The Meadow Foxtail is one of thofe graffes which appear firft in the fpring and fometimes blow twice in the
fame year * In refpefh to flowering, it obferves nearly the fame time as the Anthoxanthum oaoratum. In
Germany it ’ puts forth its filvery fpiles about the beginning of M a y+, when the feed is ripe which with us
takes place before hay-making the fpike remains unchanged in its (hape for fome time; the little hulks
containing the feed may eafily be ftripped off, but fall off very (lowly of themfelves. . .
Experience proves that the Meadow Foxtail-grafs has a power o f vegetating quickly. Its (hoots proceed with
fiich vigour that it may very well be cut three times in a year. Its (talks are ftrong, and provided with large
leaves °which are fol't and juicy. Their tafte is as that of good fodder-grafs ought to be fweetilh and agreeable,
having when made into hay, neither the hardnefs of draw, nor the roughnefs or unpleafant tafte attendant on
fome of the other graffes ; we may therefore confider it as holding the firft place among the good grades, either
ufed as freth fodder, or made into hay, efpecially for the larger cattle. Though the Bleep in fueh meadows as
abound with this grafs, do not improve in the finenefs o f their wool, yet they give.a preference to it, both green
and dried. On the whole, we may with truth affert, that hay,is better in proportion to the quantity of Meadow
Foxtail-grafs there is among i t ; not to mention that fuch hay has the advantage in the weight, and conlequently
goes farther than hay made of the finer graffes. . . n j 0nTnn:
' In the northern countries, Sweden efpecially, the meadows are frequently laid wafte by a mod deftrufllve
mtemillar which produces a moth called, by LiNN iu s , Phalznagrammis: it has been difcovered, that the
Alofiecurus pratmjis remains untouched by this deftruftive infeB ; io lar, therefore from injuring this graft, it
gives it an opportunity, by weakening and deftroying the others to extend ltfelf further; but though its
particular tafte or forward growth exempts it from the ravages of this fpecies of caterpillar, there is another
which is particularly fond of it, xiiz. the PhaUzna -fiotatoria, yet as this feeds fingly.on us fojtage, and neve,
increafes greatly, it differs little from it §. ^ y ; . , - . , . . r ,
As this graft;- therefore, appears to be of fo much confequence in the making and improving of meadow
and nafluris our author proceeds to give fome account how this improvement may be effected.
In this bufinefs the firft thing of moment, he obferves, is the neceffary choice and preparation of the ground;
i f that be in the power o f the cultivator, and as the Meadow Foxtail is found neither to thrive in a foil that is quite
dry or quite wet, he prefers a wet one rendered moderately dry by draining.
% t e r procuring a piece of ground naturally fit, or rendered io by art, he recommends it to be ploughed up
immediately after harveft, before the wet feafon fets in, in which flute it is to. remain all the winter; the froit
breaking the clods, renders it fit for fowing on.in the fpring, at which time you muft throw ,n your feeds,pfthe
Meadow Foxtail, mixed with' other proper pafture herbs ||, together with a crop of oats f ; the latter, when
fufficiently grown, may-be cut for fodder. „ . , r , .- i
A meaLw, thus improved, requires all the care neceffary ,n the management of meadows; it.particular,
a copTous watering after hay-making, if the feafon prove unufuaily dry, muft not be omitted I f after fome
years the foil (hould become bound, or noxious plants increafe m fuch a manner as to make the meadow left
produQive, which often happens when the foil or fituation is unfavourable, the meadow muft be broken up
“ i k p “ ” ' g of the feed, requifne even for a tolerably large fowing is attended with but little difficulty,
if we caP„ only get fome flips or roots of this graft. The great number of feeds which grow upon one fpike
o f which more8than one fpring from each flip; the double crop m one dimmer, and the rapid growth, of
This graft "evince this fufficiently. The gathering of the feed itfelf is very eafy; it needs only to be ftripped
off with die hand, and put in a bag, and if there be a large quantity together, fpread out and dried even
the hay-feed of fuch meadows as abound with Meadow Foxtail is ufeful in fowing; but we muft well obferve
how i? is mixed: good hay-feed ihould contain a greater proportion of graft-feeds than of other herbs;
now u mix 6 ___° „ VInr. „ f hard, woodv. now It IS mixcu . guuu no ƒ E-------- o---- a r r or fuj c culentJ o'n es-, wr,h,.ich
the latter muft be efculent and nutritive, without any mixture of hard, woody,_ or luc ,
corrupt the hay : much left ihould it contain taftelefs, acrid, or poifonous plants. But it may be aflced, where
is fuch hay-feed to be obtained? Certainly the meadows are rare which contain a mixture of proper plants
unadulterated with noxious ones; hence the beft method will be to collea feparately. the feeds of the m"«
ufeful graffes and meadow plants, to increafe them fi.ngly, to. compound the hay-feed of them, and to o
therewith,' at firft, fmall meadows, from whence we may, in procefs of time, obtain a fufficient (lock of feed
for a more general cultivation.
.. H ... y. ’ flower more than once in the fame year, is perhaps deferring of more attention than may have hithertoi been paid
Year * While this may ferve as an additional charafter, whereby it may be diftinguilhed'frorn thePod ,n™ al‘s< [hat jls root was 0f the
I l l i B SotPa5lm ik r in its economy to a bulb, we fliaU not be at a lois to account for It.
1 | generally »ra fences three or
hams and bacon, aud which arc uiuw.i.aui™6 ‘ Tr "»
September, fo, the pnrpolcof fowing graft « „ p r o v id e d the f.afo,
T a o u i d the land intended-,0 be laid down be very foul, we apprehend, repeated plnnghings and
wild be neceffary. Farmers am d iv id e d . hen
feafon,'