, but will grow on any. 
The perennial rye-grass, {Lolium perenne L.) differs from the other 
in being somewhat of smaller growth, and in abiding for several years, 
according to the variety, and th esoil and the culture. There are many 
new varieties of this grass, which have been discovered of late years, 
and one which was not introduced into Britain until 1832, some seed of 
which was sent to the United States in 1833. All the varieties of rye¬ 
grass have been tried with us, but have not been found to succeed well, 
and in no case that we have heard has the attempt to cultivate them 
been persevered in. The new variety above alluded to, is termed the 
Italian rye-grass. It has proved highly beneficial in France and Ger¬ 
many. We have sown it twice, in 1S33 and 1835. It wore a most pro¬ 
mising appearance in autumn, but that sown in 1833 was every plant 
killed by the winter, as was some sown by a friend in 1834. That 
sown in the spring of 1835, with barley, has withstood the winter, and 
now, April 18, looks remarkably well. If this grass will abide our 
winters, it is likely to be a valuable acquisition, but upon this head we 
cannot yet speak with confidence. 
The cocks-foot grass, (Dactylis glomerata L.) known in America by 
the name of orchard grass, is an imperfect perennial, and grows naturally 
on dry sandy soils. It is a native of the United States. This grass 
may be known by its coarse appearance, both of the leaf and spike; 
and also by its whitish green hue. It is probably better adapted than 
any other to sow with clover, on lands intended for pasture. Its good 
properties consist in its early and rapid growth, and in its resistance of 
drought; but all agree, that to obtain its greatest value, it should be 
kept closely cropped. Sheep will pass over every other grass to feed 
upon it. If suffered to grow without being cropped, it becomes coarse 
and harsh. Both Arthur Young and Mr. Cooke commend it highly, 
and the latter cultivates it on an extensive scale at Holkham. Col. 
Powell, of Pennsylvania, after cultivating it ten years, declares it pro¬ 
duces more pasturage than any artificial grass he has ever seen in 
America. After being fed very close, it has been found to afford good 
pasture after remaining five days at rest. It is suited to all arable 
soils. It abounds in seeds, which are easily gathered; but on account 
of its peculiar lightness, (the bushel weighing but twelve to fourteen 
pounds,) the seed should be spread on a floor, and sprinkled with wa¬ 
ter a day or two before it is sown, that it may swell and more readily 
vegetate. Two bushels of seed are sown to the acre, or half this quan¬ 
tity with clover. The orchard grass should be cut early, except in¬ 
tended for seed, as it diminishes two-sevenths is value, as hay, by being 
permitted to ripen its seeds. It will bear cutting as early as clover; 
and the latter swath is very abundant. 
The woolly soft grass, (Holcus lanatus L.) is an imperfect perennial, 
and rather late flowering grass, of a soft unsubstantial appearance, 
and found chiefly in poor dry soils, but grows on all. Cattle generally 
dislike it; and though it abounds in seed, it is seldom propagated arti¬ 
ficially. 
Subject 2. Of tall or hay grasses of permanent duration. 
• No permanent grass has been found equal to the rye-grass, in Britain, 
for the purposes of convertible husbandry, but others have been select¬ 
ed, which are considered useful for hay fneadows. The principal of 
these are the foxtail, fescue and meadow grass. In the United States 
timothy is most generally sown with clover for all purposes; though, 
as we become better acquainted with them, orchard grass and tall 
meadow oat will supersede it in a measure in convertible husbandry. 
The nutritive property of these grasses, of perennial rye-grass, and of 
that singular grass florin, are thus given by Sir H. Davy: 
Systematic and English names. 
1 Whole quantity of solu- 
| ble or nutritive matter. 
| Mucilage or starch. 
Saccharine matter or 
sugar. 
Gluten or albumen. a 
Extract, or matter ren- j 
dered insoluble during J 
evaporation. t| 
Festuca loliacea—Spike fescue grass,. 
19 15 2 
2 
Holcus odoratus—Sweet scented soft grass,... 
82 72 4 
6 
Anthoxanthum vernum—Sweet scented vernal, 
50 43 4 
3 
Alopecurus pratensis—Meadow foxtail grass,. 
33 '24 ' 3 
6 
Poa fertilis—Fertile meadow grass,. 
78 1651 6 
7 
Poa trivialis—Rough meadow grass,. 
39 29 5 
6 
Cynosurus crystatus—Crested dogstail grass,. 
35 1 2S 3 
4 
Lolium perenne—Perennial rye grass,.j 
39 i26i 4 
5 
Agrostis stolonifera—Fiorin,... 
54 46 5 
”i| 
2 
Fiorin cut in winter,.... | 
76 ] 64 j 8 
i| 
3 
Os the fescue grasses there are three species in the highest estimation 
as meadow hay grasses, viz: the mea.dow, tall and spiked fescue. The 
F. pratensis, or the meadow or fertile fescue grass, is found in most 
rich pastures in England, and is highly grateful to every description of 
stock. As a hay grass it loses two-thirds by being left uncut till the 
seed is ripe. 
The tall fescue, (Festuca elatior,) is closely allied to F. pratensis, 
except that it is larger in every respect, its produce being nearly three 
times greater than either of the other varieties. It is indigenous in the 
United States. It appears by the Woburn experiments to bea firstrate 
grass. 
The spiked fescue grass resembles the rye-grass in appearance, is con¬ 
sidered superior to it either for hay or pasture, and improves in propor¬ 
tion to its age. 
Of the fescue grasses, the purple, {F. rubra,) the hard, (F. duriuscu- 
la,) floating (F. fluitans,) and perhaps some other varieties, are indi¬ 
genous in the United States, but they have not been particularly recog¬ 
nized or cultivated artificially among us; nor have their seeds been 
vended in our shops. 
The meadow foxtail grass, (Alopecurus pratensis,) possesses the ad¬ 
vantages of early growth, and its product and nutriment are pretty 
abundant. It almost invariably constitutes one of several kinds, which 
are sown together by the English farmers for pasture; and affords 
withal a tolerable crop of hay. It shoots very rapidly after mowing or 
feeding, and produces a plentiful after swath. It does best in moist 
soils, whether of loams, clays or reclaimed bogs. It abides nine or ten 
years. Sheep and horses have a better relish for it than oxen. Eaton 
says this grass grows in Pennsly vania and about New-York. It is a 
desirable variety on a farm, as its seeds, which are abundant, ripen 
early, and spread over the meadows. 
The great or smooth stalked meadow grass, the spear grass, or June 
grass of America, (Poapratensis,) is distinguished by its height, smooth 
stem and creeping roots. Sale says it is the best of all grasses. All 
animals eat it, and it affords the best hay and richest pasture. It 
abounds in all our grounds, without the trouble of sowing. 
The roughish meadow grass, (Poatrivialis,) is a native of the northern 
and middle states. It resembles the preceding species; but while this 
delights in moisture, and in situations that are sheltered, the spear 
grass is partial to dry pastures. On drawing it between the fingers, 
this feels rough, while the other is smooth. It is however suited to 
good moist loams and clays, and it multiplies much by seed as well as 
root. On grounds suited to its growth, which Salisbury denominates 
low wet soils, consisting of heavy loams and clays, it possesses, he 
says, all that is necessary for either pasture or hay. 
