C ® ]
II. A lopecurus Pratensis. Meadow Fox-Tail Grafs. Fig. 2.
PRODUCES its fpike almoft, and in fome fituations to the full, as early as the Anihoxanthmn : hence it is equally
valuable as an early grafs ; and as it is much larger, and quicker in its growth, it is confequently much more productive •
it (hoots very .rapidly after mowing, producing a very plentiful aftermath; and where land is rich, and two crops are not
thought too much for it to bear, of all our Englifh graffes this appears to be the belt adapted to fuch a purpofe, and ought
to form a principal part of the crop: its foliage may, perhaps, appear coarfe to fome, but it Ihould be remembered1 that no
• Englifh grafs can be produftiye that is not in fome degree coarfe ; but if mown early, juft as it comes into bloom’ though
the leaves are large the hay will not be coarfe; in general, the great advantage arifing from the earlinefs of this and the
preceding grafs is entirely loft at a diftance from London, where hay-making commences late, and where the hufbandman
feems to wait for a crop of general indiferiminate herbage, rather than of grafs.
The Meadow Fox-Tail is more confined as to its place of growth, growing naturally in a moift foil only; hence it is beft
adapted to improve very wet ground that may be drained of its fuperfluous moifture, or to form or meliorate meadows that
have a moift bottom, and are not apt to be burnt up in dry fummers.
Its feeds are eafily 'collected, but a great number of them, we believe, at leaft one-third, are yearly deftroyed by a
very minute orangp-cploured larva ©r maggot, which feeds on the embryo of the feed, and produces a very final! mufra
or fly, probably the Mufca Frit of Linnaius. ,, '
this
grafs is diftiiv
ftalk eai
rly in ■ M M iM de8ree> b>' die ^rgenefs of its foliage, and by its producing a foft fpike on a long
May. ‘
I he Meadow Lats-Tatl Grafs produces a fpike fomewhat fimilar, but rougher to the touch, and much
later in
the fummer.
III. Poa P r a t e n s is . Smooth-Stalked Meadow-Grafs. Fig. 3.
THE foliage of thisvgrafs begins to (boot, and to affüme a beautiful verdure very early in the fpring, but its flowering
ftemsare not produced fo foon, by at leaft a week, as thofe of the Alopecurus : this trifling difference, however in point
of earlinefs of flowering, does not prevent it from ranking very properly with the two preceding; and where early
graffy pafturage is a defideratum, we are of opinion it cannot better be obtained than by a combination of thefe three • if
crop be at the fame time an objeCt, the Meadow Fox-Tail Grafs fhould predominate. >-
This grafs rather affeäs a dry than a moift fixation, and hence it keeps its verdure in long-continued dry weather better
than moft others but it will thrive in either; will grow on the top of a dry wall, but grow much more luxuriantly in a rich
meadow: it is to be obferved, „however, that it has a root which creeps like the Couch-Grafs, and is almoft as difficult to
extirpate; it ought therefore to be cautioufly introduced where the pafturage is not intended to be permanent.
Of the triflinj
the Englifh pla:
graffes fo very fimilar, as fcarcely to be diftinguiflied,
charaClerifed by Linnaeus, but which, by attending to
diftinguifhed by the utmoft facility and certainty.
iprovements which we flatter ourfelves to have occafionally made in fome of the fpecific charaaers of
none have given us more fatisfaftion than thofe which relate to this fpecies and the Poa Trivialis, two
by the moft difeerning eye, at a little diftance,, and very obfcurelv
nv* charaaers only in each grafs, may now, in a moment, be
The Poa Pratenfis has a fmooth ftalk, the Trivialis a Tough one, perceptible when drawn betwixt the thumb ’ finger
and which arifes from little fharp points, vifible when the fheath of the leaf which covers the ftalk is magnified vid Hr a
the Trivialis has a long pointed membrane at the bafe of the leaf, fig. 5, the Pratenfis a fhort blunt one, n£rV Thefe
graffes differ fpecifically in a variety of other particulars, not neceffary here to dwell on; and which fuch as vifh to be
more particularly informed of, may confult the Flora Londinenfis.
IV. Poa T r iv ia l is . Rough-Stalked Meadow-Grafs. Fig. 7,
SIMIL AR as this grafs and the preceding are1 in their appearance, particularly in their mode of flowering, they differ
very effentially in their qualities. While the Smooth-Stalked Meadow-Grafs is found chiefly in dry paftures, the Rourh-Stalked
principally occurs in moift meadows, or on the edges of wet ditches; it loves moifture, and a fituation that is rather fhadv-
hence, though there are few graffes more produaive, or better adapted, for hay or pafturage, it is a tender grafs and liable
to be injured by fevere cold, or exceffive drought: in very wet ground near the Thames, we have obferved it grow very
tall, while in poor land we have, on the contrary, Teen it altogether as diminutive; it is, perhaps, no fmall recommendation
it that it i
1 principal grafs in that uncommonly productive meadow near Salifbury, mentioned by Stillingfleet and
ore particularly deferibed defrnheH :
fo the Memoirs of the Bath Agricultural Society, vol.'s. p. 94.
The account given of the extraordinary fertility of this meadow, excited our curiofity, and induced us to requeft a
gentleman refiding-near the fpot, to favour us with fix fmall turfs, cut up in different parts of the faid meadow and which
being planted in our garden, Lambeth-Marfh, produced as follows: *
Poa trivialis,
Ranunculus acris,
Triticum repens,
Agroftis alba.
Poa trivialis,
Alopecurus pratenfis,
Triticum repens.
Poa trivialis,
Agroftis alba.
T u r f 4. Poa trivialis,
Triticum repens,
Peucedanum Silaus.
T urf 5. Poa trivialis,
Alopecurus pratenfis,
Agroftis alba,
Avena elatior, •
Triticum repens.
This experiment proves, in a great degree at leaft, what we long before fufpefted, that the extraordinary fertility of this
meadow arofe not from any new grafs peculiar to it, but from feveral unufual circumftances concurring, and favouring
In an uncommon degree, the growth of certain well known graffes, efpecially the Poa trivialis and Agroftis alba.
We may remark that the feeds of the Poa Trivialis and Poa Pratenfis, but more efpecially thofe of the former, are ant to
be entangled and adhere to each ojher, as if cobwebs had been intermixed with them.
V. Festuca Pratensis. Meadow Fefcue-Grafs. Fig. 8.
. tbe feve.ral graffes here recommended, this comes the neareft in its appearance to the Ray-Grafs, to which, however
it feems to us, in many refpetls, to be greatly fiiperior,", at leaft, for the purpofe of forming or improving meadows • it is
larger and more produ^ve of foliage; it is ftriftly perennial, it is very hardy, and will thrive not only in very wet but
alfo.in dry ground: we have found it growing in all fituations, from the fand-pits at Charlton to the ofier-grounds at
Battei le a; and it abounds in the very beft meadows about London; in fhort, we know of no grafs more likely to fupplv the
deficiencies complained of in Ray-Grafs; and yet it has not, that we know of, been particularly recommended. One quality
it nas, which bids lair to introduce it quickly into more general ufe; it produces more feeds than any of the others, which
are eafily gathered, and readily grow. In one refpea, it is inferior to the three firft graffes; it does not produce its flowering
Jems earlier than about the middle of June, a fortnight or three weeks later than the Meadow Fox-Tail Grafs, yet it cannot
be considered as a late-grafv as'moft of the Agroftis tribe, and the Meadow Cats-Tail Grafs, flower at leaft three weeks later.
It muft be carefully diftinguifhd from the Feftuca Elatior or Tall Fefcue-Grafs, which is a very fimilar but much coarfer
VI. Cynosurus
C 3 3
VI. C ynosurus C rist a t us* Crefted Dogs-Tail Grafs. Fig. g,
IT is chiefly from the great chara&er which this grafs beats as a favourite and wholefome food for lheep, and. from its
being found! in our foundeft and beft paftures, that it is here recommended. It grows naturally in dry fituations, and
will not thrive ill meadows that are very, wet: it flowers about the fame time as the Meadow Fefcue-Grafs, and is not very
produaive of foliage. As.its flowering Items are. always left untouched by cattle, its feeds may eafily be collefted, where
the pafturage is fed, not mown.
Of the above S IX G R A S S E S ; it will appear that the
Meadow Fox-Tail, and Rough-Stalked Meadow-Grafs f tS l Moift Land.
Meadow Fefcue, and Sweet-Scented Vernal........ J | l Land either moift or moderately dry,
Smooth-Stalked Meadow-Grafs, and Crefted Dogs-Tail & J Dry pafture.
The O R D E R of their F L OWE R I NG .
Sweet-Scented Vernal.
Meadow Fox-Tail.
Smooth-Stalked Meadow.
Rough-Stalked Meadow.
Meadow Fèfcue.
Crefted Dogs-Tail.
We could eafily add many moré graffes'to this lift, and thofe too which, perhaps, may be highly deferving of it; but
we have our doubts, whether, by recommending more; we might not increafe the difficulty of introducing grafs feeds without
any adequate advantage.
We (hall, however, juft take the liberty to mention fuch other Englifh graffes; as appear to us, from long and repeated
obfervation, deferving of further notice, and thefe are
Avena Elatior, Tall Oat-Grafs: Common in wet meadows, and by the fides of hedges, early, and very prpdu&ive, but coarfe.
Avena Flavefcens, Fellow Oat-Grafs: AffeQs a dry foil, is early, and produaive; bids fair to make a good fheep-pafture.
Avena Pubefcens, Rough Oat-Grafs: Soil and fixation nearly fimilar to that of the Meadow Fefcue, hardy, early, and produaive.
Brotnus EreSlus, Upright Brome-Grafs: Peculiar to chalky foils, early and produaive; promifes to be a good grafs for chalky
lands, and thrives indeed very well on others.
Cynofurus Cmruleus, Blue Dogs-Tail Grafs: Earlieft^of all the graffes, grows naturally on the tops of the higheft lime-ftone
rocks in the northern parts of Great-Britairi • not very produaive, yet may, perhaps, an fiver in certain fituations, efpecially
as a grafs for fheep; bears the drought of fummer remarkably well: at all events, feems more likely to anfwer than the
Sheeps Fefcue Grafs, on which fuch encomiums have moft unjuftly been lavifhed.
Daftylis Glomeratus, Rough Cocks-Foot Grafs: A rough coarfe grafs, but extremely hardy and produaive; foil and fituation
the fame as the Meadow Fefcue.
Feftuca Elatior, Tall Fefcue Grafs: Tall and'coarfe, but very produaive,;' affe0 ;s wet fituations. •
Feftuca Duriufcula, Hard Fefcue Grafs: AffeQx fuch fituations as the Smooth-Stalked Meadow-Grafs ; is early, and tolerably
produaive; its foliage is fine, and of a beautiful green; hence, we have fometimes thought it was, of all others, the fitteft
for a grafs-plat or bowling-green; but we have found, that though it thrives very much when firft fown or planted, it is
apt to become thin, and die away, after a while.
Pbleum Pratenfe, Meadow Cats-Tail Grafs: Affeas wet fituations, is very produaive, but coarfe and late.
D irections for Sowing the G R A S S S E E D S contained in the Pa c k e t .
IF a piece of ground can be had, that is neither very moift nor very dry, it will anfwer for all the feeds; they may
then be fown on one fpot: but if fuch a piece cannot be obtained, they.muft be fown on feparate fpots, according to their
tefpeaive qualities, no matter whether in a garden, a nurfery, or a field, provided it be well fecured and clean. Dig up
the ground, level, and rake it, then fov each kind of feed thinly in a feparate row, each row about a foot apart, and cover
them over lightly with the earth : the latter end of Auguft, or beginning of September, will be the moft proper time for this
bufinefs. If the weather be not uncommonly dry, the feeds will quickly vegetate, and the only attention they will require
will be to be carefully weeded: in about a fortnight from their coming up, fuch • of the plants as grow thickly together
may be thjned, and thofe which are taken up tranfplanted, fo as to make more rows of the fame grafs.
If the winter fhould be very fevere, though natives, as feedlings, they may receive injury, therefore it will not be amifs
to prote& them with mats, fern, or by fome other contrivance.
Advantage fhould be taken of the firft dry weather in the fpring, to roll or tread them down, in order to faften their roots
in the earth, which the froft generally loofens: care muft ftill be taken to keep them perfeHly clear from weeds. As the
fpring advances, many of them will throw up their flowering ftems, and-iome of them will continue to do fo all the fummer.
As the feed in eadrfpike or panicle ripens, it muft be very carefully gathered, and fown in the autumn, at which time the
roots of the orifinal plants, which will now bear feparating, fhould be divided and tranfplanted, fo as to form more rows;
the roots of the Smoolb-Sjalked Meadow-Grafs, in particular, creeping like Couch-Grafs, may readily be increafed in this
way; and thus, by degrees, a large plantation of thefe graffes may be formed, and much feed collected.
While the feeds are thus increafing, the piece or pieces of ground which are intended to be laid down, fhould be got
in order. If very foul, perhaps, the beft practice (if pafture land) will fee to pare off the fivard and burn it on thé ground;
or if this-fhould not be thought advifeable, it will be proper to plough up the ground and barrow it repeatedly, burning J
the roots of Couch-Grafs,- and other noxious plants, till the ground is become tolerably .clean; to render it perfectly fo,
fome cleanfing crop, as potatoes or -turnips, fhould be planted or fown.
By this means, the ground v
: propofe laying down, will be got into.exceJLent order without much lofs; and being now
ready to form into a meadow -
r pafture, fhould be fown broad-caft, with the following compofition.
Meadow Fox-Tail, one pint.—Meadow Pefcitp, ditto—SmpoihrStalkedMeadow, half a pint.—Rough-Stalked Meadow, ditto.—
Crefted Dogs-Tail, a quarter of a pint.—Sweet-Scented Vernal, ditto.—Dutch Clover ( Trifolium Repens) half a pint.—Wild Red
Clover ( Trifoliuvi Pratenfe) or, in its (lead, Broad Clover of the Shops, ditto.----- For wet land, the Crefted Dogs-Tail, and
Smooth-Stalked Meadow, may be omitted, efpecially the former. .
Such a compofition as this, fown in the proportion of about three bufhels to an acre, on a fuitable foil, in a favourable
fituation will I am bold to affert, form in two years a moft excellent meadow; and as all the plants fown, are ftrong, hardy
perennia’ls, they will not eafily fuffcr their places to be ufurped by any noxious plants, which by manure or other means,
in fpite of all our endeavours, will be apt to infinuate themfeives; if they fhould, they muft be carefully extirpated, for
fuch a meadow is deferving of the greateii attention ; but if that attention, cannpt be bellowed on it, and, in procefs of
time weeds fhould predominate over the crop originally fown, the whole fhould be ploughed up, and frefh fown with the
fame’ feeds or with a better compofition, if fuch (hall be difeovered; for I have no doubt but, at fome future time, it will
be as common to fow a meadow with a compofition fomewhat like this, as it now is to fow afield of wheat or barley.