The Botanists Companion, Vol. II | Page 4

it as likely to be useful
for forming meadows; but it is excessively bitter, and is not liked by
cattle generally, though when starved they are sometimes observed to
eat of it. There is a variety of it with knobby roots which is found to be
a most troublesome and noxious weed in arable lands, particularly in
some parts of the coast of Hampshire where it abounds. This variety
was some years ago introduced into the island of St. Kitts, and it has
since taken such firm possession of the land as to render a large district
quite useless. Persons should be cautious how they speculate with

weeds from appearances only.

12. BRIZA media. QUAKING-GRASS.--Is common in meadow land,
and helps to make a thick bottom; it does not however appear to be
worth the trouble of select culture. It is bitter to the taste.

13. BROMUS mollis. SOFT BROME-GRASS.--Mr. Curtis has given a
very clear account of this grass, which he says predominates much in
the meadows near London, but that the seeds are usually ripe and the
grass dried up before the hay time: hence it is lost; and he in
consequence considered it only in the light of a weed. It has seldom
occurred to me to differ in opinion from this gentleman, who certainly
has given us, as far as it goes, a most perfect description of our useful
grasses: but experience has convinced me that the Soft Brome-Grass,
which seeds and springs up so early, makes the chief bulk of most of
our meadows in March and April; and although it is ripe and over, or
nearly so, by the hay harvest, yet the food it yields at this early season
is of the greatest moment, as little else is found fit for the food of cattle
before the meadow is shut up for hay, and this plant being eaten down
at that season is not any loss to the hay crop. Whoever examines the
seeds of this grass will be led to admire how wonderfully it is fitted to
make its way into the soil at the season of its ripening, when the land is
thus covered with the whole produce of a meadow. I notice this curious
piece of mechanism [Footnote: Many seeds of the grasses are provided
with awns which curl up in dry weather and relax with moisture. Thus
by change of atmosphere a continued motion is occasioned, which
enables the seeds to find their way through the foliage to the soil, where
it buries itself in a short time in a very curious manner.], not that it is
altogether peculiar to this plant, but to show that Nature has provided it
means of succeeding in burying itself in the ground, when all the
endeavours of man could not sow the land with any other to answer a
similar purpose. If the seeds of this grass were collected and introduced
in some meadows where it is not common, I am sure the early feeding
would be thereby improved.

The seeds are sometimes mixed with those of Rye-grass at market, and
it is known by the name of Cocks: it has the effect of reducing such
samples in value, but I should not hesitate in preferring such to any
other. If any one should be inclined to make the above experiment, two
pecks of the seed sown on an acre will be sufficient.---See Treatise on
Brit. Grasses by Mr. Curtis, edit. 5.

14. CYNOSURUS cristatus. CRESTED DOG'S-TAIL-GRASS.--A
very fine herbage, and much relished by sheep, &c.; it grows best in
fine upland loam, where it is found to be a most excellent plant both for
grazing and hay. The seeds are to be purchased sometimes at the
seedshops. About twelve pounds will sow an acre.---See Observations
on laying Land to Grass, in the Appendix to this work.

15. CYNOSURUS coeruleus. BLUE DOG'S-TAIL-GRASS.--Dr.
Walker states this plant to be remarkably agreeable to cattle, and that it
grows nearly three feet high in mountainous situations and very
exposed places. As this grass does not grow wild in this part of the
country, we have no opportunity of considering its merits. In our
Botanic Garden it seldom exceeds the height of ten inches or a foot.
It is the earliest grass of all our British species, being often in bloom in
February.
The above intelligent gentleman, who seems to have studied the British
Gramina to a considerable extent, says that the following kinds give
considerable food to sheep and cattle in such situations; I shall
therefore mention their names, as being with us of little esteem and
similar to the above.
Phleum alpinum. Eriophorum polystachion. Festuca decumbens. Carex
flavescens. Carex gigantea, probably Pseudocyperus. Carex trigona,
probably vulpina. Carex elata, probably atrata. Carex nemorosa,