If the turf of an old pasture is carefully examined, it will be found to contain a large variety of grasses and plants adapted for forage; some of them valuable for one purpose, and some for another. Some of them, though possessing a lower percentage of nutritive constituents than others, are particularly esteemed for an early and luxuriant growth, furnishing a sweet feed in early spring, before other grasses appear; some of them, for starting more rapidly than others, after being eaten off by cattle, and consequently of great value as pasture grasses. Most grasses will be found to be of a social character, and to do best in a large mixture with other varieties. In forming a mixture for pasture grasses, the peculiarities of each species should, therefore, be regarded: as the time of flowering, the habits of growth, the soil and location on which it grows best, and other characteristics. Among the grasses found on cultivated lands, in this country, the following are considered as among the most valuable for ordinary farm cultivation; some of them adapted to pastures, and others almost exclusively to mowing and the hay crop: Timothy (_Phleum pratense_). Meadow Foxtail (_Alopecurus pratensis_). June, or Kentucky Blue Grass (_Poa pratensis_). Fowl meadow (_Poa serotina_). Rough-stalked Meadow (_Poa trivialis_). Orchard Grass (_Dactylis glomerata_). Perennial Rye Grass (_Lolium perenne_). Italian Rye Grass (_Lolium italicum_). Redtop (_Agrostis vulgaris_). English Bent (_Agrostis alba_). Meadow Fescue (_Festuca pratensis_). Tall Oat Grass (_Arrhenatherum avenaceum_). Sweet-scented Vernal (_Anthoxanthemum odoratum_). Hungarian Grass (_Panicum Germanicum_). Red Clover (_Trifolium pratense_). White or Dutch Clover (_Trifolium repens_), and some others. Of these, the most valuable, all things considered, is the first, or Timothy (Fig. 56b). It forms a large proportion of what is commonly called English, or in some sections meadow hay, though it originated and was first cultivated in this country. It contains a large percentage of nutritive matter, in comparison with other agricultural grasses. It thrives best on moist, peaty, or loamy soils, of medium tenacity, and is not well suited to very light, sandy lands. On very moist soils its root is almost always fibrous; while on dry and loamy ones it is bulbous. On soils of the former description, which it especially affects, its growth is rapid, and its yield of hay large, sometimes amounting to three and four tons to the acre, depending much, of course, on cultivation. But, though very valuable for hay, it is not adapted to pastures, as it will neither endure severe grazing, nor is its aftermath to be compared with meadow foxtail, and some of the other grasses. [Illustration: Fig. 56b. Timothy grass.] [Illustration: Fig. 57b. June grass.]