■^ ^- \

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-«*...K

HORTIJS GRAMINEUS WOBURNEIVSIS

i-

OR,

AN ACCOUNT OF THE RESULTS OF EXPERIMENTS

ON THE PRODUCE AND NUTRITIVE QUALITIES

OF DIFFERENT

GRASSES, AND OTHER PLANTS,

USED AS THE FOOD OF THE MORE VALUABLE DOMESTIC ANIMALS:

INSTITUTED BY

JOHN DUKE OF BEDFORD

ILLUSTRATED WITH

®mtr specimens of tfje plants upon to|)icf) tfjese €mximmts mt Urn mm.

AND

PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS ON THEIR NATURAL HABITS, AND THE SOILS BEST ADAPTED TO THEIR GROWTH;

POINTING OUT THE KINDS MOST PROFITABLE FOR

PERMANENT PASTURE, IRRIGATED MEADOWS, DRY OR UPLAND PASTURE, AND THE

ALTERNATE HUSBANDRY;

ACCOMPANIED WITH

THE DISCRIMINATING CHARACTERS OF THE SPECIES, AND VARIETIES.

BY GEORGE SINCLAIR,

GARDENER TO HIS GRACE THE DUKE OF BEDFORD,

AND CORRESPONDING MEMBER OF THE CALEDONIAN HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY OF EDINBURGH.

• ^

Disco ° "^^ "T •'"th ^ J*.^**"^*^^^' ^^^'^''' "'^*" properly appreciated and employed, must increase our we:iltli, our population, and our physical strength.—
- ft T ■ '^^ ^^^ «3rth, are uot merely for the time and country in which they are developed, but they may be considered as extending to

uure ages and as ultimately tending to benefit the whole human race; as affording subsistence for generations yet to come; as multiplving life, and not only
multiplying hfe, but likewise providing for its enjoyment." S ^

DAVY.

LONDON:

PRINTED BY B. M'MILLAN, BOW-STREET, COVENT-GARDEN,

PRINTER TO HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE PRINCE REGENT.

1816.

Garden Library

4
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-ZA^ ■/

V ^

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. J^

X

K'

V

■^c

JOH

TO

THE MOST NOBLE

f

DUKE

OF

BEDFORD,

^c. ^c. Sfc. 8^c.

THE FOLLOWING ACCOUNT

#f t&e aie^ttlte of ejcpertments instttuteli b|^

IS i^race.

WHICH IS INDEBTED,

Merit it may

manner

with which the first imperfect essays of the
Researches, were received by His Grace •

AND TO

^

His Grace

Personal Instructions, most liberal, kind.

ement

and unwearied

. „^ „ii iiuiuuie xnmvmual, anxioi

to prove himself, in some measure, worthy of the trust reposed in
him, and of the signal opportunity of devoting those leisure hours
which his Horticultural Duties permitted, to obtain and com-
municate Useful Knowledge in a branch of the most

important of the Arts;

I

s gratefully inscribed.
By His Grace's
Most obliged.

Most obedient.

And devoted humble Servant,

GEORGE SINCLAIR.

Wohutn Abhey, June 25, 1816.

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V

ADVERTISEMENT.

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TO those Gentlemen who have so kindly fevoured me with information on the subieot.

w

acknowledmnents are due

In particular, my best

To Sir Hnmphry Davy, for his very kind and liberal assistance in furnishing the simple
chemical process, from which I derived confidence to attempt to realize the idea first suo-
gested by His Grace the Duke of Bedford, of ascertaining the nutritive powers of t^e different"
grasses, by the aids of chemistry ; and from the admirable simplicity of his details of the pro
cess for analyzing soils, and vegetable substances, given in his important w^ork on Agricultural
Chemistry, I have been enabled to execute this difficult part of the enquiry '^

To Thomas Greg, Esc|. of Coles, for many valuable communications on the most important
practica parts of the Work ; and his kindness on every occasion of enquiry on the subject of it
To James Sowerby, Esq. F.L.S. for his assistance in promoting the knowledge of the dif
ferei^ agricultural earths, by undertaking to supply those Gentlemen who are interested in the
enquny, with cabinet specimens of the whole of the different soils employed in this series of

exnerimpnta ^ ui

experiments.

Wilson, of the Park Farm, W^

useful practical information, which he could so well supply.

To Mr. Thomas Gibbs, Seedsman to the Board of Agriculture, I am indebted for information
respecting those plants more recently introduced to the Agriculturist, and which I could not
otherwise have obtained;-foracollectionofthedifrerent soils in the vicinity of London, with
their loca names; and for his w^illingness on all occasions, to communicate useful information

on the snnif^pt nf iha. .^M^oor,^^

on the subject of the grasses.

Where information has been derive.! from books, the authorities, in every instance, it is

even art^ fvi^r«n ''

believed, are myen.

For reference to descriptions of the diflerent grasses and other plants, upon which experi-
nients have here been made, in those works which contain descriptions only, or descriptions and
figures of them likewise, the following abbreviations have been employed.

AlUon. Fedcm.

Car. Alllonii Flora Pedemontana, loml 3, Augusta Tauninorum, 1785, fol.

Bank. Tin.. Casp. Bauhini Pina. Theatri Botanicl, Basilia., I67I, ^to.

Cavanill Hisp. Ant. Jos. Cavauilles Trnnp« of p» ■ .• -n,

, . , . , , ^*''*''^' ^t Descnptiones Plantarum, quae aut sponte in Hispania crescunt, aut in

hortis bospitantur, vol. 6, Martiti, 1791-1801, fol.

Curtis, or Flo. Lond. Plora Londinensis, by William Curtis, . vols. London, 1798, fol.
- Bn,L Bot. English Botany, by Sir J. E. Smith, P. L. S. the Figures by James Sowerby, Esq. F. L. S

-F/o. Ger
Flo. Brltan,

Flora Gem,a„ica, Autore Henrico Adolpho Scfarader, torn. 1, cum Tablulis vi. Aeneis, Gotting^, ISOb',
Flora Britannica, Autore Jac. Edv. Smith, vol. 1-3, London, 1804-1806, 4to.

^lo. Ban. Icones Plantarum, &c. Hafnia., 1761, seqq. fol.

b

VI

Flo. Rust. Flora

ADVERTISEMENT.

c t 1 f. oc 5,rp either useful or injurious in husbandry; drawn
.Rustica: exhibiting accurate figures ot such plants as are eaher y^

ord nusuc ■ ^ • -p • . .. Upv Mniestv ' with scientific characters, popular descriptions,

•ed bv F P. Nodder, Botanic Painter to Her JMajesty , wu , ,

,ea uy -i. i. » . „ „ n o.. t A^» A vn s. 17Q4. leaves and r.r. nnr^^

and engrav

and useful observations, by Thomas Martyn

B D and F. R. S. &c. London, 4 vols. 1794, leaves and coloured

plates, 144. , , r.i u- t-^A in the Roval Botanic Garden at Kew, bv the

Horf. Kern. Hortus Kewensis; or. a Catalogue of the Plants cultivated in the Koyal i> , , . / !o

, ,. • , 1 k WT Wtnn Gardener to I-Iis Majesty, vol. 1. London, 1810.

late William Aiton. The second edition, enlarged, by W. 1. Alton, Uaraen j j

T, • • /-!■„, A.ict.MMcnmni vol. 1-3, Vindobonffi, 1801-1805, fol.
Host. NicThomseHost, IconesetDescriptionesGraniinum Austudcorum, vol. i ,

Linn. Syst. Car. a Linne Systema Vegetabilium, Gottingffi et Goth*, 1774, 8vo.

^

Linn. Spec. Car. LinnM Species Piantarura, tomi 2, Holmiie, 1762, 1763, 8vo.

Linn. Suppl. Supplementum Plantarum, &c. a Car. a Linne, (filio), Brunsviga;, 1781, 8vo.

Moris. Hist. Rob. Morison Historia Plantarum Universalis Oxoniensis, 2 vols. fol. I609.

1

L ■

Farh Theat. T. Parkinson Theatrum Botanlcum, London, 1640, fol.

Raiu Hist, Jo. Bail Historia Plantarum, tomi 3, Londoni, 1686-1704, fol.

Trans. Linn. Soc, Transactions of the Linnaean Society of London; London, 1791, seqq, 4to.

Vahl. Spnb. Mart. Vahl Symbols Botanicfe, Partes IIL Havniae, 1790-1794, fol.

Willd. Spec, Carr. a Linne Species Plantarum, editio quarta, curante C. L. Willdenow, Berolini, 1797, seqq. 8vo.

Wither. Arr. A Systematic Arrangement of British Plants, &c. by William A¥ithering, M. D. F. R. S. &c. 4 vols.

F

fourth edit. London, 1801.
Ann. Annual. i

Fer, Perennial.

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Bien, Biennial. ■ .

I

CONTENTS

Introduction, ---•--_

Terms used in describing the structure of Grasses, - _ ^

^^ ^B ^^

Specimens of the Seeds of Grasses, --».__

General Arrange7nent of the different Genera and Species of Grasses, ' .

Of the Soils employed in the Experiments, and of those best adapted for the growth of the superior Pasture Grasses]

of tl'e means of improving inferior Soils for the growth of the most valuable Grasses, - . . . '

Of the Grasses, and other Plants, zMeh constitute the produce of the richest Natural Pastures,

Of the different Grasses, and other Plants, which are natural to dry, sandy, and elevated Soils, - . .

Of the Grasses which naturally grow in moist Soils, or in Bogs, Lands that are periodically overflown, and Irrigated

PAGE

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XU

XIX

xlvii

f Iviii

126

Meadoxvs,

Of the Afferent Grasses, nnyther Plants, adapted for the Alternate Husbandry,

I

225

286

4

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J

ERRATA.

Introduction, p. xxxi, Specimen XIX. >« Stipa pinnate," read " Stipa pennata."
Page 24, line 7 from the bottom, for « as 9 to 3," read, « as 3 to 1."
Page 107, line 34 from tbe top, for « one peck of ray-grass, with'fourteen of clover,
read, « one peck of ray-grass, with fourteen pounds of clover."

1

J-*^

INTRODUCTION.

' * ■ ■

DrsTr...:sHED Agriculturists and Farmers agree in opinion, that the knowledge of the
comparative mer^s and value of all the different speeies and varieties of Grasses, and cons
quently, of the best mode of cultivating them, is very much behind that of the other b:anche;
ot Practical Agriculture.

Raygrass CLolknn p.remej was till lately the only species employed for ttaki„» „.ifieial'

pre, : ,. ,™ indebted n,o,t prol.nHy for this distinetion. to it, property „f ripeninj an ab„n-
danee of good seed, and it, ready growth in most kinds of soil

Mystery of Hasbandry, diseovered, and laid open, by I. VYoUridge, IMl." "- Ray-^,1 »
ays be, ■■ by wb.eh they improve any cold, sour, clay, weeping land", for which it is Lit t.
good also for d„er upland pounds, especially stony, light, or sandy lands, which is unfit
.a,nfon,, ha.b the precedence of ,1, other grasses"^.hese are ■■ sainfliu, lucerne, clo™, t „s
spnrrey, and trefod." which include all .be plants he .nentions as grasses. The ace nro'

■ZaUrgled ■ • *' """' "' °""-"" '-'''"^' -— ^'-^ »■■ '-'S'- -'^

year?src!' "T"""' f "' °""'' '""'" °' ^'-'''"'' «'"^ ''"'"^ ™"i™'' "" ='»ou. forty
«. . ad It: Z \ f ^'''"'~ '"""-^ '-'' »»■■"""'' — "'M fo^ cult"

extended, so as to supersede the use of ray.grass in son,e district,, throu.-b the examnle and

recommendat.onofMr. Coke of Norfolk. . , »"»n tM example and

Thus on, of 2,5 distinct species of grass, which are capable of being cultivated in this

dinary , but there have been serious difficulties in the way
wbel heT'llZ ''"■T T'°" " "''«"'^ '-"^ ""^ ™»* "'"'•^ »"<• » l-"*a"<lma„.

,pec°es of : :?:h:, :,:it7\'°'' r "™ *"""'"' "'''*^"* ••^""- '-^"^

had a nam:, besides th e 2 7 7 1 " """"' ^"'" '"' '^"^ ^"^'^ '"™ ^""-'^
that have be,„ ■ 1° *''"' '"^'y y""»; ""'* ""o '«» Pa«icular names

« ratte\!:::iet^r::r "''"-r %^"7^"^^

x>^.. , . . ^^ *^'' ™°'* common and useful tribe of plants is yet in its infancy*."

Bo an t h,,e ascertamed that there are 133 distinct species and varieties of grass, natives of

thel 1> ' ^-7. °" "' ''"' ^P^"*^^ '^^^^^' - ^ ^-« - g'--*- <i^g-^' fr- ^11 others, in

,ZtT7 : r'" ''^" °' ^^^'^^ *° *^^ ^™-= — P-tively speaking, some
grasses are of no value to hm, whilst others constitute the foundation of his riches, as they are

* Martjn's Letters on the Elements of Botany. Letter xiii.

b

I

NTRODUCTION

• l« Now, thougli tlic numerous species and
the staff of life to the.mQSt valuable domestic ammals ^^ ^^^.^^

varieties of grasses differ so widely "^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ .f aistinction, without ha.:

their .wT.ole structure is too great, to afford auy certain m ^^^^ ^^^^ ^ ^

recourse to particular rules, made from a consideration of those p ^viuch

are not sublet to vary from culture, or change of situation. The botanical or discriminate,
characters, of which these rules consist, are, often minute, and sometimes perplexing even to
professed Botanists : to those, therefore, who have made Botany no part of their study, the nun.
ber and difference of value of all the species and.^rieties of grass, will appear comparatively
small, and the necessity and importance of ,^ particular selection proportionally little. The
natural consequence resulting from this, is the want of seed, which the Farmer might select from
the most valuable kinds, and employ the means of cultivating these, exclusive of the less va-

luable or useless. , . ;

■ Grasses have been recommended, by persons who had formed their judgment of their merits

o^ imperfect, trials, which has caused disappointment, and discouraged many from farther eu-
deavours at improvemeiit. Conclusions that are drawn from the results of single or miuute.
experiments, without accurately ascertaining the nature or qualities of the soils upon which
they are made, will be found often fallacious, and even in the latter instance, can only stand
for, single facts, which may lead to other trials, but cannot furnish sufficient grounds for a ge-
neral recommendation. Nor should a grass be too hastily rejected ; the results of one trial ouly,
will be found insufficient to form a true estimate of its real value: it may be a very profitaLle
plant for permanent pasture, though not for the alternate husbandry, and it may be more valuahl
for hay than for permanent pasture; for instance, the meadow fox-tail CAIopcamis prafcnsh)
is an early, productive, and nutritive grass, but requires a longer period to arrive at perfection
from seed than two years : it is therefore, comparatively, unfit foi- the alternate husl)andry,
though highly valuable for permanent pasture. The meadow cat's-tail (Thlcxtm pratcnsc) is re-
markable for its weighty produce of culms, which are more nutritive than those of any other grass,
but the aftermath is very inconsiderable; it is, in consequence, a most valualjle grass for hay, but
recpiires to be combined with other species of grass, whose produce consists principally of latter-
math, to render its culture so profitable. Cock's-foot (Bactijlis ghmerata) arrives soon at pei-
fectipnritis early and abundantly productive of nutritive foliage throughout the season; its
culms, or stalks, however, are but little, nutritive : it is therefore most profitable for the alter-
nate husbandry, or permanent pasture, where culms are less necessary. Under these different
rel^tii.ns, therefore, a grass should be considered, before it be absolutely rejected, or indiscri-
minately recommended. But allowing that the diff^rpnt n-,... -i i- • • i, ^

•^ "8. '-"'^'' "^e airterent grasses were easily distinguished

irom each other with certainty and that FarmoT-c „r^„ • • /. ,

, / , P . ' . / ^ ^* ^^^^ "^ possession of the respective seeds, yet

the length of time It would require to prove the relativn voL.o f -j 1 1 i, f

1 ,1 , , ^ ^ ^^ "^^ leiative value of any considerable number oi

he,., by .l,e ,.„al mode of making e.pe™., fo 4i, p„,.p„,,,, „,„, .,,, , ,,

le„d,„g on fa, tares, would d,sco„rage almost any individual frcn an .„dcnal.in/wl,id,. ho.-
ever benefical the i-csults might ultimatelv Drove f„ , I,. • '"'""''"lo """-"•

with a great and ee,tai„ e.pLe for an l^Irel "'"""''*' "' '"""^' """'" '" """'^

e

he works of Linneeus, Stillinefleet Rnd^.nn P ^- tv/t
Botany.'' and many o,he., have'hee ' ^^^^^T' T'"'' "'' """'"" "' ''" " '"" i

Agriculturist, to a more particular ex^mbr, 7 ^°°^' '" ^'"'"S *« »"""'"" °'

P war exammafon of the comparative merits of the different

INTRODUCTION.

V

grasses, ' and by affording the means of distinguishing the different species and varieties with
more certainty. ' .

The valuable labours of the Agricultural Societies of Great Britain, and the patriotic exer
tions of emnient nulividuals in the same cause, have raised a spirit of enquiry, which cannot fail
to produce the most beneficial effects in tliis important branch of practical agriculture. A hope
of promoting these views, was the motive that induced His Grace the Duke of Bedford to insti-
tute the following series of experiments*. '

" Spots of ground, each containing font- square feet, in the Garden at Woburn Abbey were
enclosed by boards in such a manner, that there was no lateral communication betwe'en the
earth mclosed by the boards and that of the garden; the soil was removed in these enclosures
and new soils supplied, or mixtures of soils were made in them, to furnish, as far as possible to
the different grasses, those soils which seem most favourable to their growth, a few varieties
being adopted, for the purpose of ascertaining the effects of different soils on the same plantf "
The nature of those soils was accurately ascertained by analysis; the process employed was that
recommended by Sir H. Davy. Upwards of two hundred species and varieties of o^-ass wer<^
planted or sown at the proper seasons; the different species were cut at certain' stages of
growth, and the weight of produce carefully ascertained ; the particular seasons at which the
different species attained to the greatest degree of perfection, were attentively observed as like'
wise the time of flowering, and the period of perfecting the seed. Their comparative value
therefore, m regard to produce, and the particular seasons at which it was in perfection'
with the kinds of soil most favourable to their growth, and the peculiar habits of the different
species, were, by these me_ans, satisfactorily ascertained ; but the comparative degree of their
nutritive po^vers, (a point of the first importance), was still to be determined.

Those who have made experiments, to prove the comparative degree of nourishment con^
tanied indifferent species of food, by means of feeding, and weighing, have found the results of
such experiments quite inconclusive ; and the impossibility of ever determining by Ms process'
the absolute degree of nourishment supplied to cattle by any kind of food, almost certain • for'
Brst, The quality of the same species 6f food will often vary, from one to twenty per'cent.'
m the course of the experiment. - '•'.,, ■ .

Secondly, Different breeds or varieties of animals, acquire various proportions of flesh from
equal quantities of the same species of food consumed by them. Or,

W^, Scarcely two individuals of the same breed Can be found, that will gain equal
weights of flesh from equal quantities of the same kind of food. With a view to this point only
It would therefore have been a vain labour, to have submitted so great a number of different'
plants to the experiment of feeding and weighing, and which would require at least to be made
on four hundred head of cattie of the same breed.

His Grace judged that the enquiry would be effectually assisted by the aids of chemistry •
and a simple chemical process, recommended for this purpose by Sir Humphry Davy,
tamed the important point in question in the most satisfactory manner.

h

Dnv ''/*''''*"f °^ *^^ '^'"**' ""^ ^ P^'*^ °f ^'^ese experiments, is already before the public, through the kindness of Sir Humphry
^avy. See "Agricultural Chemistry."

ascer-

+ Ibid.

\

vi INTRODUCTION,

As tills mode of determining the nutritive powers of grasses, by chemical process, is a new
path of investigation opened, and such as, on a subject of this consequence, should always be
proceeded in with caution at first, it may not be unnecessary to say a few words respecting the

accuracy of its results.

The grass, in a green or dry state, is submitted to the action of hot water, till all its soluble
parts are taken up. The hquor is then separated from the woody fibre of the grass by means of
blotting-paper ; it is then evaporated to dryness. The product or solid matter, is the nutritive

4 *

matter of the grass. Sir Humphry Davy has shown, that the soluble products, or nutritive mat-
ter of grasses consist, for the most part, of five distinct vegetable substances, viz. mucilaginous,
saccharine, albuminous, bitter extractive, and saline matters ; and that '' it is probable that the
excellence of the different articles, as food, will be found in a great measure proportional to the
quantities of soluble, or nutritive matters they afford ; but still these quantities cannot be re-

h

garded as ahsolutely denoting their value : albuminous, or glutinous matters, have the charac-
ters of animal substances ; sugar is more nourishing, and extractive less nourishing, than any
other principles composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygene ; certain combinations of these
substances, likewise, may be more nourishing than others*."

A certain quantity of food will keep an animal for a great length of time, without increasing
pr diminishing its weight in any sensible degree ; but if the quantity of food be sufl&ciently
augmented under favourable circumstances, the animal becomes fat, and its weight consequently
increased. We have no means, however, to ascertain the exact proportions of food required for
these two purposes distinctly ; for it depends not on the quantity and quality of the food alone;
the age of the animal, and its exposure to heat or cold, are also concerned in the process. It
is likewise evident, that of two animals of the same breed or variety, the one will frequently
acquire a much greater weight of flesh in any given length of time than the other, though both
shall have been fed on the same kind of food, and in all other respects treated equally. The
nutritive powers of the food cannot therefore be determined absolutely, even by these means,
though the comparative merits and value of the different breeds or varieties of animals are
thereby fully ascertained; for it is manifest, that it is not the deficiency of nutritive matter ia
the food, but want of power in the animal to profit by it.

The results of the numerous valuable experiments made by order of the late illustrious Duke
of Bedford, to prove the relative value of the different breeds of sheep and oxen, place the
truth of the above remarks in a clear light. I may be permitted, therefore, to quote from Mr
Young s - Annals of Agriculture,'' the results of one of these experiments, which was made on'
six oxen.

* i(

Agricultural Chemistry.

y>

INTRODUCTION.

vix

« An Experiment on Six Oxen, from November 16, 1797, to December 10, 1798, made by orde

of the late Duke of Bedford,

Food given,

No. 1. "^oil-cake
Hereford > turnips
Ox. 3 hay

No. 2.

Hereford

Ox.

No. 3. ^ oil-cake
Devon /-turnips
Ox. 3 hay.

No. 4.

Devon

Ox.

No. 5.

Sussex
Ox.

No. 6.

Leicester
Ox.

oil-cake

turnips

hay

Lbs.

3060
530

450

3040

467

450

3090

376

450

3000

475

450

3030

443

450
3010

447

Food taken back,
or Offal.

Lbs.

360
43

26i

Food consumed.

Live Weight,
16th Nov. 1797,

Live Weicjht,
9th Dec. 1798,

328

4i

O

111

422
81

375

51

358

46i

Lbs.

2700

^ 487

423i

22,712

432i

438^
2668
295

442f
2636
442§

432i
2655
392

434f

2652

400X

Cwt. Qrs. Lbs.

17 1

Cwl. Qrs. Lbs.

18 3

Live Weight
gained.

18

21

14 1 7

17 2

14 2 14

16 2

19

19 S

15 i! 14

18 2

The oxen were weighed on the day that they were put up for experiment ; the food that
was given to them daily, was likewise weighed, and the refuse or offal was taken hack and
Its weight ascertained : hardly any thing could be more satisfactory than this mode of conduct^
ing the experiment.

The Devon ox, (No. 4), on a less weight of food, gains 185 lbs. of flesh more than the
Hereford ox, (No. 2) : but suppose that the difference of the breed should have had much in-
fluence in this instance, the difference between the two Devon oxen, (No. 3, and No 4) is
very striking; for though the weight of food consumed by each is nearly equal, the latter
gams 154 lbs. of flesh more than the former. Viewing the results of this experiment, therefore,
merely as a test for proving the comparative degree of nourishment contained in these several
species of food, and not as a proof of the relative value of the respective breeds of animals, (for
which this experiment was made, and fulfilled the intention), we could arrive at no satisfactory
conclusion ; because it still remains to be proved, whether another individual of the same breed
as the ox, (No. 4), might not have gained a greater proportion of flesh from the same weight
of food as was consumed by the latter

If the weight of nutritive matter which the chemical process shews these different species of
tood contains, be' now compared with the weight of flesh which the different oxen gained from
It, the comparison will manifest the superior utility of this new mode of investigating the nu-
tntive qualities of the food of these animals.

» • •

Vlll

INTRODUCTION.

No. 1.

Hereford
Ox.

No. 2.

Hereford

Ox.

No. 3.

Devon

Ox.

No. 4.

Devon

Ox.

No. 5.

Sussex

Ox.

No. 6.

Leicester
Ox.

Food consumed,

s

Lbs.

2700
487

423f

2712

432i

438^

Weight of Nutritive Matter by
the Chemical Process.

295

442 1
2636
442i

432

2655

392

43 4i
2652
400i

Oz.

oil -cake
O turnips
hay

oil-cake
turnips
hay

oil- cake
turnips
hay

oil-cake
turnips
hay

oil-cake
turnips
hay

oil-cake
turnips
hay

Lbs. Oz. Dr. Cwl. Qrs. Lbs.

132
112

2 20

Weight of Flesh
gained bytheOxen,

Cwt. Qrs. Lhs.

1 2 37

Difference between the Weight of Nutritive Matter

and that of the Flesh gained.

Cwt. Qrs. Lbs.

1

116

134
99

■

120
132

67

8
3

7

3 14

7 3
5
9 10

2 3 25

2'' 3- 12

321 8

130 7 7

101 15

118 12 0^

129 8 o[

125 O)

3 18

3 1, 9

119
129

127

7

9

3. 1 12

3 3

4 2 14

21, in which the nutritive matter

exceeds the flesh.

4 *

17,

in which the nutritive matter
exceeds the flesh. t

■J

I V

1 165 in which the flesh exceeds the

nutritive matter.

2 3 18

1

1 24, in which the flesh exceeds the

nutritive matter. i

1

19j in which the nutritive matter

exceeds the flesh.

Q

3 14

1 26, in which the nutritive matter

exceeds the flesh.

r

The only point assumed in the foregoing comparisons, is the quality of the hay, or the kinds
of grasses that composed it, of which, in the account of the experiment quoted, no mention is
made. Ldi:ewise, some linseed cakes are much more nutritive than, others; I have found them

n ■

to vary from 67, to 132 grains, in every 480 grains of cake. Those cakes which had the Ijright-
est texture vi^hen nevvly broken, afforded the most nutritive matter. The common field turnips
also differ in the quantity of nutritive matter they afford, vi^hich is in proportion to the size of
the roots, or according as their texture is solid or spongy : the largest roots contain proportion-
ally the least quantity of nutritive matter, and the middle-sized the greatest. These are minute
circumstances in experiments on a small scale, but when conducted on a large scale, they be-
come objects of magnitude. A nearer coincidence between the results of the tAvo modes of
experiment for the respective oxen, could not therefore be expected ; but the total weio-ht of
flesh gained in this experiment, nearly agrees with the weight of nutritive matter contained in
the food consumed by the oxen. The weight of the different kinds of food consumed, amounts
to 20,656 lbs., which being of a middle quality, as assumed in the foregoing calculations, affords,
by the chemical process, (sec the Table), 2020 lbs. of nutritive matter.
The total weight of flesh gained, is

2058 lbs.

It is therefore evident, that if the weight of nutritive mattei^ contained i

m th

e various kinds

of food employed in this experiment, had been previously ascertained as above it would hav
shewn ^le weight of flesh which that food was capable of forming under such

circumstances.

wtl, ,I,e d.ffe,-e„cc o„ly of 38 lbs. ,„ 2058 lbs. But, as was before obso,,od, the different
povve,, of cattle to profit by food, is subject to the control of ,„a„y ,„„,i ,ire„„sta„ees ■ theh-
co,np.,.t,ve value the.efo.-e, ,„ this respect, can only be satisfactorily ascertained by the process
of fecd,ng and we,.In„g; and for this cat.sc like™ it will appear, that the compLlve ™l„e
o.^„n.r.,„e powers of tbe food, can only be aeenrately ascertained by chemical investigation
The gramrneons dnng of cattle being merely the grass, divested of all its nntritive matter by

V t

V.

INTROBUCTION^I

ix
submitting this dung to a similar process as that which determines the nutritive powers of the
grass, the results prove what those parts of grass are, that are retained in the body of tl
mal for the purposes of life. The following results of experiments made on the dung of sLTn"
and deer, will be sufficient to exemplify this. & p,

1920 grains of the mixed leaves of cock's-foot grass, ray-grass, and white clover afforded of
soluble matter fifty-three grains, which consisted of mucilage, sugar, gluton, bitter extrac

tlVP nnrl coll i^^ t-^^++ n ac-

tive, and saline matters.

1920 grains of the dung of sheep which fed on these grasses, afforded of soluble matter thirteen

grams and a half, consisting of bitter extractive, and saline matters
1920 grains of the dung of deer, which also fed on these grasses, afforded eleven o,ai„s ..d

three quarters, of the same nature as that of the sheep. '^

The bitter extract, or soluble matters of the dung, was examined chemically by Sir H Davv
he found .ts qualities to be so analogous to the bitter extractive of the grasses, that they rnJ^
be nnstaken for each other. The extractive matter obtained by boilmg the fresh dung of cows

gave similar results.

F,,,n these fec.s Si. H. Davy oWve,, " !, appea,, prohik that ,he hitter ex.raet, .hou.h
»lal>le ■„ a krge <,.a„«,y of wa.o. i. ve.-y lUUe „„rtive; h,rt p,.„bah,y it ™ the purpose

f p,-eve„.,„,, ,„ a certain e«e«, ,he fc™c„.a,i„„ of .he other vege.ie matter, in'heL

mach, or ,„ „o<hfy,„g o,- ass.ting the fauelion, of digestion, ,„c. .„ay thus he of considevahie
use ,„ formn,g a eonstituent part of the food of cattle. A small q.tantity of hitter extract and

nntntive, m proportion a, they contain other suhslanees."

food Z stelp! "" "'""'"' " " '""^ *"' "'"' '°''"™«=°° o" ""= ">"- of '"-F »°

, r

''Itr' "" ''","'; '"*'■ '"'•'"'•' °" "■'"* *-P -™ '»'«"8. »<rorded of nntritive
mattei 8o grams, which consisted of

Mucilage, . „ .

*_ - - - - 9 grains.

J>accliarme matter, or sugar, - . . 73

Bitter extractive and saline matters, - . - 3

1

atter, by ,nea„s of a large ci„anlity of „„er, ,7 grains, which consisted of.

Animal mucous and mucilage, . ... 3, grains.

Bitter extractive and saline matters.

- . - 14

The most remarkable circumsian^« l, • i

^ung to that which k T. ''"™''^"^'^ 1^"'^' >« the superior quantity of bitter extractive in the
"^, Lo mat winch is shewn to e^i^h ir. +T. 4- • i i i

occasionally fed in the field . 1 "™P' ' ^"* '^' '^'''P ^"'^ ^'^>^' °" ^^^^^ ^^^^^

tion from the soluble . H' T '^"'"'"'"^ *^ ^."^^l^ble portion of the dung, (after separa-

y> which evidently had afforded the extra quantity of bitter extractive to the dung

1

X

INTRODUCTION.

The sheep ate of the hay from choice, and not necessity, and it is more than probable, that
the bitter extractive it contained, was, under such circumstances, the most valuable part of its
nutritive matter, in supplying the deficiency of it in the turnips.

It is worthy of observation here, that the leaves or herbage of the common pasture grasses,
contain nearly the like proportion of bitter extractive as that in the dung; the sheep, therefore,
in this instance, had taken that proportion of hay which, combined with the turnips, formed a
natural food, or that which had nutritive qualities analogous to natural pasture.

The dry fibre of the hay or straw given with turnips, may also assist mechanically in correct-
ing the watery nature of this food, in the cold season of the year in which it is given to sheep,
when an excess of moisture may be more hurtful than in a warmer season.

In some plants there is a comparative excess of saUne matter, and when such plants are
given unmixed with any other to cattle, they are most subject to disease, or continue for a length
of time before they improve, however abundant the supply. The following facts, which came
within my own immediate oljservation, may serve as an instance to point out the importance of
a mixture of such grasses as possess some difference in the qualities of their nutritive matter ;
and at the same time they will shew, that the bitter extractive is efficacious in correcting the
ovci'-succulency, or laxative nature of green food, without the aid of dry vegetable fibre.

Two fields were sown down for pasture ; one with white clover, and trefoil only, and the

r

Other with a variety of the natural grasses, for experiment^ with a portion of white clover. Tlie

f - - -

two fields were depastured with sheep. In the enclosure of white clover a considerahle quan-
tity of cock's-foot grass grew on the edge of the fence ; it was of a very harsh quality, from its

f

unfavourable situation, and consisted almost entirely of culms. . In a few days the sheep went ,
to this grass, and ate it down entirely, though there was a profusion of the white clover. In
the course of time many of the sheep became affected with the disease termed red-wate?% of
which several died. But in the adjoining field, which contained the natural grasses, cock's-foot
grass, rough-stalked meadow grass, rye-grass, foxtail-grass, and white clover, the sheep were
not affected with that, nor any other disease, and they left untouched the stems of the cock's-
foot, which were here of a more tender succulent nature, than those on the edges of the other
field, which were so greedily devoured by the clover sheep.

It may remain only to observe, that if the hard stalks of the cock's-foot in the clover field
had ])een in sufficient quantity, they would most probably have prevented the disease from
attacking the sheep; but this could not have been by virtue of the (/^t/ /Are only of the culms,
because in the adjoining field, where every thing was contrary to disease, the sheep rejected th
culms altogether. The dry, or mechanical action of the culms, was here wanting ; yet the ani-
mals continued healthy, and fattened, because the bitter extractive was in greater proportion in
the leaves or herbage than in the culms which they rejected, and also proved beneficial, though
combmed with succulent food, which could have nothing of the action of the dry hay or straw
before mentioned.

X

The succulency, or the quantity of superfluous moisture contained in the food of cattle and
the relative proportions which the sahne matter, and bitter extract, bear to the gluten, sugar,
and mucilage of the nutritive matters of different plants, influencing thus their nutritive powers
when used in a green state ; these properties, therefore, will be particularly considered in csti-

■p

ti,

^^

INTRODUCTION.

mating the comparative value and merits of the different grasses and otli

hereafter be recommended to the notice of the Agriculturist." ' °' ^ ^""^ ''''^^

A knowledge of the quantity of soluble or nutritive matter afforded bv diff
the number and proportion of the nutntive vegetable principles formed by them" wm 7^ "'
hkew.e to throw light on the cause of the exhausting or impoverishino- effects of'd^
to the soil ; a point of much importance, as connected with L theo;^:?; ^^^^^^^^^^^^ '''^''
croppmg wrth green crops and grain. The facts which have offered the T '"

this, will be stated hereafter, when the merits of the gra J and a^ "^ " ^^^P^^* ^'

to the alternate husbandry, come under discussion. ^'""^"^^ P^^^'^ ^^^P^^^

It was before remarked, that the little attention that has been naid b. A • , •
neral, to distmguish with certainty the different species of gr^If m Z^fTT " '^■

buted to retard improvement in the cultivation of this numeC f I T ' " "^*'

1 ^ , ^ iiuto iiumeioiis rami y of Dlants T+ ^^Au t

hope. .,ppc„ perfeCy „-Kle„,, ,1.. ,vi.ho„. the „,e,™ of <litf„s„i3hLg wI.TLJ Z '

«per,ence, before he can male a„y certain, or ;„„ cxnerieicnh ef I ' , "''

improvement ■ •'"'■""'I"" "■'"'» »f h» own. and consequent

. When i, is f„„„d that eery distinct species of grass difl'ers from all others „„,• , ■
the properties or merits which alone eonstrtnte their valnc to the A 7 °' ' '"

-on of all the dt.erent species and varieties, may'j; srie!: t^:::" ^^L ^rr

^ . .he .. science of .otany, hy any i:^ 3:l:!r ^Z ^ ^T
It cannot fa, tj^ tt 71^7^'' T '''' '"'' T' "•'"'^' ""= ^^ ^'-""'•

give an explanation of the te ms mad 'o ^7 T'""' T '""'' °' "" "P'™'""' *°

view of .11 the different sneeie. ,„ ! '" ''"""""« ""= ""•"""" "^ P^-' ™'' » S™""

view of all the different species and varieties.

ohvlon, are. L roo ^^ ,t '*'™' """^ »' "^ "™'"- «' *- P»*. «'- -'
flower or husks (F,^S^', TT' '""" " ™'°'' ^''"'"*"-''- "" ''''™^- (^""J^ *e
different specie ■ ht I 7\ "l "'=''■ '■~«^- ^« ««"" "' '!-» P™ vary in

it may J ^i::^^:^ "~- -' ^^ "-^ -• » "a^. V wLh

"asonlngs must needs be very conlld or " Tf T ' " "" '"""■ "' °"

our words. "nlused, or even absurd, wrthout precise ideas being fixed to

d

* ^\

. f

^

/

• *

xu

INTRODUCTION

I.

The Varieties of the Root are^ :

(^Jibrosa'J

J

number of threads or fibres, as in most

f.

grasses. See Agrostts fascicula.
eeping, (^repens)^ when the ro

Holcus mollis, Sc

IbouSj CbulbosaJ, w
Hordeum bidbosmn'\.

II.

The Varieties of the Straw, Stem, or Culm, are

r..^^ .

1. Quite simple, (simjjUssimus), without any branches, as in Melica ccerulea.

2. Simple, (simplex), that sometimes has more than one branch, as in Poa nemoralis.

3. Somewhat branched, (subramosus), that has often several branches, as in Jgrostis Mexicana,

4. Erect, ferecliisj, when the straw stands nearly perpendicular, as in Alopecurus pratensis,

5. Straight, (sirictusj, when the stem is quite straight, as in Trichodium rupestre.

6. Ascending, (ascendensj, when the lower part of the straw lays on the ground, and the

upper part of it grows upright, as in Poa compressa,
7- Decumbent, (decumbens), when the lower part of the straw rises in an oblique direction

to the horizon, and the upper part bends down towards it. See Festuca decumbens,

■ n

8. Procumbent, (procumbens), is when the straw lies flat on the ground, without striking roots

at the joints. See Poa procumbens.

9. Creeping, (repens), when the straw creeps on the ground, and sends out roots from the

joints, as in Agrostis siolonifera,

10. Naked, (midusj, having very few leaves with short sheaths, as in Melica ccerulea and Fes-

tuca ovzna.

(setaceusX ^^^h short sheaths and slender stem, as in Festuca tenuifi

(teres), that is, cylindrical. See Festuca glabra. '
md, (semiteres), that is, flat on one side and roui
ssed, (compressus), when the stem is flat on both
^ed, (anceps), when a compressed straw is sharp <
rnered, (tetragonus), three or four round or obtus

e other. See Poa ft
See Poa compressa.

Festuca ovina.

See

* To tho.e, >vl,o wish to enter fully into the study of Botany, I may be permitted to recommend Dr. Smith's " Introduction "

or that by Dr. Willdenew, Withering, and Thornton, a, adapted to afford every facility; having consulted each of these worts
in what relates to the Grasses. * '

t A bulb is compared to a bud under ground, producing shoots from its middle or sides; the bulbs of the crocus or hya-

cnth, .s not properly the root, but a part of the stem ; the fibres are the proper roots. The carrot, turnip, potatoe,' &c are

^ tuberous roots, for these have eyes formed on the surface, which particularly distinguish them fro. bulbs properly so called.

\

INTRODUCTION.

17. Knee-jointed, (geniculutm), when the stem is bent at a joint, like the kn

« 4 «

XliI

ee. See Ulymus

e joints. See Phleum nodosum.

geniculatus.
18. Bulbiferous, (hulbifer), having bulbs, or buds, fixed at th

The flower straw, (pedunculus), is the part which immediately supports the flower- it mav
be either a part of the principal straw, as in wheat, or barley, or composed of a number of p.,
tial straws seated on the principal culm, (see Bromus steriUs); or these partial straws S^n
branched, as m Poa nervosa, and Trichodium rupestre : in the two last cases, they constitute what
is called a compound panicle.

III.

form of the X

The leaves of grasses are all quite simple, or undivided, and, on that account, alFord but few
obvious characters of chstinction ; they vary, however, in respect of the form of their point or
apex, cu-cumference, situation, and surface-coverino-.

The apex, or point, is either acute, (acufum)^,, in Poa trivialis; or obtuse, as in Poa pra^
tensis. Ihe circumference has four varieties :

1. Sword-shaped, (ensif^rn^e), an oblong leaf, growing gradually narrower towards the apex

which is pointed. See Festiica cambrica.

(^linearcy

cceridea.

See Sesleiia

( siihiilatiim y

Fringed, (cilmtum), when the edges are i
The surface of the leaves vary as follows :

1. Channelled, (canaUculatum), when the middle rib of the leaf is furrowed, as in Pestuoa du-

riUSCUfa. (H pnirec \

riuscida, (R. leaves.)

2. Nerved, fwe;To«<m), when the vessels n.- T-iKc „^ + 1 1 ,

,^ ,. 1 , . ' '' ''^'' strongly marked, and run from the base

to the apex, lengthwise, as in Bronms littoreus

S. B-tle-shaped, Cse^aceumJ, when the leaves are nearly cylindrical, resembling swine's bristles,

as ni jtestuca ovtna, "^ '

4. Flat, (planum), when the snvfapA r.f +i i r •

J. mien surface of the leaf is even, without any furrows, dots, or raised
veins, as m P/>«^ ^^.^* —

f

In respect of situation, the leaf v

aries :

'■ ''!!"«/ rf'T^' '''"" "" """" "'' '° " '»''«*-' •"'"-" ^'"^ - '■-'■-ntal. a.

^^^^ r

2. Horizontal, Chorizontakl when th^ 1^. i i' . .

3 T^nn^l ^ rl • r /\ *^'^^^^^^'S^^^^"^^% horizontal, as in i)«c/y.^^

o. XJunaled. ( Tascir.ularp \ wl^^v, +!,_ i . _ . u r

a sheath.

fvagina)

S

row in tufts, or bundles, ^sin Jgrosfisfascicularis.

/

XIV

INTRODUCTION.

r

■ Sheath-scales, or stipules, fsf'P^^^J^ «f S^^^'^'^ ^^^ '"'^^ membranaceous substances at.
tached to the inner sides of the leaves; they have their origin at the top of the vagina, or the
point where the leaf first diverges from the straw. Its varieties are :

1. Intire, CmtegraJ, when it has no segments.

9. Bifid, (bifida), when it is divided at the apex into two parts.

r

3. Torn, (lacera), when it appears as-if torn on the margin.

4. Fringed, (ciliata), when the margin is set with short projecting hairs.

5. Truncated, (trimcata), when the upper part terminates in a transverse Ime.

6. Pointed, (acuta), that has a short acute point.

7. Accuminated, (acciiminata), that has a long projecting point.

8. Very short, (decurrens), that is hardly visible, and runs down the side of the vagina.

f

The stipules often afford a good character of distinction. I have raised a great many species
of different grasses from seed, under different circumstances, as to soil and situation, with a
view to obtain varieties from them. I found many of the plants thus raised, to vary from the
parent, in the number of the flowerets, in the presence or want of hairs on the surface, and
sometimes, though rarely, in the awns; but in no instance did the form of the stipula or sheath-
scale vary : being thus constant, it may be depended on. .

\

IV.

Varieties of the Flower.

The curious structure of the flowers of grasses, and a consideration of their important office,
that of forming the seed, is sufficient to attract notice or regard, independent of the great use,
of which a knowledge of their structure is, in distinguishing with certainty the several species
and varieties.

Inflorescence, or the manner in which the flowers of grasses are supported and disposed on
the culms, affords the most obvious characters of distinction : it is of two kinds, the spike and
the panicle.

CspicaX is a number of flowers without footstalks, that closely surround one

principal, simple straight culm. ^S

nerata, (glomefdtaj, ^
Sesleria ccerulea,
ticillated rverticillataj

as in

O -"«v./*,^jviv>v>i:7 V/iX I.X1C iSIJl

on that account to be placed in whirls, as in Pankum verticillatum.
:-rowed, (secunda), when the flowers are arranged on one side, as in Nardus
mdrical, (cylindrica), when the spike is equally covered with flowers Panici
.ar, (RneaHs), that is, slender, and of equal thickness, as in Cynosurus erucafc

(ventricosa)

agrestis

(foUosaJ

V.

/

INTRODUCTION.

XV

8. Compound, (composita)] when several spikes stand on one stalk, as in Cynosiirm emm-

formis.

\

(^digitalis J

of the fingers of the hand, as in Panicum sangiiinale.

V

The spike-stalk, (rachis), is a long rough slender receptacle, on which the flowers com-
posing a spike are placed. Take a spike, says Professor Martyn, (or rather, as it is commonly
called, an ear), of wheat, pull off all the seed and chaff, and what remains is the spike-stalk, or
rachis.

The spiket, or ear, (spicula), consists of several florets enclosed by one calyx. It is distin-
guished by the number of flowers it contains, as one-flowered in Agrostis, two-floweredTn
Aira, three-flowered in Poa glauca, many- flowered, as in Bromus multijiorus. It is likewise
described according to the figure it assumes, as cylindrical, oval, linear, &c. ; and with respect
to its surface, as smooth, rough, hairy, &c.

The panicle, (panicula), consists of flowers supported by foot-stalks loosely dispersed or
scattered; the flowers of oats serve as an example, .or as in Poa pratensis. The varieties of the
panicle are: »

1

b ■ ■

1. Simple, (simplex), that has only undivided side-branches, as in Poa decumbens.

(ramosa), when the first branches are again divided, as in Bromus multiflorus.

Vide specimen.

3. Much-branched, 0•a;>^05mma J, when the branches are much branched, ^s in TricJwdium

caninum, vel Jgrostis canina. Var. inutica. Vide specimen.

4. Spreading, (patentissimaX when the branches stand wide from each other, and spread out^

in all directions, as in Agrostis repens.

(coractata)
1, (^secundcij
( nutans \ w

Bromus tectorum.

V.

'■ - . • - ■ • ■

Flower consists of,

rouaj; the stamma, or male parts, (stamina)
rudiment of the future seed.

(gluma) ; the corolla, or inner husks, (co-
! pistil, or female parts ; and the germen, or

^ The calyx, or outer husks, contains the flower, and afterwards the seed. Its more obvious
characters of distinction consist in the number of valves, or scales, of which it is composed.

4

1. One-valved, (univaMs), that consists of only one valve, as in LoUum, (rye-grass).

2. Two-valved, (bivalvis), that consists of two valves, as in most grasses.

3. M^nj-^i^\YeA,(multivahis* ), when thp nm.v l,.,=t. .„„.;.. ^i

(bariey), and Elymus, (lyme-grass)

more than two valves, as in

ticularl ^\h^^ ""^^^^ '^^ ^^^^^' ^'^^ ^^'"^'' ^^^'^^ surrounds one or several flowers, is sometimes found in grasses, but is more par-

e properly o anot er order of plants, (the umUlliferous) ; and, being in the grasses much resembling the glumes of

e

XVI

INTRODUCTION.

(^carinatusjy 1

, (^ciliahisj, h

(^triincatusj,

(^ cuspidatus J

- The corolla, or inner husks, contains the essential parts of the flower, (staminas, style, and
germen); when the seed is perfected, they generally enclose and adhere to it. This, and the
calyx, constitute the chaff of oats, wlieat, &c. It has the following varieties :

1. One-valved, (univalvis), which consists of one valve only, as in Trichodium rupesfre.

2. Two-valved, (^bivalvis), as in most grasses. ■ *

3. Awned, CarisitataJ, when furnished with an awn*

4. Awnless, fmiiticaj, wanting the awn. • ,

5. Ribbed, (newosa), when the valve has nerves, or veiiis/ which ruii from the base to its

apex, as in Poa nervosa.

y m

6. Fringed, fciiiata J s sls in Phieum pratense.

The valves are also distinguished according to their figure, as, oval, oblong, concave, egg-
shaped. •

• The stamina are the male parts of fructification. Each consists of three parts — the filament,
the anther, and the pollen, or flower-dust. The filament is a long thread-like substance, which
supports the anthers. The anther is a cellular body of a linear figure, generally cloven at both
ends ; it contains the pollen, which is essential to the production of the seed. It varies in respect
of colour, as,

White, in Phleum echinatum
Yellow, in most grasses.
Saffron, in Bromus erectus.
Purple, in Melica ccemlea.

The pistil, (pistiliimX is the female part of the flower, and likewise consists of three
parts — the germen, the style, and the stigma.

^ The germen is situated at the bottom of the flower ; it appears a pellucid globular body, but
in general it requires the aid of a microscope to see it distinctly. It is the rudiment of the future
seed.

The style consists of two feather-like bodies, seated on the top of the germen : they are o-e-
nerally bent back, or reflexed. *

Th

e stigma, terminates the style, and gives to it that feather-like appearance.

fnectarium)

er of

some grasses ; it is supposed

to serve the purpose ot a reservoir for the honev-inir-f» • i^ c.^^.. + v ii

^ ^ noney juice , m structure, it generally resembles the

the caljx, I huve included it here, under the distinction multivalve calvx • mpr^l^ f -a .

n , c .1 ' . A cry . . uvaive caiyx , merely to avoid tpo numerous divisions, which, to

those who confme their study of Botany only 10 the Grasses ffor whn«*. »«^ *t. >vmcu,

,,^,1 y y ^^ 1-rasses, (for whose use these pages are only designed), will be. I trust.

INTRODUCTION.

xvii

corolla husks ; but it is very minute, tender, and finely transparent. The terms employed t
describe the corolla, likewise apply to this. It is not found in the genus Nardus, Erioplonm
Alopeciirus, or Sesleria. i 9

h

VI.

Varieties of the Seed.

The discriminating characters of the seeds of grasses are confessedly minute ; but as the form
of the seed is never known to vary, except by disease, the marks of distinction it offers are of
the most unerrmg kind. In most grasses the seed is covered, or enclosed, by the husk' which
was formerly the blossom, ( corolla J; in other species the seed is naked, or so loosely attached
to the husk, as to separate from it in the process of cleanino-.

If the seeds of every species of grass were naked, their^liminutive size would hardly afford
any obvious marks of distinction ; but the coat, or seed-vessel, (peHcarp.u^n), gives variety to
the form oi those seeds, which are otherwise very mucli alike.

The discriminating characters of the seed being thus minute, and resting almost always on
various shades of dissimilarity assumed by three or four principal figures, as, round, oval
oblong, and acuminate or pointed, it is therefore easy to conceive, that such distinctions ar^
often readily perceived by the eye on comparison, but with difficulty conveyed by mere descrip-
tion ; meed it may be said, that a few hours' practice in comparing the different kinds of seed
with each other, is worth a volume of description, for practical purposes. With this view, and
also to shew where the principal characters of distinction take their rise, the following speci-
mens, illustrative of the different genera, are selected ^

th

e \

)

I

'^Vj

I
f-

V

INTRODUCTION

/

XIX

ANTHOXANTHUM odoratu

m

Sweet-scented Vernal-^m^^.

Fertile seed

If

Diseased

\

The seed is covered with the husks of the blossom

r

nearly cyUndrical, but tapering to a point at each end.
over-luxuriant plants, during very wet weather.

which adh

ere to it ; the naked seed is

Th

e diseased seed was produced by

II.

NARDUS

strict a.

Upright Mat-^ra^^

Convex side

Pertile seed

Furrowed side

Th

e seed

d with the husks of the blossom, which closely adhere to it, nor open ;

longitudinal furrow on the other. The naked seed

it

IS convex on one side, and marked with

linear-oblong, tapering to a point at each end
disease.

th

e

upp

d the narrowest

Not subject to

III

ERIOPHOR UM

vaginatum .

Sheathed Cotton-grass.

\

Fertile seed

S

. I

The long white
larly distinguish it •

hairs

ttached to the seed of the different species

o

the body of the seed is three-cornered

cotton-grass, particu

.>

■iv

4

&

i

I

INTRODUCTION.

XXI

IV.

PHALARIS

canariensis

anarj-grass .

-* *^

Fertile seed

> h

Th

e seed is covered with th

e

husk

s

becomes tapering to a point at both

f the blossom, lik

crust

e

nds

nor opens; from a round, it

J-

V.

PHLEVM pratense.
Meadow Cat's-tail grass

Fertile seed

f

#

9

I

i

Seed-vessel, or husk

s

The seed is loosely covered with the husks, which separate from it in cleaning ; the naked

as shewn above

roundish

furnished with straight white hairs on the back

The two valves which constitute the husk

seed-vessel

points, which afford
fAIopecurus).

a

good

haracter of distinction between this and th

they also terminate with two dagger-like

e seed of fox-tail grass.

VI.

PA NI C UM glaucum.
Glaucous V 2imc-grass .

'' *

d L

#

e

Fertile seed

f,

The seed is covered with the inner husks of

the seed is round on one side

the blossom, which

and flat on the oth

not open ; the body of

/

i\

%

c

,*

9^

i

t

ft.

^

INTRODUCTION

/

• •<

XXlll

VII.

ALOPECURUS pratensis

Meadow Fox-tail

\

grass

V

Fertile seed

i

Diseased or abortive

\

\/

1

Th

e

seed

IS

d with the husks of the blosso

m

awn

■

Insects eat this seed while it

^

m e

disease termed clavus

mbry

o : It

shewn in the above specimens

great measure be prevented, by simply permitting the first shoot

r

the larger valve is furnished with an

subject to blight ; and likewise to the
Yet the effects of all these might in a

s

of th

seed

e

season to carry th

VIII.

MILIUM efusum.

^iWet-grass ,

Fertile seed

♦

(?

' t

The husks of the blossom

th

seed

?

■

the body of which is roundish, and very smooth

^

IX.

AGROSTIS stolonifera.
Stoloniferous Bent-grass.

Fertile seed

I

The seed is covered with the husks of the blossom, which do not open

tapers to a point at each end

?

it is cylindrical, but

/

4

I- It

IT

i^

\

INTRODUCTION.

XXV

V

X.

HOLCUS

lanatus

>^

I

Woolly Soft-^ra^^

1^

Naked seed

m

9

«

I

Seed-vessel, or husks

The outer

inner husks, in general, adhere to th

e

seed

shaped, and furnished with a short bent awn

the

o

mooth. The seed of the Phleum

or cat s-tail grass, (N

round form, sufficiently distinguishes it from the above

of th

it : they are e^^-^

e

is egg-shaped

and

very

the Phleum, likewise

y

iFords an easy distinction between their

Alopecurus, or fox-tail, (No. VIL), is distinguished from these by it
permanent, and terminating in a straight awn.
distinguish between these seeds.

always naked, and being of a
the forked termination of the husks of

d-vessels. The seed of the

5 covermg.
The Agriculturist will find

or husks, being
it his interest to

XI.

AIRA

ccespitosa.

Turfy }l^\v-grass, or Hassocks

I

Seed always fertile

t

#

The seed

covered with the inner husk

which adhere to it

d-vessel

with

woolly hairs which proceeds from the base of th

little farther, clearly distinguishes the seed from that of the Hokus, or sofrg

it is egg-shaped ; a tuft of

slender awn projecting a

(N

A

X.)

3

*

I

^

f

•^

^

INTRODUCTION.

XXVll

i

XIL

MB Lie A

ccerulea

Purple Melic'grass ,

Fertile seed

%

The seed is covered by the inner husk until it be perfected
The body of the seed is oval-oblong,

?

and

little incurved

afterwards it encloses it loosely

XIIL

I^OA

compressa.

Flat-stalked Meadovr-

grass

$

c

Fertile seed

\

U

' - ^^

The seed is covered with the i

\

tapers lo a point at each end.

inner husks, without opening ; it is oblong, flattened

^

and

XIV.

^ R IZA media .

ommon Quaking-^r^^^

Fertile seed

#

Th

hoU

inner husks enclose th

ow

concave form of the husk

eed unchanged till

rip

distingtiish the seeds of this genus

with th

it is roundish, and very small

the

shining membran

appearance, peciilia^ly

N-

■|i

i

'f.

•

•

•

m

INTRODUCTION

XV.

DACTYLIS glomerata.

Round-headed Cock's-foot

grass

^

Fertile seed

/'

The husks of the blossom enclose the seed until it is ripe ; it

o

sid

blong

an

furrowed on

XVI.

CYNOSUnm cmtatus

-r

Crested Dog's-tail grass.

V-

'*

Fertile seed

/

I

>

Fhe seed

vered with the inner husk

each end

which

o

not open ; it is oblong, and pointed at

XVII.

FE STUC A pratensis.

Mead

ow

Fesc

ue-

grass

Round side

'■■? ■■

Furrowed

The husks of th

long, slender,
ou the other.

corolla envelopes the seed

an

adhere to it without opening

It IS

ob

very acute ; rounded on one side, and marked with

a

'^rrow

\

^

Mk4

1=

F^■

I

w*

\

f •l.

4

INTRODUCTION.

XXXI

XVIII.

f

BROMUS mollis.

Soft Brome-grass.

'U

Convex side

Furrowed

/

The inner husks, or corolla, shut cl

upon

?

and adhere to

e

tex on one side, and furrowed on the other.

seed, which is oblong, con

*it

STIPA

pinnata.

Long-awned Feath

er-

[^rass

k

Fertile seed

The seed is covered by the inner husks ; it

oblong

A VE NA pubescens.

D

owny Oat-^m^^.

J

Pertile seed

■>

r-

V

rhe seed

overed with th

point at each end, marked with

husks of the blossom

^w

t is slend

oblong

and tapers to

brome, and

oat-g

furrow lengthwise. The seed of the different species of fescue

marks of distinction
culturist. Thus the
blunt or obt
the

very much alike at the first gl

provided

littl

evertlieless, they offer suflicient

seed of the fescue terminates

mmuteness in the examination be employed by the Ag

awn of

species of the former be awned. th

an acute point ; that of the brome-gras

e awn

with its membraneous edg

brome-grass is inserted bel

continuation of the husk : but

ow th

e

apex

of th

e

husk

an

surrounded at th

base

y

but more of this hereaft

1

s

\

■X

I

^

riL-

INTRODUC

ION

•

XXXIU

AR UND O

epigejos

Wood ^eeA'grass

{

\

Fertile seed

i

%

\

A

k

r

The inner husks adhere to th

at both end

r

seed, without opening; the naked seed is oblong, and pointed

it is furnished at the base with downy hairs

appearance of that of the cotton-grass, erioph

(N

The hairs give this seed at first th

■

body of the seed of the cotton-grasses is three-cornered

and pointed.

III.)

y

w

hil

but on removing the hairs, the

isses is oblong

e that of th

reed

gr

XXII.

'»-

LOLIUM

\

perenne

Perennial B.je-grass.

on vex side

Concave and furrowed

>

j^

The inner husks enclose the seed, which is obi
flat, with a furrow lengthwise, on the other.

ong

5

compressed ; convex on one side, and

XXIII.

xir L Y3I us geniculatus

Jointed Ij^me-grass .

Perfect seed

I

/

I-

Th

husk

s of the bloss

vS

haped, (linearis).

om adhere to the seed, which is convex on

sid.

6

>

and strap

/

\

i

?1

\

^

INTRODUCTION.

XXXV

XXIV.

HORDE UM

murinum.

Wall Barley-was*.

\

Perfect seed

i

I

U

\

The husks cover the seed without opening ; it is oblong, bellying, angular, tapering at each

end, and furrowed.

XXV.

TRITICUM

repens

Creeping-rooted, Wheat, or Conch-grass.

\

\

The

u

sk

s

of th

e blossom enclose th

4

and emit it

th

e

seed

1

e seed until it is perfected, and afterwards open

9

ther furrowed

IS oval-oblong and obtuse at both ends : on this sid

convex

on

the

The utility of a thorough

tion

the

quaintance with the foregoing principal characters of distinc

th

generic characters of the seeds of grasses, will best appear by practically applying

em to distinguish those seeds from each other that

blance

found to have the nearest resem

but producing plants of different species ; and likewise the seeds of such

of more importance for the Agriculturist to distinguish from all

grasses

o

thers

^

<f

4-

»

i

I

I-

i

1

INTRODUCTION

xxxvii

XXVI.

*

PHALARIS

arundinacea

_y

Reed-like Canary-^m^^.

Fertile seed

>1

The above seed is somewhat

hairs at the base

ylindrical

th

e

it is covered by the husl

the Jrundines, (No. XXI). Howev

th

e

but

this seed they are divided into two distinct tuft

microscope also shews it to be furnished with

so far, therefore, it resembles

3 the base of the seed :

of th

orolla

of th

do encircl

the seed.
Phalaris,
scale-like

But what seems to determine th
its shining, horny crust, (see

situated on

N

allian

IV)

pposite sides of the base of

ce at

first sight between this grass and the

o

That

o

the arundo is membraneou

matter

It is sharp-pointed at each end, but that only tapers to a blunt point
Itorded by this grass, has qualities

or

Phalaris, than to that of the Arundines

Phalaridi

}

s more
I theref

nalog

The nutritive
to that of the different species of

nking it with the

follow Schrad

■,

XXVII.

PHLEUM pratense, Var.

minor.

Lesser Variety of Meadow Cat's-tail grass

Seed-vessels, witii and
without the seed t

#

*

I

*

i

vari^"" ""t" °' I '"^ '"''"°'' ™™''' "'' °'""'°"' "'"'^«»"' '" <l»Wg-iAed from that of the true
or f„ rjJr'i^'T I" ■"'"« -""'■" ™'"'"- "f » ™»-i- f°-. -■! the dagger-points.

fork of the seed-vessel, short

nearly straight, or inclined inward

and bent rather outwards

while those of the true variety

?

which will appear manifest on referring to No. V

^ a

Corolla dupl

Pili, coroUam Arundinura cingentes, propria desu

corticato

um

g

Phalarid

fe

haud commod

lag

nee

Neque etiam ulla nos necessitas cog

disjungitur,
tectum^ scd

genere, librum et corolla membranacea
llud pro distincto genere habeamus/'

Schrader. '' Flora Germanicay'' Vol. I. p. 182.

»

■.I 'J

^.

•

I*'

INTRODUCTION-

XXXIX

XXVII

ALOPECURUS

arrest IS.

Slender Fox-tail grass. (Annual)

Perfect seed

(

Her

we

have

a

which Is

d with the husi

IS

which is furnished wi

of the corolla, the larger valve of

awn

n referring to No. VII. we find this to be the

generic

1

acter of the fox-tail grass, (Alopecurus), and that it differs from tl

seed of that sp

(Ali

pecurus pratensis, or perennial meadow fox-tail), in being smoother, and naked, or wantino- th

downy hairs which clothe the surface of the form

this

even sufficiently by the touch

may

e perceived by the naked eye

n

passmg some

seeds between the finsrers, that of th

dow, or perennial fox-tail, will be found quite soft ; ])ut that of the slend
(shewn above), hard and unpleasant.

i

or

nual

species

i

HOLCUS mollis.

Creeping-rooted, or soft Couch-o'm^^.

Fertile seed

>

The plant that produces this seed

\

that infest light dry soil
lanatus), causes

one of the most troublesome weeds, or couch-gr

The near resemblance which it bears to the woolly soft-grass, (Holms

it often to b

at the first view

nfounded with that g

•

The seeds are readily distinguished

nvelope the seed with the husk

those of the lanatus, (see No. X.), are covered with woolly hairs, and loosely

But the seed of the Molli

4

smooth

and shining

^

as seen

above

perfectly

4

;*5

f

V

INTRODUCTION

xli

"'-

-1

AIR A. Jlexuosu^

Zm-

zag Hair-^m55.

Perfect seed

Hv

The seed of this grass is introduced here

ties, or the

but that

guished

not because it possesses any very valuable proper-
as It IS very common on sandy soils/ it may be carefully distin-

dicat

e

from the seed of hassock-grass, (No. XL), which is so unprofitable

whe

n

Th

e

above

once m possession of the soiL that some h

and difficult to

differs from that of the hassock

awn, which is long, of a dark colour, and recurved

(N

pplied to it the epithet execrabl
in being one half larger in

top of the seed; the form of the seed is likewise
o. XI. will shew.

XI.)

bent back a littl

e

th

before it reaches the

more of an oblong figure, which a reference to

POA

pratensis.

-

Smooth-stalked, or creeping-rooted Mead

ow Qouch'grass

Perfect seed

»

♦

I

I

XXXII.

POA

trivialis.

Rough-stalked,

or common Meadow-^m^^

Perfect seed

i

1'

I

I

, •%

\

Th

Poa

i

r

pratensis has a strong creeping root

and

great zmpoverisher of the soil, and with difficulty rooted out of land

like every other creeping-rooted plant

the Poa trivialis has

N

xlii

INTRODUCTION.

many good qualities ; it is therefore of importance to distinguish their seeds, whieh are so much
ahke. The chief mark of distinction to the naked eye, is the woolly web which connects or
entangles the seeds ; in the P. pratensis it is greater than in the P. tnmahs; the seeds of the
former can hardly be separated from each other, but those of the P. trimah. are very little
entangled by the web. But with the aid of a glass, they may be determined with more cer-
tainty : the seed of the P. pratensis being more acuminate, and appearing on the face concave ;
while that of the P. trivialis is shorter, rounder, and nearly quite flat on the face. See No. XIII.
pro char, gener.

INTRODUCTION.

V

i, ^

xliii

XXXIII

s

FESTUCA elatior.

Tall Fescue-^m^^.

Diseased

and

;

-Abortive

\

The seed of this grass is always either diseased

abort

mens. The form of the seed-vessel

the Festuca pratemis, (N

^

abortive seed

tween the fingers : it feels like

3 above

XVII.), but may b

a mere husk

ve, as shewn in the above speci-
scarcely to be distinguished from that of
distinguished with certainty by passing it be-

^y

n comparin

th

; and the diseased seed may be perceived by the
specuuens with those of the Festuca pratensis, (No. XVII )
the ^seed-vessel appears mor^ elongated and compressed, which evidently arises from the absence

of the Festuca pratensis appears to be always free from

of the body of the seed
disease

Th

XXXIT.

BROMU^

arvensis.

Field

, or Corn Brome-^rc^^^

/

r-

'.

rhis seed is distinguished from that of Bromus mollis

being sharp-pointed
hereafter, and it
Bromus mollis, a

This is one of the best of the annual brome

by being longer, more slender, and

therefore of importance that

will

e snewn

very troublesome weed

its seed should be known from that of th

V *

m

t ' '

J..

I

V

I .

i?'~

k)

■ -^

'^

u.

'.\

1

s L

/ ^

I

^

INTROBUCTION.

\t

xlv

I'

XXXV.

LOLIUM

temulentum.

Annual bearded ^ye-grass.

The seed of the annual bearded rye-grass

perennial rye-grass, (No. XVIL), by its long awn

distinguished at the first sight from that of th

e

th

e

o

swoln, shorter, less convex on the back

o

th

e

seed, when mixed with

and the furrow on the fac

is likewise more

ther grain, and made into bread

of the seed broad

This

Martyn supposes this grass to be the darnel of the Romans

said to be deleterio

Professor

<c

Interque nitentia culta

" Infelix lolium et steriles dominantur avenge.

9 9

Virg. Georg. I. 15^.

'3

It remains, now, only to shew how effectually the mode of

species

}

and varieties, assists th

arrangmg grasses

nly to render more certain

memory ; and particularly of those

into g

whose purpose

IS

the properties

d easy the means usually employed to obtain a just knowled^^e of

comparative merits of the different grasses

Every species of grass, properly so called, is distinguished from all other plants by the fol

lowing peculiar structure

The stem, or straw, is hollow

d jointed ; the leaves are long, slen

der, and entire, sheathing or investing the straw for some length, and in number equal to the

joints of the straw: the flower consists of

seed

and the seed h

only one lob

two membranaceous husks, which bears but

d-leaf

these peculiarities of structure, is a prop
natural order of plants.

Every plant, therefore, that possesses

s

pecies of grass ; hence th

prop

are called

But besides this agreement of external structure, grasses are distinguished from other natural

orders of plants by this property

more valuabl

domestic animals

perhaps the root

?

others

distinctly known, may be included with advant

that every part of the plant becomes food for the larger and

Other natural orders of plants afford only the fruit, or seed,

again are poisonous : it follows, that the properties of plants, when

All the

age in their natural characters of distinction

difference in the qualit

species which compose this family, may also he distinguished from each other by th

of the nutritive matter which each

the greatest affinity to each other in external form, likew

afford

Those species which have

fer less from each

o

ther

ise contain nutritive matters, that dif

more dissimilar in th

m their sensible qualities or composition, than those of the species which

eir

connection may b

external fig

Howev

which seems to exist between the external form

circumscribed the knowledge of this

s

nd nutritive products of

6clvi INTRODUCTION.

grasses, still, if certaia external characters should be found to indicate peculiar nutritive quali-
ties, the botanical description of any species of grass would not only convey a knowledge of its
external form, but likewise an idea of its value, as an article of food. That this would be pro-
ductive of much practical utibty, can hardly be doubted ; and the following particulars, stated
from the results of attentive observation, and numerous comparisons made in the course of the
experiments, and which gave occasion for the above remarks, may at least shew, that the sub-
ject is worthy of further investigation. m M

1st, Grasses which have culms with swoln joints, leaves thick and succulent, and flowers

with downy husks, contain greater proportions of sugar and mucilage.

2nd, When this structure Ts of a light glaucous colour, the sugar is generally in excess.

3rd, Grasses which have culms with small joints, flowers pointed, collected into a spike, or
spike-like panicle; leaves thin, flat, rough, and of a light green colour; contain a greater pro-
portion of extractive matter. .. , ' .

4th, Grasses which have culms furnished with niimerous joints, leaves smooth and succu-
lent, flowers in a spike or close panicle, florets blunt, and large, contain most gluten and mu-
cilage.

5th, When this structure is of a glaucous colour, and tlie florets woolly, sugar is in the next
proportion to mucilage, (No. II).

6th, Grasses which have their flowers in a panicle, florets pointed or awned, joints of the

4

culm smooth, sheaths of the leaves hairy, leaves smooth and succulent, contain most mucilage
and extractive,

7th, Grasses with flowers in a panicle, florets thinly scattered, pointed, or furnished with
long awns, culms lofty, with few joints, leaves flat and rough, contain a greater proportion of
saline matter and bitter extractive,

8th, Grasses with strong creeping roots, culms few, leaves flat and rough, flower in a spike,
contain a greater proportion of bitter extract, with mucilage.

m ' ' I

The above general description of the figure, and properties of grasses, considers every part
of the plant, and is therefore termed the natural character of orasscs.

The simplicity of form which runs through the whole structure of this order of plants, can
admit of but few very obvious variations to distinguish the different species from each other;
which indeed appears in the foregoing enumeration of terms that represent them.

The parts of fructification, the flower, and the seed, are the least liable to vary from any
change of soil or cultivation, and Botanists have chosen them on that account, to fix their oe-

ncric distinctions ; or when the flowers and seeds of any number of grasses agree in one or two
particular points, and differ therein from all the rest, such are termed a genera'or family. The
difference in the manner of inflorescence, and the form of clothing of the culm, leaves, and
roots, afford the specific characters, or separate the genera into species : when the difference
between two grasses' amounts to little else than one or two of these last-mentioned points, or
when such distinctions are either lost or found by raising the plant from seed, it is then consi-
dered a variety*. These characters of genera, species, and varieties; beino- founded on a few

* When a variety retains those marks of distinction after being raised from seed, it is called a permanent variety; when it
loses those ajstinctions, it is then styled an accidental variety.

INTRODUCTION.

i ri

parts only, and those frequently not very obvious, have been termed artificial characters f

disfnction. The memory, by these means, is relieved from a multiplicity of minute distin f ^

which would not be the case were all the parts of the plant included in the essential specificT'

scription or character.

Though most of the genera are considered as merely artificial, yet there are several whi h
have their nutntive matters of a description peculiar to themselves. Sir Humphry Davy ' f
us, that the nutritive matters from the difFer-ent species of fescue, in general, afford moreWtter
extractive matter than those from the different species of poa, and that the seed crop of the
Phleum pmtense afforded more sugar than any of the poa or fcstuca species '

M. St. Hilaire, in his Exposition of the Natural Families of Plants*, arranges o,asses ac
cordmg to the number of the styles, the stamina, and the number of florets contained in each
calyx. Accordingly lie divides grasses into ten sections.

^ ir

Sect. I. Contains such grasses as have 2 styles, and 1, or 2 stamina.

11. Grasses which have 2 styles, 3 stamina, and the calyx 1-flowered.
III. Grasses furnished with 2 styles, 3 stamina, calyx containing two flowers, one of

IV.

which consists of stamina only.
Grasses which have 2 styles, 3 stamina, calyx 2, or S-flowered, the fl

rent sexes.

owers of difFe-

\ ■

V. Consists of grasses which have 2 styles, 3 stamina, calyx 1, or 2-flowered, all th

flowers bisexual.

e

VL
VII.

Grasses furnished with 2 styles, 3 stamina, calyx many-flowered, flowers glomerated
Grasses with 2 styles 3 stamina, calyx many-flowered, flowers in a spike, or situated
on the axds of the stalk,, terminating floret male, or barren.
VIII. Contains the grasses which have 2 styles, 3 stamina, and calyx many-flowered. '
IX. Grasses with 2 styles, and 6, or more stamina.
X. Grasses which have their style unique, summit simple, and 3 stamina.

^Z^:ti^ T- ""-'T^^^' ■- -"- -e obvious; yet, like all

possess characters tt I 't 1 T^ '''' '"^'T' '' ''''' ''' ''''''' ''-'^ -'-'
fl f ^"^ *° "" P^^^« 1" ™ore than one section. For practical purnose^

*

Exposition des Families Naturelles et rlp U r ■ .• -. r.^ - ..

ureues, et de la Germination dcs Planter, par Jaume gt. Hilaire. Paris, 1805

1-H.

i

n

xlviii

INTRODUCTION.

Sect. I. Grasses with 2 Stamina, 2 Sti/ks, Calyx containing 1 Bower.

ANTHOXANTHUM. Vernal-grass. Generic character: calyx, husk of 2 valves, contaming 1 flower. Blossom or

corolla, husk 2 valves, tapering to a point. Seed-vessel, the husks of the corolla adhere
to the seed. Seed nearly cylindrical, tapering at each end.
odoratum, per. sweet-scented vernal-grass, indig. Flowers in April and May. E. Bot. 647.

amarum, per. bitter; nat. Morocco, introduced

Flowers in May.

NARDUS.

Sect, II. Grasses with 2 Stamina, 1 Style, and the Calyx X-Jlowered.

Mat-grass. "Generic character : corolla 2-valved, calyx wanting. Seed, linear, oblong.

^ ■ - '

ztTicta, per. upright mat-grass, indig. Flowers in June and July. E. Bot. 290.

ERIOPHORVM.

Jiliformis, ann. slender mat-grass ; nat. Portugal. Flowers in June,

aristata, ann. See Rotthoellia monandra.

Cotton-grass. Generic character : calyx, 1 valve, i-flowered ; flowers in an imbricated spike,

exterior flower generally barren. Corolla, wanting, if the calyx valve be not considered

such. Seed three-cornered, furnished with downy hairs.

alpimim.

per. alpine cotton-grass, indig. Flowers in April and May. E. Bot. 311.

'Vaginatuyn, per. sheathed cotton-grass, indig. Flowers in April and June. E. Bot. 873.

capifatum

per. headed cotton-grass, indig. Flowers in June and July. E. Bot. 2387.

triqiietrum, per. three-cornered cotton-grass ; nat. German3^ Flowers in May. Flo. Ger. i.

152.

angttstifoUum, per. narrow-leaved cotton-grass, indig, April and May. E. Polystachlon,

. Curt. E. Bot. 564,
latifolium^ per. broad-leaved, indig. May* E. Bot, 563. E, Polystachion.
gracile, per. slender, indig. May. E. Bot. ^042.

■

Sect. III. Grasses with 3 Stamina, 2 Styles, 1 Flower in each Calyx; Flowers bisexual, corolla

of 1 Valve only. . '

Single-husked bent. Generic character: calyx 2-valved, corolla 1 valve, smaller than the
calyx, awned or awnless, furnished with a tuft of hairs on one side of its base. Seed

TRICHODIUWL

A LOPECURUS.

covered by the husk.

n ■ 'L

caninum, per. brown, indig. July.

Agrostis canina. Flo. Britan. I. p. 78.

muticuniy

per. snowy, indig. June. Agrostis nivea, Don.—Ynt. T.cammtm, Flo. Ger.
per. awnless, indig. July. Flo. Ger. Var. T. caninim, f. '' florihus mutidsr
alpimim, per. alpine; nat. Germ. July. Flo. Ger. i. 200.

rupestre, per. rock, indig. June. Agrostis striata, Don. T. rupestre, Flo. Ger.
Fox-tail grass. Generic character : calyx, 2-valved, 1-flowered, valves united at the base.
Blossom 1 valve, with an awn proceeding from the base.

pratensis, per. meadow fox-tail, indig. ]\Tay. Eng. Bot. 759.
genimlatus, per. jointed, indig. June. E. Bot. 1230.
var. bidbosus, per. bulbous-jointed. June. AVither. Arr.

hulhosus^
fulvus,
alpimts,

agrestis,

per. upright bulbous-rooted, indig. June. E. Bot. 1249.

.tawny-coloured, indig. E. Bot. 1467. ■ ■

per. alpine, indig. April and May. E. Bot. 1126.
ann. slender, indig. June and July. E. Bot. 848. A. myosuroides, Curtis.

utricrdatus, ann. inflated ; nat. Germ. Flowers in May and June. Flo. Ger. i. 174.
paniceus, ann. hairy, indig. Wither. Arr. ii. 121. FJowers in July. Bloss. 2 valves.

KNAFPIA,

lNTR0i5UCTI0N/

Knapp^. grass. Geneneric character: calyx l-flowered, S-valved, truncated

hairs, united at the base, parallel, enclosing the fructification.
agrostkka, ann. bent like Knapp's grass, indi^.

xlJx

Corolla like

M

ay. E. Bot 1127.

SYNTHERISMA.

DIGIT ARIA

CRYFSIS,

* I

PHALARIS.

PHLEUM.

i-n.

'a 2 Valves.

synthcrisma. Genevic character : calyx 1-flowered, 3-valved, pressed close to the corolla „
equal, third valve smallest. Corolla, exterior valve convex ; intenor fiattish, e.bracinl th
other. Seed covered by the husks of the corolla as with a crust.

ann. hairy syntherisma ; nat. Ger Tnli^ P^^- n-

, , i'lL. wer. July, ramcum cihare, Wm, I S40

ann. common, indio;. Aup-nsf P/yiD'^i,,-, ■ i ^ -^

^. ^u^usc. ranicum sangumak, E. Bot. 849.

ciliare, ,

vulgar e,

glahrum, ann. smooth ; nat Germ.

PJerb.

August.

Flo. Ger. i. 163. Fan. smigumale. Leers.

Finger-grass.

^J

Generic character: calyx 2-valved, unequal, spreading. Corolla, 2 valves lar.er
t an the ca^yx compressed, valves nearly of the sai.e length, interior verv narr'o.
eluded m the larger or exterior husk. Seed covered as with a crust.

sfolonifera, per. creeping, indig. August. Fanicum dactyhm, E. Bot 850
cryps^s. Generic character : calyx 2-valved, 1-flouered, compressed, unequal.

Corolla

2-valved ; u.ter,or longer than the calyx ; exterior valve shorter than the calyx Seed
covered by the corolla, somewhat columnar.

«Zopec.™.Vte, ann. foxtail-likecrypsis; nat. Germ. August. Flo. Ger. i. I67 ; Host. i. 23.
■ * H. alopecurioides.

sckocnoides, ann. rush-Hke; nat. Germ. July. Flo. Ger. i. ,68. HelcocMoa sckoenoides

Host. t. 30.

acideata,

Can

ann. prickly crypsis ; nat. Germ. Host, t 31.

ary-grass

Generic character: calyx 2-valved, and double, 1-flowered; valves nearly
equal, larger than the corolla. Corolla 2 valves,. enclosed in the calyx. Seed ovate-oblon.
covered by the corolla like a crust. . . ^'

canariams, ann. canary-grass, indig. August. E. Bot. 1310. ;

aquatica, ann. water canary-grass ; nat. Germ. May and June. Host t 39

arundinacea, per. sea-n,at weed, indig. E. Bot. 402. June and July. Var. colorata. Arundo

coloratu. Hort. Kew. i. 147.
parado,a, ann. black bristle-spiked ; nat. Germ. May, June. Host. t. 40.

ann. sea canary-grass, indig. June, July. Eng. Bot. 222; Flo. Gev. Phleim

arenaria.

hulhosa,
nodosa,
dent at a.

arenanimy i. p. I89.

per. bulbous-rooted ; nat. Barbary. August. Linn. Spec. 79.
per. knobbed-rooted ; nat. south of Europe. Willd. 327.
tooth-keeled ; nat. Cape of Good Hope. Linn. Suppl

pankulata, per. panicled canary-grass, indig. July. E. Bot. 1077. Flo. Ger. Fhkum

asperum.
utricnlata, ann. Linn.. See Alopecurus ufriculatus.

at s-tail grass. Generic character : calyx 2-vaIved, sitting, strap-shaped, lopped, ending in
^-o agger pomts, enclosing the blossom. Corolla 2-vaIved, awnless, simple. Seed loosely
covered with the husks of the corolla.

pratense,
var. minus,

nodosum,
alpinum.

per. meadow cat's-tail grass, inJig. June, July. Eng. Bot. IO76.
per. lesser meadow cat's-tail, indig. July, August. See our specimen
per. jointed, or bulbous-stalked, indig. August. Elo. Dan. 380.
per. alpine catVtail grass, indig. June. E. Bot. 519-

w \

paniculatum, per. See Phalaris paniculata

cispei'mn

per. Flo. Ger. See Phalaris pankulafa.

armarium, ann Spp P/,.,; •

' "• "^ee 1 lialans araiana.

1

INTRODUCTION.

PHLEUM.

MILIUM.

1

AGROSTIS.

X.

ARUNDO

boehmeri, per. canary-like cat's-tail grass, indig. June, July. E. Bot. 439. ' Phalari,

phleoides.

Michelii,
Gerardi^
tejuie,
crinitum.

per. smooth, indig. June. E. Bot. 2265. Host. Thalaris alpina.
per. Gerard's cat's-tail grass; nat. Ger. June. Flo. Ger. i. 190.
ann. slender ; nat. Ger. May. Host. t. 35, Fhalaris tenuis.
ann. bearded, indig. July. Dr. Smith, Flo. Britan. i. p. 171.

Millet-grass. Generic character : calyx 2-valved, l-flowered, valves nearly equal, ventricose.

Corolla 2-valved, enclosed in the calyx, larger valve awned. Seed covered with the

per. black-seeded millet ; nat. Germ. July. Flo. Ger. i. p. 196.

per. common wood millet, indig. E. Bot. IIO6. Flowers in May and June.

corolla,
paradoxuniy

effusum,

lendigerum, ann. yellow millet, indig. May and June. E. Bot. 1107.
Capense, per. Cape millet ; nat. Cape of Good Hope. Linn. Syst. 109.
-punctatum, per. dotted millet; nat. Jamaica. Willd. Spec. Plant, i. p. 359.
confertum, per. clustered ; nat. Germ. June. Ibid. i. 360.
glohosum, per. globular; nat. Japan. June. Ibid. 1.360.
Bent-grass. Generic character: calyx 1-flowered, 2-valved, spear-sliaped, acute, generally

rough on the keel, longer than the blossom. Corolla 2-valved ; summits of the styles

hairy. Seed loosely covered by the corolla husks.
spica-venti, ann. silky bent-grass, indig. June and August. E. Bot. 951.
palustris, per. marsh bent-grass, indig. July, August. Wither. Arr. ii. p. 126.

canma,

per. brown bent, indig. July. Wither. Arr. ii. p. 126. Yur, A, vulgaris. Dr.

Smith, 1. c.
per. Dr. Smith, Flo. Britan. i. p. 78. See Trichodmm caninum,
vinealisy . per.' slender trailing bent, indig., July, September.. ''■ AVither. Arr. ii. p. 127.

camna.

Flo. Ger. Var. Alba, i. 209.

pallida,

1

per. pale bent, indig. May and June. Wither. Arr. i. p. 127; Flo. Ger. i. p. 19S

Var. Trichod. caninum.

alpina, . per. alpine bent. Wither. Arr. ; indig. See TricJiodium alpinum,

J

littoraUs, per. sea-side bent. Wither. Arr. i. p. 128; indig. June.

interrupta, per. interrupted spiked bent ; nat. Germ. July. Flo. Ger. i. 204.

paucifiora, per, small flowered ; nat. Germ. July. Flo. Ger. i. p. 205.

miliacea, per. millet bent ; nat. Spain. July, August, Willd. Spec. Plant, i. 365.

setacea, per. bristly bent, indig. July. E. Bot. 1183.

repens
alba,

per. creeping rooted, indig. August. Wither. Arr. ii. p. 130, A. nigra.
per. white bent, indig. August, September. E. Bot. 1189.

stolonifera, per. stoloniferous bent, indig. July, September. E. Bot. 1532.
var, angustifolia^ per. smaller-leaved stoloniferous bent. See our specimen,
var. latifolia vel Richardsonia, florin. See our specimen.

fascicularis, per. tufted-leaved bent, indig. June, July. Curtis.

vulgaris, per. common bent, indig. June, July. E. Bot. I67I.

lobaia,

Mexicana,

per. lobed panicled, bent, indig. July. Curtis. See our specimen. '
per. Mexican bent-grass; nat. Mexico. Sept. Hort. Kew. i. p. 150.

var. ramosissima, branching Mexican bent. See our specimen.
Reed-grass. Generic character: calyx 1-flowered, seldom many-flowered, 2-valved, flowers

Corolla 2-valved, acuminate, surrounded at the base with downy hairs. Seed

erect.

loosely enclosed by the corolla husks.
epigejos, per. wood reed-grass, indig. July. E. Bot. 402.
litorea, per. sea-side ; nat. Germ. July. Flo. Ger. i. 212.

pseudophragmites, i^er. hhevGQd; nat. Germ. July. Flo. Ger. i. 213.

ARUNBO.

introduction;

calamagrostis, per. bent-iike reed, indig. July. E. Bot. 403
strkta, . per, upright reed, indig. June to August. E. Bot. ^160,
arundinacea. See Fhalaris ariindinacca.
var. colorata. ^qq Fhalaris arundinacea.

11

varia.

r.

acittif.ora^

si/Ivatica,

speciosa,

tenella,

arenaria^

Baltica,

per. various-panicled reed; nat. Germ. June to August. Flo. Ger. I ^]6.

per. acute-flo";ered ; nat. Germ. June. Flo. Ger, i. p. 217.

per. Calmuc reed ; nat. Germ. June, July. Flo. Ger. i. p. 218.

per. elegant reed ; nat. Germ. July, August. Flo. Ger. i. p. 219.

^per. small reed; nat. Germ. July. Flo. Ger. i. p. 220.

per. sand reed, indig. July and August. E. Bot. 520.

per. Baltic sea-reed ; nat. Germ. July. Flo. Ger. i. p. 223.

r

ne followmg Species contain more than 1 Flower in each Calyx, ami are an exception to this

SAC II A RUM.

LAG URLS.

STIPA.

LAPPAGO.

nOTTBOELLIA,

LEERSIA.

Airangcmeni,

phragmitcs, per. common, indig. August. Eng. Bot, 401.

per. cultivated; nat. South of Europe. Moris. Hist. sect, g, t. 8.
per. showy; nat. New Zealand. G. Forster, Ter. Australis, n. 48.

donax,
conspicua.

Sugar-grass. Generic character: calyx 2-valved, 1-flowered, furnished or clothed with long
silky hairs. Corolla 2 valves. Seed invested by the husks of the corolla.
cylimlrkum, per. cyHndric sugar-grass; nat. Germ. Summer. Flo. Ger. i. p. 226. Moris.

KavenncB,

sect. 8, t, 4, f. 4.
per. Italian; nat. Italy. July and August. Linn. Syst. 103.

Hare's-tail grass. Generic character : calyx 2 valves, 1-flowered, each valve ending in a villose

Corolla 2 valves, the exterior valve having three awns; the middle awn, from the back

awn.

■

of the valve, bent and twisted. Seed covered, awned.

ovatus.

ann. oval-spiked hareVtail grass, indig. July. E. Bot. 1334.

Feather-grass. Generic character: calyx 2-valved, 1-flowered. Corolla 2 valves, the exterior
valve furnished with a long awn, which is jointed at the base. Seed oblong, covered.

pennata,
. capillata,
juncea,

aristella,

iemcissima, per. tough ; nat. Spain. August. WUld. ii. p. 442.
lappa go.

per. soft feather-grass, indig. June. E. Bot. 1356.
per. capillary; nat. Germ, June. Flo. Ger. i. p. 231.
per. rush-leaved ; nat. France. July. Hort, Kew. i. p. 170.
per. short-awned; nat. France. July. Willd. ii. p. 441.

Generic character: calyx 3-valved. Corolla 2-valved, valves inverse, or resupme.
Seed covered loosely by the corolla.

raccfnosa,

branching lappago; nat. South of Europe. August. Hort. Kew. i. 182.

Hard grass. Generic character : spike-stalk, or rachls, jointed, roundish. Calyx 1 or 2~valved,
lateral, containing 1 or 2 flowers ; flowers alternate, on a zig-zag footstalk. Seed covered
by the blossom. ' ' '

ann. sea hard-grass, indig. Flowers in June. E. Bot. 76O.

ann. single hard-grass ; nat. Germ. May and June. Flo. Ger. i. 411. Nardus-
aristata, (Willd,)

F

grass. Generic character: calyx wanting. Corolla 2-valved, 1-flowered, shut. Seed

incurvata,
monandra.

Leer':

oval, compressed.

ory zoides,

per. rzce-hke; nat. Germ. Flowers in August and September. Host. t. 35.
( Mel'tca ciliata et uniflora excipiuntur ) .

O

,P.='

lii

I^TEODUGTION.

S

ECT

. V.

r

Grasses with 3 Stamina, 2 Stales, 1 Flower in every Calyx— Bowers of different S.

ANDROPOGON.

HORDEUM.

■*

exes.

r

andropogon. Generic character: calyx 2-valved, l-flowered; outer valve embracing the
inner, cartilaginous. Corolla 2-valved, awned ; male flowers on foot-stalks, single, or in pai^^,
to each female flower. Seed oblong, covered With the blossom.

distachjum, . per. two-rowed andropogon ; nat. Germ. Flowers In June and July. Flo. Ger.

i. 23^.
ischixmum, per. woolly-spiked ; nat. Germ. Flowers In August. Host. t. 3.

per. purple-spiked; nat. Germ. July to August. Host. t. 1.

arundinaceum, per. reed-like; nat. Germ, f June and July. Host. i. t. 1. Holcus hakpensis,
Schcenanthiis, per. sweet-lemon grass ; nat. East Indies. Linn. Spec. 1481. Not yet flg^.,

ered in this country.
Barley-grass. Generic character : calyx lateral, S-valved, (the valves, collectively, constitute what
is called a six-leaved involucre). Corolla 2-valved; exterior valve furnished with a lon^ awn
Flowers In threes, the middle flower fertile or bisexual, and the lateral ones barren, or fo.

nished with stamens only. Seed covered closely with the corolla, which remains pei

•ni3/]ei)t.

'vulgare.

ann. spring barley; supposed to be a native of Sicily. August. Flo. Ilust.20

hexastichon, ann. bear, or big. Flo. Rust. 107- August.

i

disticho?i,

munnum.

ann. common or winter barley. August.

ann. wall-barley, or way-bennet, indig. E. Bot. 1971.

maritimum, ann. sea barley-grass, indig. May. E. Bot. 1205.

J-

jubatum, ann. long-tearded ; nat. North America. August. Hort. Kew. i. p. 180

zeocriton, ann. sprat, or battledore barley. August, -Host. t. 37.

bulbosum,
pratense,

per. bulbous-rooted barley. Flo. Gr^eca, t. 98 ; nat. Italy. June and Julv.
per. meadow barley, indig. June. E. Bot. 409.

Sect. VI.

AIR A,

MELICA

Grasses witji 3 Stamina, <2 Styles; 2 Flowers in each Calyx—Flowers bisexual.

Hair-grass. Generic character: calyx 2-valved, 2-flowered, without any rudiment of a third

floret. Corolla 2-valved; outer valve awned; the awn rising from the back, a little above
the base ; seldom awnless. Seed loosely covered.

aquatica,

cristata, .

per. water hair-grass, indig. June, July. E. Bot. 1557.

per. crested hair-grass, indig.

June. E. Bot. 648.

arundinacea, per. reed-like hair-grass ; nat. Levant. Linn. 95.

per. turfy hair-grass, hassock-grass, indig. Jufy. E. Bot. 1453.
per. zig-zag mountain hair-grass, indig. June. E. Bot. 15J9.

ccEspitosa^
flexuosa,

caryophylka, ann. silver, indig. May. E. Bot. slg.

r^cox, ann. early, indig. April. E. Bot. 1296.

canescens,

p

subspicata,
antartica.

per. grey, indig. June. E. Bot. 1190.

per. spiked halr-grass; nat. Germ. June. Host. t. 45.

invohicrata,

per. South-Sea hair-grass ; „at. New Zealand. G. Forster, Flo. Aus. 41.
P"'"- '"™^""'^'^ ' "=^*- Spain. Cavenill. Hisp. t 44 f 1

Mehc-grass. Generic character : calyx 2-valved 2 fln,v ^ • ,. ,' ' '

tW or. 1 .- J , , ''''^''' ^-*l°^^ered, with the rudment of 1, or 2 florets

that are abortive, and placed between the otTiP.= r „

grooved ^"'""^ 2-valved, awnless. Seed ovate

'?

■

ciliata,
nutans^
unijiora,
ccerulea,

per. ciliated ; nat. Germ. May and June.

per. nodding, indig. M

r

Host. t. 12.

ay- E. Bot. 1059.

per. one-flowered, indig. May and June. E. Bot 1058
per. purple, .dig. July and August. E. Bot. 750.

MELICA .

minuta^

IT^TRODUCTION.

per. small; iiat. Italy. June. Willd. Syst. 383, llc).

liii

SEC ALE,

].

altissima, pc^r. tali'; ^nat. Siberia. A^ig. ^f^st. t.

(Cynostims cck'mdt'Us^ Seskria, et Avaiicu) .
Rie, or rye-grass. Calyx 2-valvcd, 2-flowered, solitary. Corolla ^-valved, 2-flowered • exterior
valve aca...ate keel ciliated ending i„ a long awn ; interior valve flat, lanceolat'e. Seed
naked, halt cylindrical, pointed at one end.
cereale.

ann

. Rie. Moris. Hist. v. 3 58 t 9 f i c ^

_ V. ^, ^o, t. i, f. 1. Supposed a native of Crete

Siberia.

or

vzUosum,

oricntale,

Creticum,

ann. hairy; nat. South of Europe and Levant. Host. ii. t.
ann. oriental; nat. of the Archipelago. "VVilld. i. p. 171

48.

^\>

ann. Cretan; nat. ofCandia, or Crete. Willd

i. p. 472.

r

Sect. VIL Grasses M 3 Btamina, 2 Styles, 2 Flowers in eaeh tulyx. -Fleers of different

HOLCUS.

PANICUM.

Sexes,

Soft grass. Generic character : calyx 2-valved, 2-flowered, seldon. 3 ; awnless. Corolla ^-valved •
.=-"^.".- -alve awned; interior valve awnless, least; unisexual, or barren flowers, on foot-

exterior \

stalks ; they also want the inner husks. Seed ovate, awned
a.enaceus, per. tall oat-like soft grass, indig. June till October. E. Bot. 813.

var. bulbosns,
var. muficus,
mollis,
lariat us,
striatu^f
spicatiis.
Sorghum,
odor at us.

Elora, Avena elatior.

Curtis.

rar. repens,

redolens,
latifolius.

per. bulbous-rooted, indig. June till October. Moris. Hist, sect 8 t 7 f. 38

per. awnless tall oat-llke soft grass. Curt. Cat. Foa elatior..

per. downy, or creeping-rooted, indig. July. E. Bot. II70.

per. woolly, indig. June. E. Bot. II69.

per. striated; nat. Virginia. Lin. Spec. 1486.

ann. spiked; nat. East Indies. Linn. Spec. 1483.

ann. cultivated, or Indian Millet. Linn. Spec. J 484.

per. sweet-scented; nat. Germ. April, May. Host. t. 4. Hole, australis,
Bo. Ger. i. 253.

per. creeping-rooted; nat. Germ. Hole, horenlh, Flo. Ger. i. 252.
per. smelling; nat. New Zealand. Vahl. Sy. ii. 102.
ann. broad-leai^d ; nat. China. Linn. Spec. 1486.

*

Panic-grass. Generic character : flowers polygamious. Calyx 2-vaIved, 2-flowered ; one fertile
or b.sexual, and the other barren, or neuter. Corolla 2-vahed, awnless, or awned at thl
apex ; neuter floret of 1 or 2 valvss. Seed covered like a crust.
vertkillatum, ann. whorle-flowered, indig. July. E. Bot. 874.

wide,

glaucum,

hirtdlum.

ann. green, indig. July and August, E. Bot. 875.
ann. glaucous; nat. Germ. Host. t. 16. June, July,
ann. hairy. July and August. Flo. Ger. i. p. 242.

miUaceum, ann. millet; nat. Germ. Host. t. 20.

cms gain,
ctus corvi,

ann. cockVfoot panic; nat. Germ. July and August. Flo. Ger. i. p, 244
ann. crowVfoot panic; nat. East Indies. August; hardy. Willd. i. p. 337.

aiyrescem^ pe,. tree panic-grass. March and April ; tender.^ Hort. Kew. i.

per. broad-leaved; nat. North America. August, September,

*

latifoUum,

p. 144.
Hort. Kew^

i. p. 144.

'^''^'^^<'^'^ ann. See Syntherisma mlgare.
glahrum, ann. See Stjntherisma glabrum

daetyhn, per. See Bigitaria stolonifera.

li

IV

INTRODUCTION.

L J

Sect. VIII. Grasses with 5 Stamina, 2 St^ks, several Flowers in each Calyx-Flowers all

m 7 #

LOLIUM.

JEGILOFS.

nOTTBOELLIA.

SESLERIA

POA.

bisexual, or the terminating Floret unisexual or barren.

Rye-grass, or darnel. Generic character : calyx 1-valve, lateral, fixed, pressing a spiket of flowers
close to the rachis, or spike-stalk. Corolla 2 valves, spear-shaped, exterior valve near tbe
apex sometimes awned. Seed covered with the corolla husks, convex on one side, and fo,

rowed on the other.
perenne migare, per. rye-grass. Perennial rye-grass, indig. June till August. E. Bot. 315.

per. slender rye-grass; the spike is erect, very slender ; calyx containing 2 or 3

var. tenue,

florets.

var. compositum,
var. ramosum.

per. double-spiked rye-grass ; spike generally bent, spikets broad, crowded,
per. branched rye-grass ; spike with branches towards the top ; calyx 8

or

4 •

var. mviparum,

9-flowered. ./
per. viviparous rye-grass.

temukntim, ann. bearded annual rye-grass, indig. July. E. Bot. 1124.

arvense,
var. majiis.

ann. field annual rye-grass, indig. June and July. E. Bot. 1125.
ann. larger field rye-grass. See our specimen.

GoatVface grass. . Generic character: calyx opposite, 2-valved, 3, 4-flowered, ventricose, hid,
truncated, furnished with various awns. Corolla 2-valved, exterior valve ovate, terminated by
a double or triple awn. .Seed oblong, convex on one side, and grooved on the other.

ovata.

ann

. oval-spiked goat's-face grass ; nat. Germ. May. Host. t. 5.

triuncialis, ann. long-spiked; nat. Germ. June. Host. t. 6.
caudata^ . ann. slender-spiked ; nat. Hungary. Linn. Spec. 1489.
squarrosa, ann. rough-spiked; nat. Levant. July. Linn. Spec. 1489.
Hard-grass. Generic character : calyx lateral, 1 or 2-valved, 1 or 2-flowered. Corolla 2-valved.
Seed oblong, covered by the sinuses of the joints of spike-stalk, which are closed by the
calyx, glumes, or husks. ; ,

h *

incurvata, ann. sea hard-grass, indig. June. E. Bot. 760.
filiformis, per. slender; nat South of Europe. July. Willd. 464.'

cylin drica.

per. four-rowed; nat. South of Europe. August

Willd. 464.

mona7idra, ann. single hard-grass; nat. Germ. June. Willd. 315. Nardus arisfata.
Thomcea, ann. St. Thomas's ; nat Tranquebar. Trans. Linn. Soc. Nardus Thomm.

Mrsuta, per. hairy; nat. Egypt August. Willd. 465.

Moor-grass. Generic character: calyx 2-valved, 2 or 3-flowered, awned. Corolla 2-valved,
.awned, awns various. . Seed covered by the blossom.
elongata, .

tenuifolia, .
ccEurlea, . , ■

per. long-spiked moor-graas ; nat. Germ. June. Host. t. 97.
per. small-leaved; nat. Germ. June. Flo. Ger. i. p. 272.
per. blue, indig. April and May. E. Bot. I6l3. Willd. et alii autor. Gjno-
sums cceruleus.

+

per. slender ; nat. Germ. June. Plost. t. 100.

ann. rough ; nat. Germ. June. Moris. Hist. s. 8, t. 5, fig. 1.

tenella,

echinata,

r

Meadow grass. Generic character : cal.x 2-valved, .any-flowerel' Corolla, 2-valved.
oval, though rather acute.. Awr.less. Seed covered by the corolla.

Valves

aquatica

maritima,

distanSf

rigiday

dura,

pilosa.

per. water meadow-grass, indig. July. E. Bot. 1315.
per. sea meadow-grass. E. Bot. 1140. Indig. July.

ann. reflexed, indig. Summ

er. E. Bot. 986. Ciirtis. Poa retroflem

ann. hard meadow-grass. May ; indig. E. Bot. IS71'.
ann. harsh meadow-grass ; nat. Germ. June.

. ann. hairy; nat. Germ. June. Host. t. 68.

Eragrosf^s, ann. spreading ; nat. Italy. July. Host. t. 69

Host t 73.

FOA.

BRIZA,

DACTYLIS.

ELYMUS,

mpma.

INTRODUCTION.

per. weak -stemmed meadow-grass ; nat. G
Alpina.

ii

\ ■*

erm. June. Willd. 536. Var. P.

laxa^

Jiexuosa,
alpina,
bulbosa,

sudetica,
trivialis,

carulea,

per. loose panicled, indig. Willd. i. p. 386. E.- Bot. im. Foajle.^uosa.

per. zig-zag meadow-grass, indlg. E. Bot. 1123. Willd. i. 386. PoalcLva,

per. alpine meadow-grass, indig. May. E. Bot. 1003.

per. bulbous meadow-grass, indig. April. E. Bot. 1071.

per. broad-leaved; nat. Germ. July. Flo. Ger. i. p. '^QB.

per. rough-stalked meadow-grass, indig. June till September. E. Bot. 1072

per. short blue, indig. May and June. E. Bot. 1004. P, Subc<,ruka, F. B.

App. P. Hiimilis.

pratensis.

per. smooth-stallied meadow-grass, indio-.

May and June. E. Bot. 1073.

aiigustifoUa, per. narrow-leaved, indig. May and June. Wither. A

pratensis.

rrang. Var. Foa

fertiUs,

per. fertile meadow-grass; nat. Germ. June and July. Host. iii. t. 14.

Ger. Foa serotina.

Flo.

per. Flo. Ger. i. p. 2p9. See FoafertiUs.

per. wood meadow-grass, indig. June and August. E. Bot. 1265.

serotina^
nemoralis,

nemoralis angusiifolia, var. narrow-leaved wood meadow-grass. Pludson. Flo. Ang.

compressa, per. flat-stalked, indig. June till August. E. Bot. S6B,

compressa stricfa, per. var. upright flat-stalked meadow-grass. -

annua, ann. annual meadow-grass, Suffolk grass, indig. February till January.

E. Bot. 1141.

deacmbens, pen decumbent, indig. July. E. Bot. 792. Willd. &e. Festuca decumbens,
disticha,

OEsia,
glaucUi
cr is tat a,
new at a.

per. tuo rowed; nat. Germ. Host. t. 76. July, August,

per. sea-green meadow-grass, indig. July. E. Bot. 1719.

per. glaucous meadow-grass, indig. June, July. ,E. Bot. 1720.

per. See Aira cristata.

per. nerved meadow-grass ; nat. North America. July. Wllld. 389.

trinevata, per. Willd. See Festuca calamaria.
Abyssinica, per. upright meadow-grass; nat. Abyssinia. August. Hort. Kew. i. p. 156.
Quaking-grass. Generic character : calyx 2-valved, many-flowered ; flowers collected into heart-
shaped spikets. Corolla 2-valved, exterior valve the shape and size of the calyx husks, infe-
rior valve smaller, flat, roundish. Seed compressed.

media,
minor,
maxima,
virens.

per.* common quaking-grass, indig. May and June: E. Bot. 340.
ann. small quaking-grass; nat. Brit. June. E. Bot. 1316.
ann. great quaking-grass; nat. Italy. August. Willd. Host. ii. t. 30.
ann. green ; nat. Spain. August. Linn. Spec. 103.

lfo«5/;e55///«?m,Montpelier; nat. France. July. Allien. Pedem. n. 2220.
Cock's-foot grass. Generic character : calyx 2-valved, compressed, keeled, acute, one valve

shorter than the floret, the other longerV Corolla 2-valved, spear-shaped, awnless. Seed

naked, depressed on one side, and convex on the other.
ghmcrata, per. round-headed cock's-foot, indig. June, and till August. E. Bot. SSo.

maritima.

per. sea; nat. Germ. July. Flo. Ger. i. p. 313.

strict a,
patens.

cynosuroides, per. American cock^s-foot; nat. N. America. Hort. Kew. i. l60. October.

per. upright, indig; August. E. Bot. 380.

per. spreading cock's-foot; nat. N. America. July and August, Hort.
Kew. i. p. 160.
yme-grass. Generic character: calyx lateral, 2-valved, in two's or three's, many-flowered.

a >i-vaivea, spear-shaped, exterior acuminate or awned, interior valve smaller, flat,
awnless. Seed, covered, convex on one side, and strap-shaped.

arenanus.

per. sea lyme-grass, indig. July. E. Bot. l672.

p

y-^

Ivi

ELYMUS

FESTUCA .

BROMUS.

europau

INTRODUCTION,

, . per. barley-like lyme-grass, indig. June and July. E. Bot 1317.
geniculatus, per. jointed lyme-grass, indlg. July and August. E. Bot. 1586.
giganteus, per. tall lyme-grass ; nat. N. America. August. Hort. Kew. 1. p. 176.
Sibericus, per. Siberian ; nat. Siberia. July. Hort. Kew. i. p. 176.

PhUadelphicus, per. Philadelphian lyme-grass ; nat N. America. July. Hort. Kew. i. p. j^g^
Canadensis, pen Canadian lyme-grass; nat. N. America. July and August. Hort.

Kew. i. p. 177.

Virginicus,

striatus,

per. Virginian lyme-grass ; nat. Virginia. June and July. Hort. Kew. i. p. ^^^
per. striated lyme-grass ; nat. N. America. June and July. Uort Kew. i.

p. 177. ^ ...
caput-medusce, ann. Portuguese lyme-grass; nat. Portugal. July. Hort. Kew. i. p. 177

per. rough lyme-grass; nat. Levant. July and August. Hort. Kew. i. p. 1^^^
v.,.w, per. tender lyme-grass ; nat. Siberia. July and August. Linn. Spec. 125.

Fescue-grass. Generic character : calyx ^-valved, many-flowered, containing the florets in a
slender spike ; valves acuminate, the interior the least. Corolla 2-valved, exterior valve
larger than the calyx, acuminate, or awned. Seed acute at both ends, slender and oLloiiff

0'

hystrix,
tenevy

ovma,

per. sheep's fescue, indig. May and June. E. Bot. 585.

temiifoUa, per. slender-leaved, indig. May and June. Leers. Herborn, t. 8, f. 4.

vivipara, per. viviparous fescue, indig. June. E. Bot. 1355.

rubra, per. creeping rooted, indig. Jane and July. E. Bot. 2056,

duriuscula, per. hard fescue, indig. June and July. E. Bot. 470.

Cambrka, per. Welsh fescue, indig. Wither. Arr. June.

glabra, per. smooth fescue, indig. ' Wither. Arr. and Light. June.

dumetorum, per, pubescent, indig. Wither. Arr. June and July.

bromoides, ann. brome-like fescue, indig. June and July. R Bot. 1411.

mijurus, ann. capons-tail or wall fescue, indig. July. E. Bot. 1412.

uniglumis, ann. single husked, indig. June and July. E. Bot, 1430.

calaimria, per. reed-like fescue, indig. June and July. E. Bot. 1005. Flo. Ger. Its-

iuca syhatica,

pratemis, per. meadow-fescue, indig. July. E. Bot. 1592,

elatior,

loliacea^

calycina,

unioloides,
gigantea.

spadicea,

syhatica,
flavescens,
pinnata,
gracilis,

distachyos,

Brome-grass.

per. tall fescue, indig. July. E. Bot. 1593.
per. darnel-like fescue, indig. June and July. E. Bot. 1821.
ann. bearded-leaved; nat. Spain. August. Hort. Kew. i. p. I66.
ann. uniola-like fescue ; nat. N. America. June and July. Hort. Kew. i. p. 166.
per. gigantic fescue-grass, indig. July and- August. E. Bot. 1820. Curt.
Lond. Bros, giganteus,

per. Gerard's fescue; nat. Germ. June till August. Host. iii. t. 20. Vo^

Gerardi, Allion. Ted,
per. See Festuca calamaria,
per. yellow fescue ; nat. Hungary. May,
per. See Bromus pinnatus.
per. See Broinus sylvaticus.
ann. See Bromus distachyos.

Genenc chavacter : calyx 2-valved, many-flowered, val
2-va ved, ,, ,es spear-shaped ; exterior valve concave, obtu. bi
awn below the top or apex. Seed oblong, covered.

ves ovate-oblono;. Corolla

fid, putting out a straigbt

mollis,

midtijiorus,

secalinus,

arvensis^

lanceolaius.

E. Bot. 1078.

ann. soft annual bronre-grass, indig. May and Jnne

ann. many-flowered brome-grass mrV t

ann. smooth rye hron^^r'^''. '"' '"'^^ ^- '''''• ''''■'

- - ---grass ., „.. .J, ,^ 4;- ^^^^_ ^^^_ ^^ ^

. 167.

BROMUS.

AVENjL

CYNOSURUS.

INTRODUCTION.

Ivii

squarrosus,

^urgans,

inermis,

steriiis.

ann. corn brome-grass, indig. July. E. Bot. 1885

aim. purging brome-grass ; nat. Canada. July. Hort. i. p. 167.

per. smooth awnless brome-grass; nat. Germ. July. Host, i t 9

ann. hairy wood brome-grass, indig. July and August. Curt Lond. B.o. /.V-

SUtllS.

ann. barren brome-grass, indig. June and July. E. Bot. 1030.

erectus, per. upright brome-grass, Indig. June. E. Bot. 471.

tectorum, ann. nodding brome-grass; nat. Germ. June. Host. i. t. 15.

ruhens, ann. Spani'^h broi>uKgrass; nat. Spain. June. Host. i. t. 18.

racemosiis, ann.. bran.Jiing brome-grass, indi^. J

diandrus.

une. E. Bot. IO79.

ann. upri^g:lu annual brome-grass, indig. July. E.' Bot. 100(3.

dritciiais.

Host. B, ma-

sylvatkus.

per. wood brome-grass, indig. August. E: Bot. 729. Willd. & Mart. P«-

tuca si/lvatica.

pinna tits,

per. spiked brome-grass, indig. July. E. Bot. 730. Elo. Ger. Fcstuca

pinnata.

distadiyos, ann. two-rowed brome-grass ; nat. Germ. Host. i. t. 20.

distachijos.

giganteus, per. tall or gigantic brome-grass. See Festuca gigantea.
Oat-grass. Gener^zc character: calyx 2-valvcd, many-flowered, florets loosely collected.

Flo. Ger. Festuca

Corolla

2-valved, valves spear-shaped; exterior valve awned ; awn, from the back of die valvj
twisted and jomted. Seed, covered firmly by the corolla husk.

4 *

strtgosa,
hrevi.%

steriiis.

ann. meagre oat-grass, indig. June. E. Bot. 1266.

ann. short; nat. Germ. June. Host. iii. t. 42.

ann. barren oat; nat. Germ. May and June. Host. il. t 57.

OrientaUs, ann, Turkey oat; nat. Germ. July. Host. iii. t. 44.

n uda.

ann. nalced, or pilcorn, indig. July. Witlier. Arr. ii. 164. Cultivated in Corn-

wall.

fatua,
temns.

Ray.

' i

ann. bearded oat, or haver, indig. August.

ann. slender oat ; nat. Germ. June. Host. ii. t. 55.

mtiva nigra, ann. cultivated black oat. July and August. Flo. Rust. t. 79.
sativa alba, ann. cultivated white oat. July. Bauh. Pinx. 23.
Pennsylvanica, ann. Pennsylvanian oat; nat. North America. Linn. Spec. 117.

Siherica,

ann. Siberian oat; nat. Siberia. Lin. Spec. II7.

loeflingiana, ann. Spanish oat ; nat. Spam. July. Linn. Spec. 118.

fragilis.

ann. brittle ; nat. Germ, and Spain. June. Host. v. ii. t. 54.

^empcrmrem, per. evergreen oat; nat. Germ. June. Host. v. iii. t. 41.

flavescens,

pratensis,

puhcscens,

(dpestris,

hrevifolia.

per. yellow oat, golden bat, indig. June and July. E. Bot. 96£
per. meadow oat, indig. June and July. E. Bot. 1204.
per. downy oat, indig. June and July. E. Bot. 1640. -
per. rock oat; nat. Germ. August. Host. v. iii. t. 39.
per. short-leaved ; nat. Germ. Host. v. iii. t. 40.

erm. May and June. Host. v. ii. t. 53.

disticJiophijUa, ^ev, fan-leaved; nat. G_.....

phnicuhnis, per. broad-stalked, indig. July and August. E. Bot. 2141.
versicolor^

elatior,

per. various-coloured oat; nat. Germ. August. Host. y.u. i. 5^2. A.SchciichzerL

per. tall oat. See Holcus avenaceus.

og s-tafl grass. Generic character : calyx 2-valved, 2 to 5-flowered. Corolla 2-valved ; valves
inear spear-shaped, exterior awnless, or with an awn terminating the apex. Seed covered
Jy e corolla; the spikets in most species with leafets on one side, (involucre), or husks
on a leaf-stalk, (stipata.).

cnstatus.

per. crested dog's-tail grass, indig. June and July. E. Bot. t. 3l6,

/

Ivni

CYNOSURUS.

TRITICUM,

■■^

_h 4

echinaius,
Li

ima

coracanus,

aureus,

erucceformis.

INTRODUCTION.

ann. rough-spiked, indig. June. E. Bot. t. 1333.

ann. imbricated; nat. Spain. July. Linn. Spec. 105.

ann. thick-spiked ; nat. East Indies. August. Lmn. Spec. 106.

Host. V. 111. t. 4.

. golden dog's-tail grass ; nat. Germ.

. linear-spiked; nat. Germ., and Hudson's Bay, and Russia. Host. v. i

•*

per. iinear-sp

t. 6. BeeJmania eruasformis.

ann. See Foa dura.

Egypticus, ann. creeping ; nat. Africa and Asia. August. Hort. Kew. v. i. p. 163.

dui'usy

Wheat-grass. Generic character : calyx, a common receptacle elongated into a spike, husks
2 valves, many-flowered. Corolla 2-valved, spear-shaped; exterior valve ventricose, obtuse,
with a point or an awn ; the interior valve flat. Seed ovate, oblong, at both ends obtuse,
convex on one side, and furrowed on the other.

per. bearded perennial wheat-grass, indig. July. E. Bot. t. 1372. Willd.

Elymus caninus.
■ per. creeping-rooted or couch-grass, indig. July and August. E. Bot. 909.

camnumj

. repens.

elongatum, per, long-spiked ; nat. Germ. July. Host. v. ii. t. 18.

jimceum

per, rush-leaved, indig. July. E. Bot. 814.

loUaceum, ann. darnel-like wheat-grass, indig. June and July. E. Bot, t. 221.
tenellum, ann. dwarf wheat-grass ; nat. Spain. July. Host. v. ii. t. 26.

<2stivu7n, ann. spring wheat; nat. unknown. Willd. 476,

hyhernum, ann. Lammas wheat ; nat. unknown. Moris. Hist, s, 8, t, 11, f. 1,

ann. red Jjammas wheat; nat. unknown. Park. Theat. 1120, f. 1.

1. var. maiicum.

2.
3.

4

spica et grants ruhentibus, red, or Kentish wheat. Raii. Plist. 1237, Synon. 386.
spka et grants albis, white wheat. Raii. Flist. 1237, Synon. 386.
aristis munitum^ red-eared bearded wheat. Moris. Hist. s. 8, t. 1;

5. . album, white-eared bearded wheat. Moris. Hist. iii. 175.

compositum^ ann. many-spiked wheat* Moris. Hist. s. 8, t. 1, f, T.

turgidum.

ann. Barbary wheat.

var. 1. quadratum^ ann. cone wheat.

. Tolonicum,
Spelt a,
var. zea amylacea.

ann. Polish wheat.
ann. Spelt wheat.

Ibid. s. 8, t. 1, f. 14,
Ibid, f. 13.

Ibid. s. 8, t. 1, f. 8.
Ibid. s. 8, t. 6, f. 1.
Ibid. s. 8, t. 6, f. 3.

monococcian, ann. one-grained wheat. Moris. Hist. s. 8, t. 6, f. % Z'ea brha

Exception. Fesfuca myuurus. Stamina 1.

This Catalogue contains upwards of three hundred and twenty distinct species and varieties
of grass, of which, one hundred and fifty are indigenous to Great Britain • hut as the discove-
ries of Botanists still continue to add to the numher new species and varietie's, the term compkU
cannot be applied to this enumeration.

As every different soil produces grasses peculiar to itself, and as no other kinds can be esta-
bhshed or cultivated upon it, without first changing its nature to resexnhle that which produced
the lands of gras.es we wish to introduce ; it becomes a point of the first importance, in making

expenments on difi^rent species of this numerous familv of t.1ov.+ t • i Uc to

^ , ■ . -, ^ . i'limiy ot plants, and m statm^ the results, w

determme with sufficient accuracy, the nature of the soil, or different soil

describe them accordingly.

s em

ployed

and to

INTRODUCTION.

^

In many instances, where experiments have been made on thfe produce of plants this
essential point has been too much disregarded. It is to this only we can look for T s"^"" "^
factory reason to reconcile the discordance of results obtained from experiments made on ^h'
same plant by different persons equally eminent for agricultural knowledge. From the^"
source, in a great measure, will be found to proceed the difference of opinion respectLHlIe
impoverishing effects of different plants to the soil. It is well known that, on certairiih
some plants have greater impoverishing effects than on others; and though the preparatiorof
the land, and quantity of manure applied, &c. should be the same in two cases, yet a TTific

difference in the nature of the soils, will give different results as to their nroduol o, l •*^^^' ^
■ 1 ■ rr- I'i'-'uul.t; anu impove-

rishing effects.

The terms adopted to denote different soils, bave been used without due precision
rather, the terms have had no definite idea affixed to them. The term loam, for instance ^^
defined by one to be a fat earth, or marl, and by others, a mixture of clay, sand, and calcar
earth, without stating the proportions. In general, on referring to books on Agriculture and g17
dening, we are directed to a hazel loam, a brown loam, clayey loam, or to a hungry saldy soT
bog sod, peat earth, garden mould, &c.; but from the want of proper definitions of these terms'
It IS perplexing, or nearly impracticajjle, to determine which kind of soil is me .,.f T l '
exammed above fifty kmds of sod and composts collected, with their local names, in different
parts of the country, and, in several instances, soils of the same name were fomid to differ
greatly in their natural qualities. ^

The method of determining the nature of soils by chemical analysis, has been of late yeirs so
much snnplified by Sir Humpf^ry Davy, that it is now in the power of every practical perJon to
ascertam with comparative facility, the qualities of any kind of soil, and consequently to describe
the same without any risk of being misunderstood, which before this, was absolately un.
voidable. / J *-

All soils consist of sand of various degrees of fineness, and impalpable earthy matter- when
therefore, the exact proportions in which these are combined in a soil, are known wi'th their
general properties, it shews directly to which class of soils it belongs, whether to 'the loamy
clayey, calcareous, sandy, peaty, &c.

Sir Humphry Davy, in his Elements of Agricultural Chemistry, states the proportion, of
sand, and impalpable earthy matter, to which the terms usually adopted should be limited
" Ihe term sandy, should never be applied to any soil that does not at least contain seven-
eighths of sand ; sandy soils, that effervesce with acids, should be distinguished by the name of
calcareous sandy soil, to distinguish them from those that are siliceous. The term clayey,
should not be applied fo any land that contains less than one-sixth of impalpable earthy matter'
not considerably effervescing with acids ; the word loam, should be limited to soils containing
at least one-third of impalpable earthy matter. A soil to be considered as peaty, ought -to con-
tarn at least one-half of vegetable matter."~-These may be considered as the generic characters
o soils, and determined by a very simple process, that of washing the impalpable earthy mat-
ter of the sod from the sandy portion, and by drying and ascertaining their respective weights,
w en the application of an acid, shews whether it belongs to the calcareous or siliceous kinds of

e results of all my observations, in these experiments on grasses, and likewise in the cul-

soil.

Th

q

Ix

INTRODUCTION.

■m

tivation of a large collection of plants on various kinds of soil, tend to'confirm the opinion, that
the fitness or unfitness of particular soils for particular plants, depends, in a general sense, on
the due proportions of sand, and impalpable earthy matter, of which they consist. If writers,
therefore, on the comparative produce of plants, whether of the farm or the garden, would only
thus far describe the nature of the soils employed in their experiments, the benefit of it would
be felt, and duly appreciated, by every practical person ; but more so, by those who wish to
repeat such experiments. But misconception with respect to the nature of soils employed i
experiments, must be effectually prevented, by ascertaining the number and proportion of th
constituent parts, because the smallest difference in the natural qualities of soils is thereby
detected. It would surely assist in raising the art of Agriculture to the certainty of science, if^
in all experiments on the comparative produce of plants, the intimate nature or the son, as well
as the properties of the subsoil, were accurately determined.

The following details are intended to shew the nature of those soils which have been em-
ployed in this series of experiments on grasses.

m

e

I. Poor Siliceous Sandy Soil.

400 grains deprived of its moisture, consisted of,

Eine sand, chiefly siliceous * - -

Carbonate of lime, or chalk . - -

Decomposing vegetable matter destructable by fire
Silica, or the earth of flints

Alumina, or the pure matter of clay

Oxide of iron - - - _

Soluble matter, principally saline

Loss

337 grains,

4
32
10

5

8

400

II. Siliceous Sandy Soil, or Hungry Saiid.

400 grains, deprived of moisture, gave of

Fine siliceous sand - - _

Carbonate of lime, or chalk

Decomposing vegetable matter destructable by fire
Silica, or the matter of pure clay

r

Alumina, or pure clay

Oxide of iron - - - - .

Soluble vegetable and saline matters -

Los;

/

H \

355 grains
4

6

11
6

3

3

12

400

Ois. This soil, which was comparatively barren without the frequent application of hrff
por ,„„s of manure, and which had only a transient effect, was permanently fctilized by .b«

anDllcatlon of tpnamnnc i^loTr /M^ TV \ ^ -^ "^

(No. IX.)

INTRODUCTION.

Ixi

III. Heath Soil, or Black Siliceous Moor Soil.

^

400 grains, deprived of moisture, gave of

Fine sand, principally siliceous

>-

Decomposing vegetable matter
Silica, or the earth of flints
Alumina, or the pure matter of clay

Oxide of iron ' - " , - ~ - * _ _ - - . ^

Soluble matter, principally vegetable extract and common salt - ~ fi

Loss -'-__ _ _ ^

^^0 grains.
65

9

2

*-^

400

r

IV. Rich Siliceous Soil, or Rich Saiidy Soil

■ J

400 grains, deprived of moisture, afforded of

Fme sand, chiefly siliceous and partly calcareous - ' . ^ ^ aha

Coarse gravel

Carbonate of lime, or chalk -

Carbonate of magnesia - - - - ^

Decomposing vegetable matter destructable by fire

Silica, or the earth of flints " - ' ^ '

Alumina, or the matter of pure clay - - ' - '.

Oxide of iron - _" Z J - . .

Soluble matter, consisting of vegetable extract and phosphate of lime

Loss - ' ' _

grains,

9

1

SO

31

8

4

4

12

400

Ohs.

This soil, when on a elayey suhsoii; produced' large crops for two successive

seasons.

but afterwards required a regular supply of manure,
of grave , the produce was very inferior. It is properly a hungry soil, and requires an addi-
tion ot clay, and calcareous earth, to render it permanently fertile.

J ' ■

V. Sandy Loam, or Brgmpton Comrnon Loam:
400 grains, deprived of moisture, consisted of * " " "

f

i^ine sand, partly siliceous and partly calcareous - . - , oqa o-rmn.

Carbonate of lime

Carbonate of magnesia
Decomposing vegetable matter
Silica, or earth of flints
Alumina, or matter of pure clay
Oxide of iron

k < ^t

4

'tX.^^ t

19

15

4

Soluble matter, principally vegetable extract and sulphate of potash - - 4

* ^

IToss - - _ - - 20

rfl

400

• is soil affords an illustration of the term loam, in its general acceptation amonff
husbandmen and a^r^.r....;„.u.^„:.i . , .. ' ^ ^ ^

and Gardeners in the neighbourhood of London.

Ixii

I

NTRODUCTION

VL Rich BlacTc Clayey Loam

400 grains of the entire soil consisted of

Water of absorption

Eine sand - " "

• Carbonate of lime

Vegetable matter - .

Silica _ - - -

Alumina

Oxide of iron _ - -

Soluble matter, saline and vegetable

c:

Lo

ss

VII. Clayey Loam.

400 grains, freed from moisture, gave of

r

Fine sand, partly calcareous and partly siliceous
Carbonate of lime - - -

+ '

Vegetable matter -----

y

Silica - - ' - - - -

Alumina _ - - _ - -

I

Oxide of iron - -^ ^ - ' -

Soluble vegetable and saline matters, principally sulphate of magnesia

Loss -

VIII. Tenacious Clay

400 grains, deprived of moisture, consisted of

Fine sand - - - -

Vegetable matter - - -

Carbonate of lime - - -

Carbonate of magnesia - - _

Silica - - - - -

Alumina - -

Oxide of iron -

Soluble saline matter, chiefly sulphate of lime, and a little sulphate of magnesia

Loss

65 grains.
165

39
61

20

5

4
21

400

V

- 190 grains.

8

- 18

- 110

- 58

7

■

■

5
5

400

- 159 grains.

- 10

- 25

2

- Ill

65

8

11

19

400

V

INTRODUCTION.

Ixiii

IX. Rich Alluvial Soil, partly formed by the Deposition ofjlowing Water.

400 grains deprived of moisture, gave of

Fine sand ' - " -"

Aluminous stones _ " _ " -

Carbonate of lime - -

115 grains.
70

'*

23

Decomposing vegetable and animal matter - ■"-■•- 34

Silica

Alumina .
Oxide of iron "

■f

Sulphate of lime or gypsum

Carbonate of lime

Soluble vegetable and saline matters

100
28
]3

2

Loss

7

8

400

Obs. Of all the soils employed in the experiments, this one was the most productive : it was
upon a porous suhsoil; all the superior grasses flourished here in an extraordinary degree : it
therefore offers data whereby to judge of the comparative value of soils for grasses.

X. Vegetable Mould.

400 grains^ freed from moisture, gave of

Fine sand . ^ ,

TJndecompounded vegetable fibre
Decomposing vegetable fibre
Silica - - - -

Alumina _ . _ _

Soluble matter, principally vegetable extract
Oxide of iron - - _

231 grains.
13

57
50

18

4

2

Loss - - - - - 25

400

XI. Active Peat, or Fertile Peat Moss.

400 grains, freed from moisture, gave of

Fine siliceous sand

Undecompounded vegetable fibre
Decomposing vegetable matter
Muriate of lime
Silica " - .

Alumina

Oxide of iron

Soluble vegetable and saline matter

- 156 grains.

2

110

- - . . 4

- 102

16

- . - . - 4

- - . - 4

Loss - - - - - 2

400

Ixiv

INTRODUCTION

XII. Inert Peat, or Barren Peat Moss

w

400 grains, freed from moisture, consisted of

Fine pure siliceous sand -_.--"

Inert vegetable matter , - .. - _ - r -

Alumina - - - . " "

Oxide of iron - - - r •

Soluble vegetable matter, containing also sulphate of potash
And sulphate of lime, or gypsum - - - -

29 grains.

L

OSS

- 289
. 14

30
11
12
15

400

In one instance, beds of these soils (No. II. and No. VIII. excepted) were arranged in the
order in which they have just now been mentioned. Seeds of all the grasses peculiar to each soil,

r ■

f

were sown on distinct spaces of each bed. The seeds of the different grasses vegetated on all
the soils, except on the inert peat (No. XII.), which remained completely barren. In the ensu-
ing season, it was remarkable to see the different degrees of luxuriance exhibited by the
species of grass on different soils. The superior grasses^ or those which constitute the produ
of rich ancient pasture lands, formed nearly a perfect convex ridge of grass : beginning at tlie
poor siliceous sandy soil (No. I.), where they were the most diminutive, they gradually

same

ce

(No. IX.)

s

decreased in the quantity of produce, till they terminated at the inert peat (No. XIL) It is of
importance to observe, however, that after the second year, this order of luxuriance did not
continue in the same proportion. The rich siliceous sandy soil, on the fourth and fifth year, was
greatly inferior in produce to what it was on the second and third, and the produce of the poor
siliceous sandy soil decreased annually in quantity after the second year. The produce of tlie
sandy loam, and clayey loam, continued much the same ; but the rich alluvial soil, and rich
clayey loam, increased in the quantity of produce till tlie fifth year, and have since continued,
Avith hut a trifling diminution in the weight of their annual crops, though no manure in any
instance has been, applied.

By referring to the details which shew the composition of the rich siliceous sandy soil,
which soonest became deficieut of prody.ce,. it appears, that the finely divided matter contains
more of decomposing vegetable matter, in proportion to the earthy ingredients, than that of the
rich alluvial soil, and of the clayey loams. The proportion of sand to the finely divldett matter,
is likewise much, greater in that soil, than in the others, whose productive powers seemed rather
to increase for five successive years. " " ;

A space of the poo; siliceous soil was richly manured, and the produce of grass for

years exceeded thi^t of. the rich siliceous soil which had no manure ; but on the fifth year was

so much reduced, as hardly to equal its original produce. These fact^ confirm the opinion,

two

that certaur soils may produce large crops of grain, or other annual crops, but are nevertheless
unfit for the production of the superior perennial grasses

It may be said, that as the want of a due proportion of finely divided earthy ingredient is
all that ,s needed,, to render these soils equal to the best, the clay, chalk, &c. may be applie''

INTRODUCTION.

Y

IxV

in sufficient quantity to effect so desirable an end. In the instance of tte rich siliceous soil
and all others of a similar nature, this may be effected under ordinary circumstances with little
trouble, and at a moderate expence. But we shall find, on referring to the details which shew
the composition of the poor siliceous sandy soil (No. I.), for instance, tliat the expence of apply-
ing so large a quantity of ingredients as that soil requires, would exceed the value of the im-

r

provement under ordinary circumstances. A chemical examination of these soils affords the
clearest evidence to determine what degree of improvement they are susceptible of receivino- to
be of the most advantage^ whether for the production of the superior perennial o-rasses or for
annual crops only*

The composition of the tenacious clay (No. VIII.), shews that it contains all the ino-redients
necessary for the improvement of the poor siliceous soil (No. I.), except that of decomposln
vegetable and animal matter, which is to be supplied by manure.

A cubic inch of that clay, when newly dug, weighs 700.8 grains; when freed from moisture,
584 grains. Suppose one cubic inch of clay to be applied to 29 cubic inches of the soil, it
would reduce the proportion of sand, and increase the proportion of finely divided eartliy mat-
ter, of its former composition, in the followino- deo-ree:

S

1 cubic Incli of poor siliceous sandy soil, as before
staled, consists of,

Fine sand _ » _ _

Decomposing vegetable matter

Carbonate of lime or clialk

Silica, or the earth of flints

i\lumina, or the matter of clay

Oxide of iron - - - _

Soluble vegetable, and saline matters -
Carbonate of magnesia

434. S7 5 grains
7.35
4.9

13.475
7.35
3.675
S.675

1 cubic inch of tlie tenacious clay, added to 29 of thft

soil, alters the proportions in one cubic inch, to,
Fine sand - _ _

Decomnoslns; veo;etable matter.
Carbonate of lime or chalk

Silica

A\

umina

Oxide of iron
Soluble saline matter
Carbonate of magne^^ia

428.1171 grains.

7.5916
5.956

18.4278
9-7816'

39.418

4.0876

0.0973

The quantity of clay necessary to effect the ahove alteration in an acre of the siliceous soil to
the depth of six inches, and the prohable expence attending It, appear to be as follows :

One acre of land, six inches deep, contains 376.35840 cubic inches. A cart-load, or one ton
of clay, contams 21479.43744 cubic inches, which, applied in the proportion of one part to 19,
ove, shews that 60 cart-load, or 745.81380 cubic feet of clay, Is requisite to eifeGt that

as ab

chan_Q^e m its nature.

In ordinary cases, the expence of digging, filling, and spreading the clay, is three-p

ence

three farthings per cart-load, consequently the expence per acre, would be eighteen shiUings

and

nme-pence, exclusive of cartap-e.

Now if the soil thus improved, be compared with any of
the precedmg soils that are mentioned as fitted for the growth of the superior perennial grasses.
It wtJl appear to be stdl very far from their natural composition, and proportionally less adapted
to the growth of these grasses. Even to bring it near to the nature of the sandy loam,
(No, VI.), it would require 800 load per acre. Therefore, though this soil is unfit for the
growth of the superior grasses, it is capable of great improvement for the production of grain
or bulbous crops, by the application of clay and calcarious matter ; it will thereby require less
inanure, and better sustain the effects of a continuance of dry weather. ^ .

I he rich sdiceous soil may have its nature changed, to resemble that of the sandy loam, by
t ie application of two parts of clay to twenty-nine of soil, or 120 load to the acre.

]

:vi INTRODUCTION.

The above facts* and observations may likewise shew in some measure, one out of many of
the very useful practical purposes, to which the results of a chemical exammation of soils may

be made subservient.

The subsoil is of as much importance, in determining the fitness, or unfitness, of a soil for

the growth of the superior grasses, as the nature of the surface soil ; and, indeed, when it

considered that the latter may have its nature completely changed, under favourable circus,
stances, with little trouble and at a moderate expence, while the nature of the subsoil can only
be partially corrected under any circumstances, it may therefore be said to be of the first im.

portance in this enquiry, s, ;,

In the following details of experiments, the nature of the subsoil is therefore mentioned, and
more particularly in instances where one soil has been cultivated on different subsoils.

The most productive old pasture lands consist of soils of an intermediate quality as to mols.
ture and dryness, varying in the degree of fertility according to the manner of management, or
the frequency of bay craps, and the exclusion of top-dressing with manure ; but the grasses
which constitute their produce are the same. Dry elevated sandy soils, however long they
may have been under pasture and superior management, produce a diiFerent class of grassesof

inferior merits. The produce of peat bogs, and low wet soils likewise, for the most part, con-
sist of grasses which differ from those above-mentioned, in regard to value as well as botanical
distinctions. The respective merits and comparative value, therefore, of the different grasses
natural to these particular situations, will probably be more readily and conveniently seen, if
every species be considered under its own particular soil, and compared with those that are
naturally combined with it. With this end in view, the details of the experiments are arranged
under four heads, viz. 1st, Grasses, and other plants, adapted for permanent pasture on soils of
the first quality ; 2d, Grasses, and other plants, natural to dry sandy soils; 3d, Grasses, and
other plants, natural to irrigated meadows and low damp soils ; 4th Grasses, with such other

plants as now appear, from the results of experiments made upon them, to be adapted to the
alternate husbandry.

* The Author has the pleasure to inform those Gentlemen Nvho may desire to examine the soils that have here been submit
ted to anal^^sis, that neat cabinet .specimens of the xvhole may be had of Mr. Sowerbj, at his Museum of Natural History, Mead
place, Lambeth.

HORTUS ORAMINEUS WOBURNENSIS.

Of the Grasses^ and other Plants^ tvhich constitute the Produce of

the richest Natural Pastures.

stead. Whetl

\ T

It has long been a prevailing opinion, that rich pasture land, when once Broken up for a

course of crops, cannot for a great length of time be again brought to so good a sward ; and

this opinion is founded on the best grounds— on experience. The causes why those grasses,

which constitute this valuable sward, cannot be renewed in as great perfection after a few years'

removal fj-om their natural soil, must either be, that these plants require many years to attain

to that degree of productiveness, or, that the soil has been too much deteriorated by the crop,

or course of grain crops, taken previous to renewing the grasses ; or, lastly, that the seeds of

grasses different from those which composed the valuable sward, have been employed in their

ler to one, or all of these points, the want of success is to be imputed, it is of
miportancc to encjuire.

Grasses, like all other vegetables, possess a peculiar life, in which various periods may be
distmctly marked. Some species of grass are annual, or arrive at perfection in one year, and
then die away ; as different species of brome-grass, fox-tail grass, rye-grass, oat-grass, &c.
^ ' er species, in two or three years attain to that degree of perfection which they never
exceed; as perennial rye-grass, ( LoUum perenne ) ; rough meadow-grass, (Poa frtvialis); mea-
dow cat's-tail grass, (Phleum prateme)i tall oat-like soft-grass, (Holcus avenaceus); round
cock's-foot grass, (Bactylis glomerata), &c. ; and there are but few grasses that require five or six
years to bring them to that state of productiveness which they never exceed, if properly treated
dunng that time: meadow fescue, (Festuca prateiisisj; meadow foxtail, ( Alopecurus pratensis);

th

(A

pratense^

These facts, obtained from the results of ex-

h

periments, and attentive observation, made on these grasses, when cultivated singly, and also
when combmed with others, as in their natural places of growth, offer sufficient proofs to de-
cide that It is not the great length of time they require to arrive at perfection, that the want of
success, in attempts to renew rich pastures, is to be imputed.

On converting this land into tillage, the first crops are, generally, too luxuriant. Were we

e, irom this circumstance, that the superior pasture grasses require a much richer
soil to produce them in perfection, than what is required for the production of grain crops,
and, consequently, that a course of white crops, by lessening considerably this degree of ferti-
'ty, would proportionally render the land less fitted for the re-production of its former valu-
grasses, it would not be just; because it is evident this over-richness of the land for the

abl

B

2

first crops of grain, does not arise solely from that degree of richness in the soil which produced
the superior grasses in such abundance, but rather from the accession of so large a quantity of
vegetable matter, which is at once supplied to the land by ploughing m the turf.

- _ J

Having met with no

specific information in any agricultural works within my reach, re-
specting the change produced on the nature of rich pasture land by a course of grain crops, I
made several experiments to supply the apparent defect. The results of one of these experi.

ments I may be permitted to detail. -

A space oftwo square yards of rich ancient pasture land, was dug to the depth of the surface-
soil, which was eight inches, and removed to a place more convenient for making the experi-
ment, but placed on a subsoil of the same nature as that on which it was before incumLent.
Three inches from the bottom of the mass were first placed on the subsoil, and the turf was tlieii
reversed on this, to the depth of five inches : this mode was adopted, to place the ground under

circumstances as similar as possible to that of ploughing it five inches deep, in the usual manner
of breaking up pasture land.

The nature of the soil was now ascertained, by taking up a portion of it to the fall imi\

J ,

only rejecting the green living vegetable parts of the turf. '

400 grains, freed from moisture and the plants of grass, consisted of

4^

Calcareous and siliceous sand, of different degrees of fineness

I

Decomposing vegetable matter, and particles of roots
Carbonate of lime, or chalk - -. - ,

Silica, or earth of flint - - - ' -

Alumina, or pure matter of clay - - ■ -

Oxide of iron -' - ■ r-

Soluble vegetable matter, and sulphate of lime, or gypsum

102 grains

h H

DO

160

50

25

4

4

-^

The soil was then cropped for five seasons alternately, Avith, 1st, Oats • 2cl Potatoes;
Sd, Wheat; 4th, Carrots; and 5th, Wheat— to the end that it might suffer as much as could
possibly happen, under ordinary circumstances, by an impoverishing, or injudicious rotation of
annual crops. Every trace of the turf was by this time entirely lost in the general mass of the
soil, which was now examined, to ascertain what change" it had undergone by these crops. It
appeared to consist of

h

' h

Calcareous and siliceous sand, nearly as before

Decomposing vegetable matter, destructable by fire

Carbonate of hme, or chalk, nearly as before

Silica, or earth of flint - - ..

Alumina, or pure matter of clay

Oxide of iron

Soluble vegetable and saline matter : -

100 grains.
48
159

57
26

5

3 ,

--I

The above details shew that very little, if anv plif»ino.^ i. j i . . •

^ ; ... ^ . ■.' ■ ^ ^^^ange, had taken place in the constitution

or the sou, in respect or its earthv ingredients • hiih ^ . , . i

^, ^ • , ' ^ "^^^y considerable diminution of its de-

composing vegetable and animal matters; particularly when it i« . • i i u . nAA\-

^. T 1 r J , . . 1 7 ^ vvuen It IS considered how erreat an aoai

tion had been made to the original proportion itcontQiv. ;} r i ^ ^ -l- h

. A -.1, .1, -I c^^tained of this constituent, by the turf, whidi

was incorporated with the soil. > J '

\ -

^-^

3

: The finely divided animal and vegetable matters of soils are so intimately blended with tlie

other constituents, that manure, though applied in sufficient quantity to supply its loss

requires considerable time to bring its parts into that minute state of division in wl.; 1 : °'^'
f 1 ■ ^1 • 1 ■, ^ 1 /. . . iMaiuii, in wuicli It was

tound m the rich pasture land on the hrst examination before mentioned It ' / I

finely divided vegetable matter of the pasture land had been supplied to it (as it is indeed to
other pasture lands), by manure successively applied to the surface, either by the cattle which
grazed upon It, or by top-dressing, and divided and carried into the soil by the effects of rai^
That this essential ingredient of the fertility of soils is exliausted, even by the growth of the
pasture grasses, when the annual supply of manure is suspended, is shewn by daily experi-
ence ; as in the instance of mowing a pasture for several seasons successively without any top-
dressing, or depasturing with cattle : the produce of grass is found to decrease annually, and
if the practice is continued long, it will require nearly as many years, under the best manage-
ment, to bring the pasture to as productive a state as it was previous to the suspension of its
annual supply of surface manure. This Hkewise shews, that pasture land arrives at a certain
degree of productiveness which it never exceeds, but at the expence of the guaiif, of its pro
duce; as the surface becomes unequal, the gra.s rank, of a coarse nature, and less .^rateful to
cattle In this case (which does sometimes happen), the grass may be brought back to its ..rate-
,ful and nutritive state, by stocking the pasture sufficiently with different cattle in succession
throughout the season • the insufficiency of which seems to be the principal cause of the evil
But when such plants as knapweed fCe^^a^rm «.>r«;, different species of ..«e«., Meracmm
sonchus, carduus, &c. that are of no value as food for cattle, have established themselves in thesi
pastures, from the neglect of foul hedges and road-sides, which abundantly supply the seeds of
these plants, or part of them, according to the nature of the soils • the remedy of hard-stockinj,
and even weeding, will be found inadequate to extirpate these unprofitable plants. But to
return to the details of the experiment.

The results of the last chemical examination of the soil, had shewn that it had lost a very
considerable portion of its decomposing vegetable and animal matters. To supply this defici-
ency in some measure, manure was now, for the first time, applied, and, with the wheat stub-
ble dug m to the depth of six inches^ the surface was then made fine with a rake, and sown
Avith a mixture of the following grass-seeds, at the rate of five bushels to the acre.

Festuca pratensis, (meadow fescue); Alopecurus pratensis, (meadow foxtail) ; DactjjUs o-hme-
.«!«, (round cock's-foot); Holcus avenaceus (tall oat-like soft-grass); Vicia seph.n (creeping-
y^X^y^); Lokum perenne, (rye-grass); PMeum pratense, (meadow cat's-tail) ; Cynosurus cnstatus
(crested dog s-tail) ; AvenaJiavescens,l^je\\o^ o^x); Avena pratensis, (meadow oat); Festuca duri-
usc^aa, (hard fescue) ; Po« tri^iaUs, (smooth-stalked meadow-grass) ; FoafertUis, (fertile mea-
ow-grass); Foa nervata, (nerved meadow-grass); Trifolium medium, (cow clover); TrifoUum
^epens, (Dutch, or white clover); Agrostis stolonifera, (stoloniferous bent, or fiorin); and Agrostis
palustns , {maxsh. hem) . " ^

The seeds of the six first mentioned grasses being much larger than the others, were first

circumata a • I ^ ^" order to supplj the leading; roots of the perennial grasses in the ensuing seasons; a

whirl. «.„ j-i 1 ^^^^ annual grain crops, M'hose roots do not penetrate so deep into the soil, and

"ict» greedily exhausts manure, however gross.

4

mixed and sowi), and covered with the rake; the rest of the seeds were mixed and sown, witl.
out any other means of covering but that aiforded by the roller, which was liberally employe^
till the surface was perfectly level and consolidated. This was effected on the 23d of Augu,t,

e

The seeds of all these grasses vegetated before the first week of October, except the seed of
the Vecia sepimn, which did not vegetate till the autumn of the succeeding year. Before the
frost set in, these seedling grasses had a top-dressing, with compost of rotten dung, Hnie^ and
vegetable mould, laid on in a fine and dry state, after which the ground was again well rolled :
in the month of February this operation was repeated, when the ground was sufiiciently dry to
admit of it. The plants sprung earlier than those of the old pasture (a circumstance common to
young plants in general). In April, the weeds which had accompanied the top-dressing were
<^arefLdly cleared away ; and the rolling was repeated, to keep the surface compact. The plants
grew vigorously, till a continuance of unfavourable weather, in the end of June, checked tlielj-
growth. On the first week of July, the produce was cut and weighed; it amounted to one-
eighth more than the produce of the ground in its original state, but which had been fed of
with sheep in the spring; the after-math of the seedling grasses, however, weighed one-iftli
less than that of the natural pasture. A very slight top-dressing was applied in the montliof
November, and the whole was then well rolled; this operation was continued at favom'al)!
opportunities till April last (1815)- The grass was cut and weighed in the first weeks of June
and August, and again in the middle of September; the total weight of these three crops ex-
ceeded that of the old turf, exactly in the proportion of eight to nine.

It is therefore evident, that the results of the two modes of experiment here adopted, per-
fectly agree in confirming the opinion, that a five years course of the more impoverishino- annual
crops, may be taken from land of the nature before described, without unfitting it for the repro-
duction of the superior natural grasses.

The first, or that of ascertaining the nature of the soil before and after undergoing the im-
poverishing course of crops, proves, that the loss of decomposing animal and vegetable matter,
.is the principal injury it sustained, which it is evident may be supplied by manure, though not
in one season. The actual experiment of sowing the grasses on the soil thus cropped, and com-
paring the produce with that which it yielded in its natural state, proves clearly, that after
.undergomg a course of crops, it may be returned to grass, and afford a produce more abundant
than before*.

, The different grasses, and other plants, which compose the produce of the richest natural
.pasture^ are in number twenty-five. From the spring till the end of autumn, there is not a

month but what constitutes the particular season r,f 1,,^ ■ c- ,

. ^'^ paiiicuiar season ot luxuriance of one or more of these grasses:

hence proceeds the constant supply of rich siirenlp«t V, u i , , ^ ^ c ,u

. Fr 3' "I iicn succulent herbage throughout the whole of the

season; a circumstance which but seldom or never hnTiTiPn«;„ ^--c ■ i i .1 W

, . , , ^^^ happens m artificial pastures, where the hei-

ijage consists or two or three plants onlu Tf tt,^ 1. 4^ 1

^ plants only. It the best natural pastures be examined with care

* The produce of ti.e different annual crops, grain, and bulbs, were all I. 1,1

was very inferior, as might be expected. The exact weight of each '^' ''"^^ ""' °' "" '"' ""^ "' "' '

svith any view to obtain a knowledge of the comparative advantages or 7 T "^ '""'=""'^^' ^' *'- '=^P'="'"'="' "" •"" T!
merely for the purpose above-mentioned. How much less a iudrcious ^ ""^''^'^^ of pern,anent pasture and tillage land; b«

this moment be decided ; but it will be allowed, that a more severe co T "^ "'"^" '"''^" '"'' ''«''='="=''"'<=''•"' '''

ourse of crops could hardly have been adopted.

I

6

^*

during various periods of the season, the produce will be found to consist of the folio '"

j^lants

Alojjecurus pratensis, (meadow foxtail),
Dactylis glomerata, (round cock's-foot),
Festuca pratemh, (meadow fescue),
Phkum prafense, (meadow cat's-tail),
Anthoxanthum odoratum^ (sweet-scented vernal-grass),

V ■

Holcus aveiiaceus, (tall oat-like soft-grass),

Vicia sepium, (creeping vetch),

Loliu?7i perenne, (rye-grass), /->: .-

Bromus arvensis, (field brome-grass), frequent,

Foa annua, (annual meadow, or Suffolk-grass),

Avena pratensis, (meadow oat-grass),

Avena Jiavescens, (yellow oat-grass),

Hordeum pratense, (meadow barley),

Cynosurus cristatus, (crested dog's-tail),

Festuca durmscula, (hard fescue),

Foa trmalis, (rough-stalked meadow-grass),

Poa pratensis, (smooth-stalked meadow-grass),

Hoicus lanatus, (woolly soft-grass), sparingly,

TrifoUmn medkm, (cow-clover, or perennial red clover),

Trifolium repens, (white, or Dutch clover),

Lathyrus pratensis, (yellow vetch, or meadow lathyrus),

Festuca glabra, (smooth fescue),

Agrostis stolonifera, (creeping bent, or florin),

Agrostis palustris, (marsh bent-grass),

Triticum repens, (creeping wheat-grass, or couch).

Which afford the principal grass in the spring,

and also a great part of the summer pro-
duce.

.}

"1

k,.

Which yield produce principally in -summer .

and autumn.

J

\

1

V Which vegetate with most vigour in autumn.

N '

Besides these, there are other plants that I have invariably found in the richest natural pas-

antain)

yarrow)

But of these,

the nb-grass and butter-cups were by far the .Bost common, the yarrow and sorrel-dockbein.

contmed to particular spots. I have been in the practice for many years, of examining these

pastures at vanous periods of the season, but I never could discover the smallest indication of

ne cattle (horses, cows, and sheep) having touched the Rume^ acetosa, or Ranunculus acris.

m ^

>

h L

N

6

Anthoocanthum odoratiim. Sweet-scented Vernal-grass.

Specifc character : Spike, egg-oblong shaped. Florets, longer than the awns, and supported

on short foot-stalks.
0^5.— Blossom double, the outer one entirely different from that of any other of the grasses,
its outside covered nearly to the top with stiff brown hairs lying flat. Stem with two

or

three short hairs and shining joints. Native of Britain. £. Bot. 64? ; Curt. Lond.-

W

Experiments,— The produce of herbage, from a space of four square feet of aLrown sandy

loam, with manure, on the 1st of April, is.

J h

dr. qr.

oz.

lbs.

1 s I

- 2 OU)

I

Grass, 5 oz. 2 dr. The produce per acre
64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter
The produce of the space, ditto

At the time of flowering, the produce is.
Grass, 11 oz. 8 dr. The produce per acre
80 dr, of grass weigh, when dry f-

The produce of the space, ditto
The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying
64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter , -
The produce of the space, ditto -

55811^

- 1526

3488
95 6

125235

7827 3

21f

49 1t^

33656

2103 8 14

5723 10 2

, 1

Y

- 2 3t^

1956 12

122 4 12

At the time the seed is ripe, the produce is,
Grass, 9 oz. The produce per acre r

80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry r- 24

The produce of the space, ditto •• - 43

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying
64dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter
The produce of the space, ditto t

98010

6125 10

29403

1837 II

4287 15 e

3 1

- 71

Oi

4977 1

311 1 1

188 12 5

The weight of nutritive matter which is lost by taking the crop while the o-rass is in flower

exceeding one-half of its value, is - - . „ _

The proportional value which the grass, at the time the seed is ripe, bears to that at the time of flowering, is

13 to 4.

The produce of latter-math is,

Grass, 10 oz. The produce per acre

+

64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter
The produce of the space, ditto

as

108900

6806 4

2 dr. Iqr,

3

OU

3828 8

239 4 B

■ F-

IS

)

The proportional value which the grass of the latter-math hears to that of the seed crop
nearly as 13 to 9 ; and the proportional value or nourishment contained in the autumn grass
exceeds that of the first grass of the spring, as 9 to 7.

Sir H. Davy has shewn, that the nutritive matter of the grass at the time the seed is ripe,
consists of-mucdage, or starch, 43, saccharine matter 4, and hitter extract and salt 3 = 50.
The leaves, or first growth of the spring, afforded me of mucilage 40, saccharine matter 1,
brtter extractive 9 = 50. The bitter extractive is here much greater in the leaves, than in the

culms and leaves combined, which is the case with all thp o-./ x i, j . -'i f ^hnnsh

. n.rr • nn, • "^wi au ttie grasscs I have made trial of, thoug"

m different proportions, This grass constitutes a part of thp h^ \. r i ct PverV

T 1 -, -1 1 , . , . F'l" or tHe herbage of pastures on almost every

kind ot sou. thonf>-h it nnKr Qttainc +n T^^^f — *:.. • , or

ose that are deep and moist. The chief

kind of soil, though it only attains to perfection in th

property that gives merit to this grass is its early growth, thou' h'

in this respect, it is

inferior

N'

Anth ox an thunTodoratum,

X.

\

Sweet 'Scented Vernal-grass .j

V

\

^

M

■»

'^

\

«i. \

r

ce

8

h

to several other species which are later in flowering. It thrives best when comhined wilh niany

different species, and is therefore a true permanent pasture grass. It does not appear to be

parlicularly liked by cattle, though eaten in pastures in common withT others. Mr. Grant, of

Leighton, laid down a field of considerable extent; one-half of which was sown with this gr,^^

and white clover, the other half with meadow foxtail and red clover. The sheep would ^^^

touch the sweet-scented vernal and white clover, but kept constantly on the foxtail-grass, thoiin-}i

the dwarfish nature of the sweet-scented vernal had occasioned an unusual degree of hixurian

of the white clover, with which it was combined. This would indicate that it is not, wh

single, or when combined with but two or three different species, very grateful to cattle. Xfi

chemical examination of its nutritive matter, shews that it does not abound in saccharine matt

but chiefly in mucilage; and the insoluble extract is in a greater proportion than in many otli

grasses. Its merits, however, in respect to early growth, continuing to vegetate and throw

flowering stalks till the end of autumn, and its hardy and permanent nature, sufficiently upIioM

its claim to a place in the composition of all permanent pastures. The superior nutritive cruafc'

of its latter-math, is a great recommendation for the purpose of grazing, the stalks being of fe

little utility, as they are generally left untouched by the cattle, provided there is a sufficiency of

herbage.

It is said to give to new-mown hay that delightful smell which is peculiar to it; if it is not the
sole cause of that pleasant smell, it is certainly more powerful when combined with the grasses
which compose hay. About the middle of April it comes into flower, and the seed i^

nerally about the first or second Aveek of J

ripe ge-

une.

A-

BactyUs glomerata. Round panicled Cock's-foot Grass

ifr

Native of Britain. E. Bot. 335 ; Host. t. 94 ; Mart. F. R. t. 14 ; F. D. 743 ; Moris, s. 8,

t. Q, f. 38.

E.perin^enis 1^, produce of herbage, from a «pace of four square feet of a rich sandy loam.

on the 15th of April, is.

Grass, 1.5 oz. The produce per acre

dr.

oz. lbs.

f^AA. ^ cp A c ■■ " ' 163350 = 10209 6

04 dr. ot grass afford of nutritive matter - - S! 1 )

The produce of the space, ditto - - - 8 1a ^ " - 5742 12= 358 14

At the time of flowering, the produce is.
Grass, 41 oz. The produce per acre

8D dr. ofgrass weigh, when dry - - 34 "q 1 ' ' ' ^^^^"^ 0=27905 10

The produce.of the space, ditto . , g^gf o[ " " 189758 4 = 11859 14 4

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying

64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter . 2 2^ ' ' " " " 16045 1112

The produce of the space, ditto . , 35 ^ J - - 17441 0= 1089

At the time the seed is ripe, the produce is.
Grass, 39 oz. The produce per acre

80dr. of grass weigh, when dry ^ 40 "q ' ' 424710 = 26544 6

The produce of the space, ditt^ - \ 312 o| - - 212355 = 13272 3

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying

64dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter . 33

The produce of the space, ditto

13272 3

The

- 34 OiS *" - 23226 5 = 1451 10 5

weight of nutritive matter, i„ which the seed crl e ' , . " ^

^ crop exceeds that of the flowering crop, is, 362 10 B

\

7

»

I

-■r

• >

/"

Round panided Cock's-foot grass.

10

The proportional value which the grass, at the time the seed is ripe, bears to that at the time of flower-

■

ing, is as 7 to 5. The produce of latter-math, is,

Grass, 17 oz. 8 dr. The produce per acre - - - "

64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter, 1 dr. 2 qr. The produce per acre

oz.

lbs.

190575
4466 9

11910 15
281 10 9

The proportional value which the grass, at the time of flowering, bears to that of the latte^
math is, as 5 to 3 ; and the grass, at the time the seed is ripe, is to the latter-math as 7 to 3

64 dr. of the culms, at the time of flowering, aiFord of nutritive matter, 1 dr. 2 qr. "fi
leaves of cock' s-foot, therefore, audits straws simply, are of equal proportional value; howe
hetween the periods of flowering and perfecting the seed, the straws contain a much p-ret
proportion of nutritive matter: 64 dr. of the culms at that stage of growth, afforded 3c!r 1
of nutritive matter. When cultivated on a peat soil, the produce was one-sixth greater I
the grass was of an inferior quality; 64 dr. of which afforded only 69 grains of nutritive matt
which proves the grass produced on a peat soil, to he inferior to that from a sandy loam in ti,
proportion of 9 to 8. The first leaves or herhage of the spring, is more nutritive than tliat p,.
ducedat the end of autumn; 64 dr. at the beginning of April afforded C9 grains of mtiitiy
matter, while the same quantity, in the month of Novemljer, afforded only 39 »,.ains
It is deserving of particular notice, that the herhage of this grass, when suffered to ^ow
rank, or old from want of sufficient stocking, contains nearly one-half less nourishmentAan
that which is of a recent growth; 64 dr. of the leaves which had remained uncropped for four
months, afforded only 20 grains of nutritive matter; while the same quantity of the leaves,

grams

In the former grass,

many of the leaves were withered and dry, and the rest rank, and of a dark green colour, whil
m the latter, they were all green and succulent. All these facts point out this grass to be more
valuable for pasture than for hay: yet even for the latter purpose, it will be found more valua-
Me than rye-grass CLoHum perenne), and many other grasses ; proofs of which will he offered
hereafter, when these grasses come under consideration. Tlie above details prove tlrat a loss e^
nearly one-third of the value of the crop is sustained, if it Is left till the period the .eedi

ripe, though the proportional value of the ^rass at thnt ti'm^ ;= \ t^u j j

, . . -n . n t"e gjdss at uiat tune is greater. The produce does

not mcrease if left standing after the time of flowerino- bnt r.t!.. I .i, • l,t

c ^ , , , , ""vvciuig, nut rather decreases in the weight

ot root-leaves; and the loss of latter-math, from the rinirl „v .1 f .i c ^■ a u

^^^^ 1 . ., , , iium tne rapid growth of the foliage, after being

cropped, is very considerable. This circumst.nr.^ r.^' . . i . ° J ,

', 1 1 ^ , ., "^"^"^^^-^^ce points out the necessity of keepin- tins

glass closely cropped, either with cattle or the scvthe to .. .1, ^ ii i. r r
™„,, ^^ •^. , i>cytne, to reap the full benefit of its supe-

rior merits as a pasture grass- which will be mn,-,. ^^ .• i i • , ,

sneakino-oftl. i . j . . ^"^^^^^^^ ^^^^^ particularly ponited out hereafter, when

.... .eaAlv. I W „W..ed „.e„ ea. the c„l„s and flowering heads, ' tlU .he Z the .^
coUeeted in any considerable hulk, hy MesI Gib! . " °' ''°*"'- ^""^ '''' "" '"

FW„s W June ,„ Angus, ifrZ^^U^l [^ '"" '" "" ^"^^^ "' '^'""""

tall a late period of the spring,, he seed does not rin
temher. ^

grass readily,
was perfected.

m July; or, if the herhage is eaten down

/

11

F B

H< *

P?.

IF^

L- '

^

I

^ L

E'

e

r-

h t

/

^■^

*%

T

12

Meadow Fox-tail Grass

Alopecurus pratensis*

Specific character: Flowers i; ^ , .

Native of Britain, and most parts of Europe, from Italy, through France, Germany, Ho

.- r» u ■M.™,,.^,. S„ro^«r. anrl Riissla. Flo. Rust. E. Bot. 848 : Witll^,.

Hand,

to Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and Russia. Flo. Rust. E. Bot. 848 ; Wither. Arr.;
Curt.Lond.; Hort. Kew. ; Flo. Ger. It is surprising, observes Dr. Withering, tWthe
specific character, in the latter editions of the works of Linnaeus, should describe this
grass as awnless : the awn is twice the length of the blossom, and knee bent.
Experiments.— The produce of herbage, from a space of four square feet of a clayey loan.

on the 12th of April, is

t

dr. qr.

r

Grass, 14 oz. The produce per acre
.64 dr. of grass afFord of nutritive matter
The produce of the space, ditto - ^

f

At the time of flowering, the produce is.
Grass, 30 oz. The produce per acre *

E

,80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry «•
The produce of the space, ditto

r -

OZ.

152460

lbs.

- 5

- 11

7742

9528 12
483 14

326700

- 24

- S36

98010

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drjin
64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter
The produce of the space, ditto

^

The produce from a sandy loam, is.
Grass, 12 oz. 8 dr. The proHuce per acre
80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry - .-

The produce of the space, ditto

1 2

n I

7657

20418 12

6125 10

14293 2

478 9

136125

8507

24
60

40837 8

Si552 5 8

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying
64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter - 10
The produce of the space, ditto t -3 0^

At the time the seed is ripe, the produce from a clayey loam is,

2126 15

5955 7 8
132 14 15

Grass, 19 oz.. The produce per acre
,80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry
The produce of the space, ditto

^

The weight lost by the produce of an acre in drying
64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter
The produce of the space ditto r

206910

- 36 ^

136 Si-S

93109 8

2

10 2^

7274 2

12931 14

5819 5 8

7112 8 8

454 10 2

The weight of nutritive matter which is lost by leaving the crop till the seed be ripe, k
23 lbs. U oz. 14 dr. The proportional value which the grass, at tlie time the seed Is ripe, bears
to that at the time of flowering, is as 3 to 2. From a sandy soil, 64 dr. afforded 3 dr. of
nutritive matter, which gives the superiority to the produce from a llc^ht soil over that from a
clayey soil, as 4 to 3.

- The latter-math produce from a clayey loam is.

Grass, 12 oz. The produce per acre
64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter
The produce of the space ditto

dr. qr.

2
6

oz.

130680
4083 U

lbs.
8167 8

255 s n

^ tris'Iat"' ™'" t "" ^' "' "" '»*™«* '» tl-' a' tl.e '"- of flowering.
* " 13 . and the cop, „. the time the seed is ripe, is ,„ ,hat of the la.ter-»a.h as 3 to «•

J

is as

\

i-

I

y

\

n

^

N

/

<

gras

14

^

The above details clearly shew, thai there is nearly three-fourths of produce greater fro„, ,
clayey loam than from a sandy soil, and that the grass from the latter sod is of comparatively
less" value, in the proportion of 3 to 2. The culms produced on the sandy soil are deficient in
number, and in every respect smaller than those from the clayey loam ; which satisfactorily
accounts for the difference in the quantity of nutritive matter afforded by equal quantities of the

It is not the strength and rankness of the grass that indicates the fitness of the soil for
ks growth, but the number and cpality of the culms. The proportional value in wliicluhe
grass of the latter-math exceeds that of the flowering crop, is as 4 to 3 ; a difference wliicli
appears extraordinary, when the quantity of flowering culms in the flowering crop ig ^^^_
sidered. In the Anthoxanthum odoratum, the proportional difference between these cio

, L

ft

is still greater, nearly as 9 to 4. In the Poa triviaUs they are equal ; but in all t1ie lat
flowering grasses that have culms resembling those of the meadow foxtail and sweet-
vernal, the greater proportional value is always, on the contrary, found in the grass of the flow-
ering crop. Whatever the cause may be, it is evident that the loss sustained by taking these
grasses at the time of flowering, is considerable. In ordinary cases this seldom happens in

ps
er

scented

practice, because these grasses perfect their seed about the season when hay-harvest geuerally
commences, unless where the pasture has been stocked till a late period of the spring, wliicli
cannot in this respect be pioductive of any ultimate advantage, but rather loss. This grass,
under the best management, does not attain to its fullest productive powers till four years from
seed : hence it is inferior to the cock's-foot grass for the purposes of alternate cropping, and
to many other grasses besides. The herbage, however, contains more nutritive matter thautliat
of the cock's-foot, though the weight of grass produced in one season is considerably less. It
thrives well under irrigation, keeping possession of the crowns of the ridges : it is strictly per-
manent. Sheep are very fond of it ; when combined with white clover only, the second season,
on a sandy loam, it is sufficient for the support of five couple of ewes and lambs, per acre. As
it only thrives in perfection on lands.of an intermediate quality as to moisture and dryness, and
also being somewhat longer in attaining to its full productive state than some other grasses, its
merits have heen misunderstood in many instances ; and in others, as in the alternate husbandry,
it has heen hy some persons set aside altogether. It constitutes the principal grass in all rich
natural pastures. , Though not so well adapted, therefore, for the alternate husbandry, it is one
of the best grasses for permanent pasture, and should never form a less proportion than one-
eighth of any mixture of different grasses prepared for that purpose : its merits demand this,
whether with respect to early growth, produce, nutritive qualities, or permanency. It has
been observed by the Rev. Mr. S wayne*, that nearly two-thirds of the seed Is constantly de-
stroyed by insects : according to my experiments, this evil may be almost entirely obviated, by
suffermg the first culms of the season to carry the seed. It flowers in April, May, and June,
accordmg as it may have been depastured earlier or later. Seed ripe in June and July, accord-
ing to the season of flowering.

* See GraminaPnscua, by the Rev. G. Swayne, a work which contains much valuable information on the subject of gra^e..

15

g.^r ^

f

^l

F_rd - - L

* ■■-

16

Poa pratemis. Smooth-stalked Meadow-grass

Specific character : Panicle spreading ; spikets.

character: Panicle spreading; spikets, five-flowered, smooth. Straw erect, round. ■

Root, creeping, perennial.
Obs.—Thk grass is distinguished from the Poa trivialis, smooth-stalked meadow-grass, by ;^
■ strong creeping roots, sheaths of the straw being smooth ; whereas in the P. trivialis, the

sheaths are rough to the touch: the sheath scale is blunt; in the Poa trivialis it is pointed.

the leaves are blunt; those of the P. trivialis are acuminate. E. Bot. 1073 ; Hort. Kew

i. p. 155 ; Curt. Lond.
Native of Britain.
Experiments. — At the time of flowering, the produce from a clayey loam rich with tbe veo-c-

table matter of active peat^ is

dr. qr. oz. lbs.

Grass, 15 02. The produce per acre, is - - ... 163350 = 10209 6

45942 3 = 2871 6 3

80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry - ^ 22 2

The produce of the space, ditto - -^ 67 2

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying - - . _ 7337 ^5 13

4466 9 = 279 2 9

64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter - 13

The produce of the space, ditto - ^ 6 $-h

At the time the seed is ripe, the produce is.
Grass, 12dr. Boz. The produce per acre is, - _ _ 136125 = 8507 13

80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry - - 32
The produce ofthe space, ditto - - 80 ^, " " ^^^^^ °= ^^^^ ^

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying
64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter - 12

5104 11

The produce of the space, ditto '- . 4 2tV S " " ^^^^ ^™ 199 G Q

The weight of nutritive matter which is lost, by leaving the crop till the seed be
ripe, being nearly one-fourtV of its value, is - - _

The produce of latter-math is.
Grass, 6oz. The produce per acre ^ >■ .. «

79 12 9

65340 = 4083 12

64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter - 1 3 - _ 1786 10= 111 JO

The proportional value in which the grass of the latter-matli exceeds that of the grass at tlie
time the seed is ripe, is as 7 to 6. The yalne of the latter-math and seed crop are equal. This
grass is therefore of least value at the time the seed is ripe ; ^ loss of more thnn one-fourth part
of the whole crop is sustained, if not cut till that period ; the'cul.ns are then dry, and the root
leaves m a sickly decaying state ; those of the latter-math, on the contrary, are green and suc-
culent. This species sends forth flowering straws but once in the season, and these being the most
valuable part of the plant for the purposes of hay, and considering the superior value of the latter-
math over that ofthe seed crop, it will appear from these properties to be well adapted for per-
manent pasture. There are, however, many other grasses highly superior to this one: it comes
early m the spnng ; but the produce is inconsiderable, compared to many other grasses ; te
strong creepmg roots exhaust the soil very much: after Midsummer the herbage is slow in

growth after bemg cropped. It is the property of ill ... ■ t, I and

,1 1 ^ . , ^, ^^ i^^i^^'^^y*^^ all creeping roots to scourge the soil, an"

^ advtr T ""': "" '" "'•'*"'"' ■» *' P'-« of *-. with an »q«a. p,«P«'

«pay .he labou. wth .nterest. As the chief property .k,, ^ ,,,„, „ .^^ „,,, , e.l,

17

m

■s

■ ■

f

-r

i

'9

1m

oa pratensis.

1

\

I-

I

J

4 ,

i

V

j»

t

X

t

Smooth-stalked

eadow-grass

•^v

18

growth, it will be of use to compare the merits of two other grasses which possess this prope^y

of early growtli in common with it.

Anthoianthum odoratum. Sweet-scented vernal-grass, at the time of flowering, affords of'

of nutritive matter - - - - '

At the time the seed is ripe, affords of nutritive matter - - - -

The produce of latter-math affords of nutritive matter " "

lbs. per Acre.

122

311
230

672

Poa pratensis. Smooth-stalked meadow grass, as above, affords of nutritive matter

The weight of nutritive matter, by which the produce of the sweet-scented vernal exceeds that of the

smooth-stalked meadow-grass, is therefore - " , '

Poa trmalis. Rough-stalked meadow-grass, at the time of flowering, affards of nutritive matter 233
At the time the seed is ripe, affords of nutritive matter . - ^

The produce of latter-math affords of nutritive matter - , *- . ••

Poa pratensis. As before -■__-----

The weight of nutritive matter, in which the produce of the Poa trivialk exceeds that of the Poa
pratensis, is --w -,--■*

590

82

336

223

792

590

202

Besides this superiority of produce, the AntJioxantJmm odoratum^ and Poa trivialis, liave
fibrous roots, which impoverish the soil in a far less degree. The Poa pratensis cannot therefore
justify its claim to a place in the composition of the best natural pastures, and on this account
should be carefully avoided, as an unprofitable plant for that purpose. It flowers in the bcffin-
ning of June, and ripens the seed in the beginning of July.

f ,

Poa ct^rulea, Short blue Meadow-grass,

7

¥'

Panicle diiFuse ; spikets oval, generally 3-flowered ; husks acute, con-

nected by a villus ; sheath scale very short, obtuse.
0Z»5.— This grass is so nearly allied to the Poa pratensis, that the discriminating characters
are hardly sufficient to make them distinct species. This grass has generally three florets
in each calyx ; the Poa pratensis has five : the panicle is more compact, the culms are
shorter, and somewhat glaucous ; the leaves are much shorter and broader than those of
the Poa pratensis. The sheath scale in the Poa ccErulea is obtuse ; that of the P. pratam
is blunt. It may be distinguished at some distance from the Poa pratensis, by its de-
licate sky-blue or glaucous colour. The root, like that of the Poa pratensis, is powerfoUy
creeping.

Native of Britain. E. Bot. 1004 ; Hort. Kew. i. 155, Poa humilis; E. Bot. Poa suhcceruh.
E^penments.- At the time of flowering, the produce from a clayey loam enriched with hog

earth, is

%

Grass. 11 oz. The produce per acre
80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry
The produce of the space, ditto

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying
64 dr. of grass afFord of nutritive matter ^ 2

The produce of the space, ditto - ,5

tlr, qr,

oz.

- 119790

24

- 52 3^

35937

3743 7

lbs.

7486

2246

5240 13

233 15 7

\

-'

>h t

fct*

•<''

!

«,

■

-^

«v.

•■>'

»-*

1.

.*

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.tf

I '

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If

f*

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4n

/S^or^ 5/we Meadozc^-grass.

"1

V

v-'

•^

?^

{

■

1

I

\

dr. qr.

02.

lbs.

At the time the seed is ripe, the produce is,

- 32

f ^

Grass, 8 oz. The produce per acre

.80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry

The produce of the space, ditto

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying

64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter

The produce of the space, ditto ^ ^

The produce of latter-math, is,
Grass, 6oz. the produce per acre
64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter

87120

20

217B0

5445
1361 4

4083 12

2
4

2722 8

170 2 8

2 per acre, is

65340
2041 14

4084 12

127 9 U

This grass is common in meadows where tlie soil is peaty; it generally inhabits the drier
parts. It is eaten by horses, oxen, and sheep, indifferently with other grasses ; hares, however,
prefer the Poa pratensis to this : for five successive years they cropped a patch of the Poapra^
tensis, and left untouched a similar space of this grass that grew close by it. The proportion of
saccharine matter was greater, in the nutritive matter of the Poa pratcnsis, compared to that of
the other constituents, mucilage, and bitter extractive, than in tl^e nutritive matter of tills spe-
cies of poa, which contained more bitter extractive. This seems to confirm, with respect to the
liking of the hare, what Sir Plumphry Davy has proved with respect to the grasses most liked
by cattle, " that they have either a saline or subacid taste."

The produce of the seed crop, and that of the latter-math, consists of leaves ; in the flpwer-
ing crop there are many decaying root leaves, and in the seed crop the leaves are more succu-
lent, but the culms are perfectly dry : this accounts for the equal quantities of nutritive matter
afforded by equal weights of the grass at both these stages of growth.

What was before said of the demerits of the Poa pratensis, likewise applies to this grass;
and from the above facts, it is evidently one of the inferior pasture grasses, and cannot be re-
commended for cultivation with any prospect of advantage. Flowers in the beginning of June,
and ripens the seed in the beginning of July,

" +

Poa trimalis, Rougli-stalked Meadow-grass.

■ ■

Specific character: Panicle rather spreading; spikets 3-ilowerecl, pubescent at the base;

culm somewhat ascending, rough ; sheath scale tapering to a point.
Obs. The great roughness of the culms and leayes, manifested, when drawn between the

fingers ; the sharp-pointed sheath scale, and the fibrous root, so conspicuous in this spe-

cies, sufficiently distinguish it from the Poa pratensis.

Experiments.

With

V

Grass, 11 oz. The produce per acre
80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry
•The produce of the space, ditto
The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying

qr.

oz.

lbs.

- 24

54 0^

119790

^69^

7486 14
2246 1
5240 13

'>

21

*.

/

-,^

\ -'

!*»-

^ r

-'«.-.

■K.-^

y

¥

\

T

Poa trivialis.

\

i-

/

/

^

V

' I

L"

flough-sialked Meadoz&-grass

I

582

dr. qr.

oz. lbs.

64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter - 2 0^^ . . 3743 XO = 233 15 10
The produce of the space, ditto - - 5 2

At the time the seed is ripe, the produce is,
Grass, 11 oz. 8 dr. The produce per acre

125235 = 7827 3

80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry - - S6 p, } ^ . 56355 12 = 3522 3 12

The produce of the space, ditto - - 82 3f

fni -Till IP ' J • - -^ - - " 4304 15

Ihe weight lost by the produce oi one acre m drying

64 dr. of grass afFord of nutritive matter - 2 3 ^ ^ ^ 5381 3 =: 336 5 3

The produce of the space, ditto - - 7 ^t

The weight of nutritive matter which is lost by taking' the crop at the time of flowering,) ^^^ ^ ^^

exceeding one-fourth of its value, is -

The proportional value in whicb the grass of the seed crop exceeds that at the time of flowering, is as 8 to 11.

The produce of latter-math is,

h

Grass, 7 oz. The produce per acre - -

76230 = 4764 6

y

64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter - 3 dr. per acre ^ 3573 4 — 223 5 4

h
h

The proportional value in Avhicli the grass of the latter-math exceeds that of the flowering-
crop, is as 3 to 2, and that of the seed crop as 12 to 11.

Here then is a satisfactory proof of the superior value of the crop at the time the seed is ripe,
and of the consequent loss sustained by taking it when In flovs^er; because, in this instance, tlie
M^eight of each crop is nearly the same, and the latter-math which would be produced in Ae
time that is taken up in perfecting the seed, is infinitely less than that of many other species
of grass, where the loss of latter-math, under such circumstances, would far outweigh any supe-
riority of the nutritive qualities of the crop at the time the seed is ripe, if such superiority was
great, which is seldom found.

The weight of hay produced from the grass of the flowering crop is much less, in propor-

^

tion to that formed by an equal weight of the grass of the seed crop. In Mr. Young's Annals of

Agriculture we are informed, that so long ago as the year 1785, Mr. Boys, of Betshanger, in

Kent, a farmer of the highest reputation, raised, at much expence, and several years' attention,

from twenty to thirty bushels of the seed of this grass, which he then offered for sale at three

shillings per pound. He says that it makes a very fine thick turf, and will produce a great

quantity of very excellent grass from moist rich soils. He used the straw after the seed was

thrashed, instead of hay, for his riding horses, and they preferred it to his best meadow ky.

To have the land covered thick, more than seven pounds of seed should be sown to the acre.

Pr, Smith observes, that it does not bear the frost so well, nor does it shoot so early in the

spring, as the Poa pratensis; but when the weather becomes warm enough to make grasses in

general shoot, this grows faster, and produces a greater crop of bottom leaves, than most

others. • The experiments above detailed were made before I met with the observations of

Mr. Young and Dr. Smith, just quoted, and all my observations tend to confirm those opinions
concerning this grass.

The superior produce of this Poa over many other species, its highly nutritive qualities, the
seasons m which it arrives at perfection, and the marked partiality which oxen, horses, and
sheep have for it, are merits which distinguish it as orje of the most valuable of those grasses
which affect moist rich soils a„d sheltered situations : but on dry exposed situations it is altoge-

\

2S^ .

ther inconsiderable ; it yearly diminishes, and ultimately dies off, not unfrequently in th

of four or five years. Its produce* is always much greater when combined with other 11^'

than when cultivated by itself: with a proper admixture it will nearly double its pll„

thou2*h on the samp soil «n mnr-K it rlir^Koli+c- 1,^ c,^.^^4. rpi . 1 /, ^^^

though on the same soil, so much it delights in shelter. Th

ose spots m pastures that are most

es with

■ - J

From ail

closely eaten down, consist for the most part of this grass : I have examined many pastur
th,s view, and always found it the case wherever this grass was more predominate rror
which it appears that the Poa tri.ialis, though highly valuable as a permanent pasture .rass on
rich and sheltered soils, is but little adapted for the alternate husbandry, and unprofitable for
any purpose on dry exposed situations. It flowers towards the end of June, and ripens the '
seed m the middle of July. ^

* According to the account which is given of this grass by Mr. Swavne in Dr W.-fi.. ■ - *

;::::zi;:::, ;:-:i::-:- ;: --r "- - -■■■■ -*--- - "^-:-

> b

> ,

* ^

-r ji -

24

i 4

Festuca pratensis

Meadow Fescue

Sj,scifo character: Panicle slanting, pointing one way ; .plket. awnless, nearly strap-Aaped;

leaves flat.

Native of Britain. Root fibrous, perennial.

Obs.

With

variety of the Festuca elatior; but it is more justly made
a "distinct speciesTn the"English Botany. It differs from the Festuca elatior in having only
half the height, the leaves only half the breadth, the panicle shorter, and containing only
half the number of flowers. The panicle is but once branched, droops but slightly, and
leans to one side when in flower, and the flowers grow all one way : in the Elatior, the
panicle branches both ways; it droops much at first, and the flowers grow much more
loosely. The spikets are more round, ovate, and pointed, whereas in the Pratensis they
are somewhat linear, flat, and obtuse. Curt. Lond. ; E. Bot. 1592 ; Wither. Arr. ; Hort.

F

Kew.

1. p

165.

Experiments, —On the 16th of April, the produce from a fertile peat soil, Avith coal-asJies as

mauure, is

dr. qr

Grass, l6 oz. The produce per acre
64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter
The produce of the space, ditto

At the time of flowering, the produce is,
Grass, 20 oz. The produce per acre
The produce of the space, ditto, when dry
80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry

oz.

174240

lbs.

10890

2 1

9

per acre

6125

382 13 10

217800

152
38

103455

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying
64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter
The produce of the space, ditto

At the jtime the seed is ripe, the produce is,
Grass, 28 oz. The produce per acre

13613 8
6465 15

7146 9

4 2

22 2

15314 1

957 2 1

32

- 179

80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry

The produce of the space, ditto

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying

64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter

The produce of the space, d^tto

304920

121968

19057 8
7623

11434 8

1 2
10 2

7146 9

446 10 9

The weight of nutritive matter which is afforded by the produce of latter-math per acre, is - 380
The weight of nutritive matter which is lost by leaving the crop till the seed is ripe, exceeding-

one-half of its value, is

510 7 8

The grass at the time of flowering, is of greater value than that at the time the seed is ripe,

proportionally, as 9 to 3.

■a

The weight of nutritive matter which is lost by leaving the crop of this grass till the seed k

That it should lose more of its weight at this stage of growth

very

than at the time of flowering, perfectly agrees with the deficiency of nutritive matter in tb
seed crop, in proportion to the nutritive matter afforded by the flowering crop ; the straws be-
ing succulent in the grass of the latter crop, while those of the former are dry, and constitute a
much smaller proportion of the weight of the crop than in the flowering crop. It may be

26

^

/

\

\

I 1

•I

/

\

r«

r,

Meadow Fescue.

/

26

observed W, that there is a great difference between culms and leaves of grasses that have
been dried after they were cut in a green and succulent state, or in possession of their nutrient
qualities, and those culms and leaves which have been dried (if I may so express it) by Nature
when growing : the former retain all their nutritive powers, but the latter very little, if any.
In point of early produce in the spring, this grass stands next to the Alopecurus pratensis,
(meadow foxtail), and is superior in this respect to the cock s-root.

About the middle of April, the meadow-foxtail affords of nutritive matter, per acre
At the same season, the meadow-fescue, as above, affords of nutritive matter, per acre
The round-panicled cockVfoot, (Daciylis glomerata)^ ditto ditto

lbs.

- 483

- 382

- 358

It is eaten by horses, oxen, and sheep, but particularly by the two first : its merits will be
more clearly seen by comparing it farther with the cock's-foot and meadow-foxtail. As it is
often three weeks later in flowering than the foxtail-grass, the latter-math produce must he left
out for the truth of comparison ; and as it is much slower in growth after being cropped than
the cock's-foot, it is likewise necessary to omit the latter-math in a comparison of their produce.

Alopecurus pratensis, (meadow-foxtail), at the time of flowering, affords of nutritive

lbs.

matter, per acre

487

461
^55

1194

1403

At the time the seed is ripe, ditto ditto ditto ...---

The produce of latter-math, ditto ditto ditto

The Festuca pratensis, (meadow-fescue), as above, affords, from the flowering and seeding crops
only -^---.--.-«-

The weight of nutritive matter in which the produce of one acre of the meadow-fescue exceeds
that of the foxtail, is -------_

Or the meadow-fescue is of greater value than that of the foxtail, in the proportion nearly of 11 to 9.
Bactylis ghmerata, (round cock's-foot, affords of nutritive matter, per acre, from three crops, that
is, at the time of flowering, at the time of seeding, and from the latter-math crop, as before
The Festuca pratensis, as above ^ - -----__^_ 1403

209

2821

The weight of nutritive njatter, in which the cock's-foot exceeds the meadow-fescue per acre, is - 1418
Or the cock's-foot grass is superior, in point of produce, to the meadow-fescue, in the proportion nearly of
?tol.

\

The meadow -fescue constitutes a very considerable portion of the herhao-e of all rich natural
pastures and irrigated meadows; it makes excellent hay, and though a large plant, the leaves or
herbage are succulent and tender, and apparently much liked by cattle, as they never form rank
tufts, which is the case with the larger grasses. It does not appear to arrive at perfection from
seed so soon as either the cock's-foot or foxtail grasses, and though essential for permanent pas-
ture, is not well adapted for the alternate husbandry. Flowers in June, and ripens the seed at
the end of July and the beginning of August,

Cynosuriis cristatus. Crested Dog's-tail Grass,

#

Obs.

Floral leaves deeply divided into awl-shaped segments. Husks generally containing

three flowers.

two

valve ending i»

27

V

W

- '

\i-

r

V

S^

I' ^

■^

.^>

' r

\ - ,

*V^ ' /.

t

1

^ &

-V

\.«

jC

\

- >^'^

' j»

i.

A

4

A

(

.*

■ '

tr*

^

^

#

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^'■"iM^w^?n?^

-*;.

*>*>

28

a short awn. Florets all facing one way. This grass is often viviparous ; in wet seasons

Park under the trees. I have found the Ahnp

Woburn

I have found it generally so, in

curus pratensis under the like circumstances viviparous. Root perennial.
Native of Britain. E. Bot. 316; Host. t. 96 ; Mart. t. 106; F. Dan. 238.
Experiments .—k\ the time of flowering, the produce from a brown loam.

with

dr. qr. ■

F

Grass, 9 02. The produce per acre, is
80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry - - 24

The produce of the space, ditto ^ - 43

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying
64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter

r

OZ.

98010

29403

32

The produce of the space, ditto - ^

At the time the seed is ripe, the produce is

r

Grass, 18 oz. The produce per acre,

80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry

The produce of the space, ditto - - 115

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying

64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter

The produce of the space, ditto - • .-

The produce of latter-math is.
Grass, 5 oz.. The produce per acre ^

64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter

4 1

9 2f

6508 3

lbs.

6125 10
1837 11

i

r

4287 15
406 12 3

196020

ct

78408

2 2
11 1

7657

12251 4

4900

7350 12

478 9

% 2 per acre,

.54450
2126

3403 2
132 14

The weight of nutritive matter which is lost, by taking the crop at the time of
flowering, exceeding one-sixth .of its value, is ^ ,. _

71 12 9

The proportion in which the grass at the time of flowering exceeds that at the time the
seed is ripe, with respect to nutritive powers, is as I7 to 10, and is superior to the latter-matli
in the like proportion.

The quantity of grass at the time the seed is ripe, is just twice that at the time of flowering;
but the grass at the former period contains nearly twice the quantity of nutritive matter, as
appears above; and when the latter-math, which would be produced during the time the seed
was ripening, is added to this, it shews the superior advantage of taking the crop when the
grass is in flower. The culms of this grass are of a wiry nature, and, at the time the seed is
ripe, contain no nutritive matter. The leaves are rather slow in growth, are short, but form a
dense turf; hence, the weight of grass at the time the seed is ripe, is greater than at the time
of flowering, but contains proportionally less nutritive matter. It is therefore inferior for
the purpose of hay, but admirably adapted for permanent pasture. The roots penetrate to a
considerable depth in the ground, from which circumstance, it continues green after most other
grasses are hurt by a continuance of dry weather. Mr. Curtis observes, that it affects a dry
sod, and that it will not thrive in meadows that are wet ; but I have always found it more

abundant in moist, or rather tenacious elevated soik +Tio^ • 4^1. /- i • i «^tr

. ^itjvdiea sous, than m those of a drier and more sandy

. In irrigated meadows it thrives in T)erfprti*r.T. o++ • • . i • ^tr

^ • ^^^^^ 1^1 perrection, attaining to a greater size than m any

nature

other situation.

Wobui

, , , . . . ^ ' -^ ^^^^^ constitutes the principal part of the

herbage, on which the deer aijd South Down sheen rhi.fl,. T. ti i ^ .f the

-D 1 1 . , . , . ^ , , ^P ^^letly browse, while another part o\ tlie

Pari, wh,ch cons,s.. ch.efly pf the Apo^ti, capilhri., Jgrostls pu,„!la, f«*,.o« ovina. Bsm'

dnnuscuh, and Fmuca ca„irica, k .eldom touched by them : but the Welsh breed of *ep

the

re IS

th

29

almost constantly browse on these, and almost entirely neglect the Cynosums cristatus LoUi
perenne, and Poa trivkdis. The Welsh breed of sheep not being bred in the Pari i! * f

ence to particular grasses must be the effect of something else than habit The b - 1
difference of opinion with respect to the merits of this grass: it certainly does not affo I ^ ■] r
a bite to cattle in the spring as many other grasses, and the culms are uniformly left I \

but this is more owing to the season in which they are produced, than to any particular defect*

^ en a profusion of root leaves and herbage in general, which is always preferred by
cattle to the culms : when the grass is in flower, the cnlms are succulent, and contain much
nutritive matter; it is all, however, exhausted in perfecting the seed. If this grass is employed
only for the alternate husbandry, and its merits from thence estimated, it will be considered
an inferior grass, as it is by no means adapted for that purpose, either with respect to speedily
arriving at perfection, early growth, or quantity of produce; but its forming a close dense
turf of grateful nutritive herbage, and being little affected by the extremes of weather, where
other grasses, superior in the fore -mentioned points would be produced in tufts, and injured by
the extremes of weather. From these facts it is evident, a sward of the best quality, particu^
larly under circumstances where sheep are a principal object, cannot be formed without an ad-
mixture or proportion of the crested dog's-tail grass. It flowers towards the end of June, ' and
ripens the seed towards the end of July.

* *

\

30

Festuca duriuscula. Hard Fescue.

Specific character: Panicle oblong ; spikets oblong ; root-leaves bristle-sbaped ; stem-leaves flat.

Obs.—Dr. Smith observes, " That in this genus it is hard to say what may, or what may not
be a species; and he reduces the Festuca glauca, Festuca glabra, Festuca camhrica, Festuca
duriuscula, and Festuca ruJbra, of Hudson, Lightfoot, Withering, Winch, and StiUingfleet,
&c. into one species. All these grasses vary much from change of soil and situation ; the
flowers are particularly apt to vary in number, as well as in the length of their awns: there
is one character, however, which I have never found to change under any variety of cul.
ture, which is the creeping root ; and this is also an agricultural character of distinction
which is never to be lost sight of, as it always produces a sjjccijic effect upon the soil, very
distinct indeed from that of the fibrous-rooted kinds. The l)otanical characters given by the
learned, being therefore insufficient to distinguish these grasses, (which I have no doubt
will be equally so with all the present specific distinctions of plants, when discoveries have
been sufficiently extended over every country), 1 will here consider them of two distinct
species — the creeping-rooted, and the fibrous-rooted — noting tlieir varieties from otW parts

■

of the plant. This will be sufficient for the purposes of the Agriculturist, and the ktani-
cal difficulties may with safety be left out of his consideration ; or at least, to practical
men, they will be much less embarrassing, and obviate in a great measure, in these plants,

the danger of mistake. See E. Bot. 470-2056 j With. Still. Curtis. Lond.
Root fibrous. Perennial.

Experiments.— At the time of flowering, the produce from a clayey loam with manure, is.

dr.

Grass, 27 oz. The produce per acre is

80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry

The produce of the space, ditto

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying

64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter

qr,

OZ.

294030

194

332313 S

3 2

The produce of the space, ditto - .-23

At the time the seed is ripe, the produce is
Grass, 28 oz. The produce per acre
80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry
The produce of the space, ditto
The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying
64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter
The produce of the space, ditto

H

16079 12

lbs.

18376 14
8269 9 8

10106 4 8
1004 15 12

36
201 2f

304920
137214

1 2
- 10 2

7146 9

19057 8

8575 14

10481 10

446 10 9

558 5 3

■The weight of nutritive matter which is lost by leaving the crop till the seed is ripe, ex-
ceeding one-half of its value, is - '^--«^_
The proportional value in which the grass, at the time of flowering, exceeds that at the time the seed is ripe.

as 7 to 3.

The produce of latter-math is.
Grass, 15 oz. The produce per acre ^ ^ _

64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter, 1 dr. 1 qr, per acre

163350
3190 4

10209 6

J

199 6 4

i

The proportional value in which the grass, at the time of flower

mg, exce

latter-math, is as U to 5 ; and to that at the time the seed is ripe, as 6 to 5.

eds that of the

/

31

#;

-*: '

\ >

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I

\ 1

M

f

X

%

Festuca duriuscula.

■ s

*

\

' I ^

'■

•»-

f.

- •

Hard Fescue

V

32

The above details confirm the favourable opinion which most writers have exp

.„ . .... '^^'*5ssed

respecting this grass. It is most prevalent on hght rich soils, but it is, likewise, always found
in the richest natural pastures, where the soil is more retentive of moisture, and is never absent
from irrigated meadows that have been properly formed. It appears to be one of the best of
the fine, or dwarf-growing grasses, which are best adapted for the food of sheep, as the Festuca
ovina, Festuca rubra, Poa pratensis, Agrostis vulgaris, &c. Hares are fond of this grass, they
cropped it close to the roots, and entirely neglected the Festuca rubra and Festuca ovma, wliich
grew contiguous to it. It attains to the greatest perfection when combined with the^ Festuca
pratensis and Poa trivialis. It springs rather early, and the produce is remarkably fine and
succulent. It withstands the effects of severe dry weather in rich natural pastures better than
many other grasses. This property, joined to its merits above-mentioned, entitle it to a place
in the composition of the best pastures, though in a smaller proportion, on account of itsinfe-
rior productive powers, which are not compensated by any superiority in the nutritive qualities
of the grass over those grasses that are more productive, as is the case with the Poa trivialis
and some other species.

The superiority of these natural pastures, over those pastures which are formed of one
two grasses only, in respect of a constant or never-failing supply of herbage tliroughout the
season, is In one point, among many others, owing to the variety of habits which exist in a nu-
merous assemblage of different grasses. Some species thrive best in an excess of moist weath

T

i ,

or

^er:

others. In a continuance of dry weather ; but the majority of the grasses which compose the
produce of the pastures in question, thrive best in a middle state between moisture and dry-
ness. Observation will furnish abundant proofs of the truth of this, by comparing the different
states of productiveness in natural pastures, during a season of changeable Aveather, with those
<>f artificial pastures under the like influence of soil and climate. It flowers about the middle of
June, and ripens the seed in the third week of July.

Festuca cambrica, Welsh Fescue.

Specif c character: Panicle compact, oblong, upright, branched, spikets awl-shaped, a^ned,
leaves flat.

0^..-This species (or constant variety, if you will) Is distinguished at first sight from the Fes-

tuea ovrna, Festuca rubra, and Festuca durinscula, by the pale green colour of the pan.,
and cu m. fhe root leaves grow more upright and flat; when cultivated, the spikets con-
s.st of 10 or n florets. Stipul. membraneous, blunt. CWither.J
Ivoot fibrous. Perennial.

Kvperimenfs.

■At the time of flowering, the produce from a sand^ soil, is.

Grass, 10 oz. The produce per acre

80 dr. of grass weigh when dry

The produce of the space, dittto

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying

64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter

The produce of the space, ditto

dr. qr.

oz.

34

68

103900
46282 8

2
5

3828 8

lbs.

6806 4

2892 10 8

3913 9 8

239 4 8

/

33

\

■_ *

f^

i

I
-

\

a >

. I V

.f

■l '

!^

- /

"I

L.

Festuca Cambnca.

V

*■

■

^ .? *

I.

b K

r

4J

I ^

y -•

i

4

rfe/s/i Fescue.

/

m

dr. qr-

oz. lbs.

217800 = 13612 8

At the time the seed is ripe, the produce is,
Grass, 20 oz. The produce per acre > - ■ -

80 dr. of grass weigh when dry - - 24 } ^ 65340 — 4083 12

9528 12

was

The produce of the space, ditto " . " 96

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying

64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter ..21^ _ 7657 = 478 9

The produce of the space, ditto - - 11 1

* The weight of nutritive matter which is lost by taking the crop before the seed is per-^ ^^^ ^ ^

fected, being one-half of its value, is.

The value of the grass at each of these stages of growth is equal. The superior weight of
nutritive matter afforded by the crop at the time the seed is ripe, arises from the increase of
grass which takes place during the time the seed is perfecting ; and in this case as in all otliers,
where it is shewn that the nutritive matter of the seed crop exceeds that contained in the flow-
ering crop, the loss of latter-math which would have been produced in the time the seed
perfecting, must always be considered : this caution is perhaps unnecessary to the judicious,
candid, and truly practical Farmer. When the practice of saving the necessary quantity of
seed for the farm becomes general, (which I doubt not will happen, though at a remote period),
these comparisons between the value of the flowering and seed crops will possess their proper
interest. The seed crops of the natural grasses are in general, at least as far as my ohser^^atlons
have reached, left too long growing ; the gi^een, or the withered state of the culms, is an
uncertain criterion to judge of the ripeness of the seed of the perennial grasses, though ge-
nerally good for the different annual sorts. ^ In the greater part of the perennial gr

e culms are far from being either withered or dry when the seed is ripe, whicli is deter-
mined, in almost all cases, by passing the spike or panicle between the fingers; if a portion
of the seed separate by this means, it will be found in the best state for collectino-; it
should, however, he suffered to reinaui in the ears after heing cut, until the grass he per-
fectly dry. When the grass is suffered to remain uncut till the culms are withered and
dry, and the seed separates on a slight touch, the OTass is rendered of htlle value,

asses,

th

and the seed not improved in quality; the hest part of the seed is either lost by devouring birds,
or insects, or shaken out in the process of cutting and collecting. I have made a number of
experiments on the seeds of grasses and other plants, by sowing at different degrees of what is
termed ripeness, and the results went always to prove the truth of the above remarks; also
that diseased or imperfectly formed seed, always vegetated best when sown directly after being
separated from the plant. An ounce of this seed vegetated, by this treatment, in three different
trials; the same seed, kept dry for two months only, did not vegetate by the like means em^
ployed in sowing, or any other that I attempted. I have repeated experiments of this nature
with much interest and care, but the principle still remained unaltered.

The produce of latter-math is.

dr.

Grass, 9 oz. The produce per acre

V- oz. lbs.

98010 = 6125 10

64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter - 1 i .,

" l 1 per acre . . 7914 = 119

^ From the above results it appears, that this grass is much inferior to the Festuca dumscuh
nr the quanttty of Us produce, as well as in nutrient qualities, which will be evident on a com-
partson of these properties, as mentioned in the foregoing details. It springs rather earlier than

y

<

35

the hard fescue, and also rises better after being cropped, but not, apparently i m '

decree to compensate for its deficiencies in other respects. It U far fv^w. i. •

. . r -"^t lb idr irom being so common as

the E duriuscula, and inhabits the drier spots of pastures. Flowpr<;i «nvr,^ ;i t i

. V , , ^ ^^""^^^s some days earlier than

the r. dunuscula, and ripens the seed about the same period as that grass

t J

V ,

* *

A

Obs.

36

J^es«^«c« oi?m« ^ord^j/bnmV. Long-awned Sheep's Fescue,

Specific character : Panicle compact, l^ranches sutdivided, upright. Spikets crowded, 6-10
flowered. Root-leaves thread-shaped, stem-leaves very long.

-In the first account of the results of these experiments, this grass is received under the
name of Festuca hordiformis : though there are names received among Botanists, not less
incongruous than this one, yet I am happy to agree with the opinion of Mr. SowerLy, !„
considering it a variety of the Festuca ovina. I am uncertain as to its native place of growth,
having never discovered it in any soil or situation in a wild state. The culms are strongly
marked with ribs.

Root fibrous, perennial. Native of Britain.

r

Experiments,— Allh^ time of flowering, the produce from a sandy soil with manure, is,

^

dr. qri

oz.

lbs.

Grass, 20 oz^ The produce per acre
80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry

The produce of the space, ditto

24

- 9Q

217BOO
65340

13612 8

4083 12

2 1
11 1

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying

G4dr, of grass afford of nutritive matter

The produce of the space, ditto r - -

At the time the seed is ripe, the produce is,
Grass, 14 oz. the produce per acre
80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry . - .
The produce of the space, ditto

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying
64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter

9528 12

- 7657

478

152460

yo28 12

- 32

89 2^

60984

3811 8

5717 4

The produce of the space, ditto

The produce of latter-math, is,
Grass, 8 oz,. The produce per acre
64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter

1 3

- 6 Oi

4168 13

260 13

87120

1 3 per acre

2382

3

5445
148 ]4

The weight of nutritive matter which is lost by leaving the crop till the seed be ripe, cxceedin

one-half of its value, is

217 12

Th

the seed is ripe, is as 9 to 7, and it exceeds the value of the latter-math grass in the like propor-
tion. The grass of the seed crop, and that of the latter-math, are equal in the quantity of nu-
tritive matter they contain ; a circumstance easily accounted for, as the culms at the time the
seed is ripe, are drier than in most other grasses at the same stage of growtli, and the produce
then consists almost entirely of leaves, similar to the latter-math produce. This species flowers
earlier than any other of the fescue species. Its nutritive qualities are nearly the same as tlio^e

It IS superior to that species, and to most others, in the produce
of early herbage m the spring ; the herbage is very fine, tender, and sueculent. It is highly
superior to the Festuca ovina, of whieh it is considered a variety. It does not appear, however,
to possess any merit in a sufficient degree to entitle it to a place in the composition of the best
natural pastures, unless as a substitute for the Festuca duriuscula, which might be effected with
advantage on soils of a drier, or sandy mature. It flowers in the last week of May, and ripens

of the Festuca duriuscula.

the seed in June.

•

\

37

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w^

\

\

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'-

1,

F'- )

t>^--

* -

I '

\

/

Festuca ovina hordlfomns

#

Long^awned Sheep's

escue

- I

38

Avena Jli

Specifii

Golden Oat, Yellow Oat-g

character: Panicle loose ; calyx 3-flowered, short, all the florets awned.

■Jib

Native of

0^..-Leaves linear, acute, flat ; margin rough, of a yellow green colour. Panicle much
branched, yellow green at first, afterwards changing to a golden yellow, by which it may
be distinguished at a distance from other grasses ; wide spread when in flower, but com-

Withe

p. 377 ; Hort. Kew,

Experiments. — At the time of flowering, the produce from a clayey loam, is,

dr. qr.

-67

Grass, 12 oz. The produce per acre
80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry
. The produce of the space, ditto
The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying
64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter
The produce of the space, ditto

At the time the seed is ripe, the produce is,
Grass, 18 oz. The produce per acre
80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry
The produce of the space, ditto

oz.

130680

lbs.

8167

8

28

0^

45738

3 3

11

7657

2858 10

5308 14

478 9

196020

12251 4

32

115

0^

78403

4900 8

7350 12

6891 5

430 11 5

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying
64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter

■

The produce of the space, ditto

The weight of nutriti\'e matter which is lost by leaving the crop till the seed be ripe, is

The proportional value in which the grass, at the time of flowering, exceeds that at the time the seed is

2 1
10

47 13 11

ripe, is as 5 to 3.
The produce of latter-math, is.
Grass, 6 OZ. The produce per acre - • -

64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter 1 dr. 1 qr. per acre

- 65340
- 1276 2

4083

12

79 12 2

The proportional value in which the grass, at the time of flowering, exceeds that of tlie
latter-math, is as 3 to 1 ; and the grass, at the time the seed is ripe, is to that of the latter-
math, as 9 to 5.

This is one of those grasses which neyer thrives when cultivated simply by itself; it requires
to he combined with other grasses, to secure its continuance in the soil, and to obtain its pro-

duce in perfection.

Hi

(crested dog's-tail)

(sweet

vernal-grass). It affects most a calcareous soil, and that which is dry. It grows naturally
however, in almost every kind of soil, from the lime-stone rock to the irrigated meadow:

it
not

IS always present in the richest natural pastures. From the above details, its produce is
very great, nor its nutritive qualities considerable. The nutritive matter it affords from its leaves,
(the properties of which are of more importance to be known than those of the culms, for a per-
manent pasture grass), contains proportionally more bitter extractive, than what is contained in
the nutritive matters of the grasses with which it is more generally combined in natural pas-
tures, and which have just now been mentioned. This latter circumstance is the chief claim

A

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V. ,-.

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ft

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Avena flavescen

Golden Oat-grass,

• '

40

. , , . ,, V- „ «f tl. ^ T^rnduce of rich past are land ; but more particularly if

It has to a place in the composition ot the proauce ^^ r , i , •>' "

the land be elevated and without good shelter, this grass becomes more valuable as it thrives
better under such circumstances than most other grasses, and sheep eat it as readily as they do.
most others. The seed is very small and light ; but it vegetates freely if sown m the autumn, or

1 . 1 • T u . +1.0 <PP(ls of this crrass in almost every month of tli^

not too early m the spring. I have sown the seeas ui ti ^ j ui tne

in 1 • ^ n ' ^ ^ +Ti^ Qtate of the weather, the third week in Mav

year, and after making due allowance tor the state ui ludy,

^nd the first week of September, were evidently the best.

It flowers in the first, and often in the second week of July, and ripens the seed in the be-

ginning of August.

/

Holcus lanatus. Woolly Soft-grass.

Specific character : Root fibrous; panicle equally diffused ; bisexual floret inferior, awnless;
unisexual floret awned, the awn recurved and inclosed by the calyx.

0^5.— Practical Farmers often mistake this grass for the creeping-rooted soft-grass ; I bave
therefore given a specimen of the latter in the next following page, for the convenience of
comparison, otherwise it belongs to another division of the subject, that is, grasses natural
to sandy soils. The male, or unisexual floret, contains one pistle ; the germen, or rudi-
ment of the future seed, is similar to that of the fertile or bisexual floret, but much smaller;

it is always abortive.
Native of Britain. Perennial. E. Bot. 1169; Host, t. 2; Curt. Lend. fasc. 38; Witlier.

r

L

Arr. ; Flo. Germ. i. p. 251.
Experimeiits, — About the middle of April, the produce from a clayey loam, is,

Grass, 7 oz. The produce per acre
64 dr. of grass afFord of nutritive matter

At the time of flowering, the produce is.
Grass, 28 oz. The produce per acre
64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter
The produce of the space, ditto
80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry

dr. qr.

oz.

11)5.

3 1 per acre

76230
2679 15

4764 6
167 7 15

304920

4

28
26

19057 8

19057 8

1191 1 8

- 145 2f

The produce of the space, ditto

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying

At the time the seed is ripe, the produce is.
Grass, 28 oz. The produce per acre
80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry
The produce of the space, ditto

99099

6193 11

12863 \S

16

89 2f

304920

60984

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying
64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter

2 3

19

13102

The produce of the space, ditto *

The weight of nutritive matter which is lost by leaving the crop till the seed be ripe, exceeding
one^third part of its value, is - - _

19057 8

3811 8

15246

818 14

372 3 8

The proportional value, in which the first grass of the spring is inferior to that at the time
of flowering, is as 16 to 9 j and the grass of the flowering crop, exceeds that of the seed crop
in the proportion of 16 to 11.

41

/

^>

^

\*

rass

t

42

The produce of latter-matli is,

Grass, 10 oz.- The produce per acre
64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter

dr. qr

I ^ per acre

oz.

108'900
, 2552 5

lbs.

6806

1

159 8 5

The grass of the latter-math is therefore of inferior value to that of the spring, to that at
the time of flowering, and to that at the time the seed is ripe.

This is a very common grass, and grows on all soils, from the richest to the poorest. It
attains to the greatest degree of luxuriance on light moist soils; particularly on those of a peaty

Cattle prefer almost any other grass to this ; it is seen in pastures with full grown
perfect leaves, while the grasses that surround it are cropped to the roots.

The numerous downy hairs which cover the surface of the whole plant, render the hay
that is made of it soft and spongy, and in this state it is disliked by cattle, particularly by
horses. Sir Humphry Davy has shewn, that its nutritive matter consists entirely of mucilage
and sugar ; and that the nutritive matters of the grasses most liked by cattle, have either a sub-

nature.

Hi

IS

^^

similar to that of gum Arabic; and this grass might probably be made more palatable to cattle by
being sprinkled over with salt. This may be done at so little expence and trouble atthetimetlie
hay is carried, that it cannot be too earnestly recommended to the notice of those gentlemen
who may have much of this grass in their meadows or pastures. The late Duke of Bedford made
trial of this grass on a large scale: the results proved that it was a very inferior grass for pas-
ture, or for hay. Its merits consist in being productive, and easy of cultivation. But it is dis-
liked by cattle: is not an eai^ly grass; and when once in possession of the soil, can hardly be
again rooted out. There being so many grasses superior to this in every respect, it cannot sup-

r

port any claim to a place in the composition of the best permanent pastures. It produces a pro-
fusion of seed, which being light, is easily dispersed by the winds; and though a late flower-

T

ing grass, the seed ripens sooner than that of most others, and before hay-harvest begins,
is generally perfected, The question is, therefore, how to get free of it: hard stocking,
and never suffering it to run to seed, will at least prevent it from spreading farther,
ploughing up the pasture, and taking not less than a five years' course of crops, and tl
returning the land to other grasses, will be found the best remedy. Flowers and ripens tlie
geed in July.

But

len

Molciis mollis^ Creeping Soft-grass, Couch-grass.

Specific character: Boot creeping, panicle regular, bisexual floret inferior, awnless: unl-

sexual or male floret awned, avs^n incurved, protruding out of the calyx.
Obs.— The creeping root of this species of soft grass, at once determines it to be distinct from

He

H. lanatus

are in dense tufts. The avrn in the hnatus is hid in the calyx ; but in the moHis it pro-
trudes out of the calyx ; it is also tvristed and knee-bent, like that of an Avena. The pani-
oh oi the lanatm is generally of a reddish purple colour, tinoed with green, or, when

#.

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43

-\

^1

\

.' t

«i

rf

J

*ff\

P r

\

*- '

t-grass.

44

growing under the shade of trees, of a whitish green colour. The panicle of the H.
is always of a pale whitish green colour

mollis

Perennial. Native
Arr. ; Hort. Kew.

ive of Britain. E. Bot. 1170; Host. t. 5; Curt. Lond. fasc. 54; Wither.

Ea^periments.- At the time of flowering, the produce from a sandy soil, is.

dr. qr

32
320

Grass, 50 oz. The produce per acre

80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry

The produce of the space, ditto

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying

64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter

The produce of the space, ditto

At the time the seed is ripe, the produce is.
Grass, 31 oz. The produce per acre
80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry
The produce of the space, ditto

oz,

544500

217800

4 2
56 1

38285 2

32

198 If

337590
135036

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying
64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter

3

2

27 Of

18461 15

lbs.

34031

4

13612 8

20418 12

2392 13 2f

21099 6
8439 12

+

12659 10
1153 13 15

The produce of the space, ditto

The weight of nutritive matter which is lost by leaving the crop till the seed be ripe, exceeding)

r i«t3o lo 3

one-half of its value, is ---'■--- >

The proportional value in which the grass of the flowering crop exceeds that of the seed crop,

is as 9 to 7-

64 dr. of the roots afford of nutritive matter 5 dr. 2 qr. The nutritive powers of the roots

are therefore superior to that of the grass of the flowering crop, as 11 to 9, ^nd also superior to

\

the grass of the seeding crop, as 11 to 7.

The ahove detail's prove this grass to have merits which, when compared with those of other
species, rank it as one of the superior grasses. But then it produces little herbage In the spring,
and the latter-math is next to nothing. It is also a very late grass, and whatever merit it may
possess with regard to a crop, at the time of flowering, it can only be taken into the account
in relation to the soil which naturally produces it, which is a light barren sandy soil. If we
therefore compare its produce on such soils with that of other grasses, it will prove superior;
but there it must remain, for on all other soils it will be found inferior to most other grasses.
The roots, when once in possession of the soil, can hardly be again expelled without great
labour and expence. It is the true couch-grass of hght sandy soils ; I h^ve found roots five feet
in length, the growth of a few months only. The roots contain a very considerable quantity of
nutritive matter, which has the flavour of new-made meal. Pigs are very fond of the roots, and
dig them up with eagerness. How far it might be advantageous to cultivate this grass
naked sands, for the sake of the roots, I shall not presume to determine ; but the strong nutri-
tive powers they possess, and the little expence that would attend their culture, warrant tk
recommendation of trial, to those who may have such barren sands in their possession. The
herbage is apparently more disliked by cattle than that of the Holcuslanatus; it is extremely

on

^oft, dry, and tasteless.

The best mode of banishino-

this impoverishing and most troublesome

45

^

weed from light arable lands that are infested with it, is to collect the roots with the fork after
the plough; and when thus in some measure lessened, to apply yearly, sufficient dressings Tf
clay, perhaps fifty load per acre, till the texture of the soil is changed to a sandy loam : thi
grass will then be easily overcome, and the fertility of the soil permanently increased.

i *

h -

y

t ^-^

K

46

Hdlcus odoratus, (repens). Sweet-scented Soft-grass.

Specific character: Panicle mostly flowering on one side; fruit-stalks smooth ; bisexual
floret awnless ; male, or unisexual floret, furnished with a short awn. Holcus repens,
Host. vol. iii. p. 3, t. 3; Holcus odoratus, Flo. Dan. t. 963; Holcus horealis, Flo. Germ.

r

p. 252.

0^5.— Botanists have made two species here, which I include in one, as I can perceive no
difference in their structure, habits, or agricultural merits, sufficient to separate them. The
nectary is the only part wherein these plants vary from each other in a sensible degree, but
what may be accounted for from the circumstances of soil and situation. If they are to

' remain distinct species, they are artificial in no ordinary degree.

Root creeping. Perennial. Native of Germany; grows in moist meadows,

Experiments, — At the time of flowering, the produce is,

dr. qr,

oz.

152460

lbs.

9528 12

20 2
57 If

3

9067 14

2441 11 14

7087 2

34 S

10124 4

632 12 4

435600

27225

Grass, 14 oz. The produce per acre

80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry

The produce of the space, ditto

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying

64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter - 4

The produce of the space, ditto - - 14

At the time the seed is ripe, the produce is,
Grass, 40 oz. The produce per acre
80 dr, of grass weigh, when dry
The produce of the space, ditto
The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying - - . _ _ . 17696 4

64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter
The produce of the space, ditto - -

The produce of latter-math is,
Grass, 25 oz. The produce per acre
64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter

28

224

152460

9528 12

52

35732 13

2233 4 13

4 1

272250
1 8079 1

17015 10
1129 15 1

The weight of nutritive matter which is lost by taking the crop at the time of flowering', ex-

ceeding one-half its value, is ----.___ V ^^^^ ^

9

The proportional value in which the grass of the seed crop exceeds that at the time of
flowering, is as 21 to l?. The grass of the latter-math, and the grass at the time of flowering,
are of equal proportional value.

Though this is one of the earliest flowering grasses, it is tender, and the spring produce of
herbage is very inconsiderable, the flowering straws rising up in a manner destitute of leaves.
This deficiency of produce is much to be regretted, as the nutritive qualities of the grass are
greater than in most of the early spring grasses : it sends forth but a few flower straws, which
are of a slender structure, compared to the size of the leaves. This accounts, in a great measure,
for the equal quantities of nutritive matter afforded by the grass at the time of flowering, and
that of the latter-math. The grasses which flower about the same time as tins species, are.

scented vernal-grass,

( Sesleria cwrulea) ; Alpine meadow-grass, (P

and the sweet-

')■ In no Instance, that I have observed, was

this grass eaten by the hares and rabbits which preyed upon many of the other grasses.

Sir

47

"^

I-

■•:

V-

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t'

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-Vp

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\

?

Holcus odorafus, (repensj.

%

«!«-

ft>>i)

\

Sweet-scented

'grass

48

H. Davy has shewn, that 82 parts of the nutritive matter of this grass, consist of 72 parts «,,,
cilage or stareh, four parts saccharine matter, and six parts of bitter extractive matter, and a
peculiar substance which has'an acrid taste, more soluble in alcohol than in water. The pow.
erful creeping roots of this grass, its tender nature, and the great deficiency of foliage in the
spring, are demerits which discourage the idea of recommending it farther to the notice of the

Agriculturist.

It comes into flower about the end of April, and perfects the seed about the third week of

June. It perfects few seeds, seldom more than two In a panicle. But few grasses prop
more quickly by the roots.

agate

tloleim avenaceus. Tall Oat-like Soft-grass

Specific character: Bisexual floret superior, mostly awn

or unisexual floret, with

a jointed awn; culm with smooth joints; root knobbed, or bulbous.
Obs, — In the works of Linnaeus, Curtis, and Host, this grass is found under the name of
Avena elatior; under this name it was also received in the first account of the results of
these experiments. The jointed and twisted awn, from the back of the blossom, wliicfi
caused it to rank with the avence, is frequently wanting altogether, wliich is evident in

r

the next following specimen. It was thought to agree better with the Iwici in structure; it

has in consequence been referred to that genus by Scopoli, in the Flora Carniolica; and by

Dr. Smithj, in the Flo. Brit, and English Botany; indeed., it appears to belong to neither of

these justly, but ^rves to form the connecting link between the avence, hold, and f/ra.

Eng. Bot. 813; Host. t. 49, Avena elatior; Curt. Lond. Avena elatior.
Native of Britain, Perennial.

Experiments. — -At flie time of flowering, the produce from a clayey loam, is,

4

tir. qr. oz. lbs.

Grass, 25 oz. The produce per acre m - „ . 272^50 ^ 17015 10

80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry i- - 30

102081 = 6380 10

11635

10C34 12 = 664 10

The produce of the space, ditto - - 150

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying
64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter ^ 2 2

The produce of the space, ditto »- - 15 2t

At the time the seed is ripe, the produce is^
Grass, 24 oz. The produce per acre - . „ , 26l360 = 16335

80 dr, of grass weigh, when dry '■^23

The produce ofthe space, ditto - . .134 i^ ^ '^ " 91^76 0= 5717 3

'J'he weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying

64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter ^ l

10617 13

The produce of the space, ditto '--60\ " " ^^^^ ^^ ^ ^^^ ^ ^^

The produce of latter-math is,
Grass, 20 OZ. The produce per acre . ^ , ^ ^ 217800 = 13612 8

64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter •* 1 1 , , aqk^ 14 __ 260 13 ^^

The weight of nutritive matter which is lost by leaving the crop till the seed be ripe, ex-

ceeding one-haif. of its value, is

409 6 ^

\

y

4

(■

V

I ' 1

V

V

KV

>

-f

\

Holms, avenaceus

I
/

^

\

Ta// OaUlike Soft-grass.

30

.„e p.op„™„„. v.,u. .u which .he grass .. Ae time of flowering exeeeds .ha. a. the .i^e

tl,e seed is L, is as 5 .o ., and is snperior ,0 .he grass of .he Ia..er.math, ,n .he pr„p„rt„„ „f

The proportional value in

2 to T.

■ B

This grass sends forth flowering culms during the whole of the season ahd the latter-n^atH
produce, consequently, contains nearly an equal quantity of culms with the flowering crop.
It is subject to the disease termed rust, hut it does not make its appearance tdl afterthe period
of flowering; it afi^ects the whole plant, and at the time the seed .s npe, the culms, and many of
the root leaves are withered and dry, from its baneful effects. This clearly explams the cause
of the latter-math being superior to the crop at the time the seed is ripe; and points out the
propriety of taking the crop as soon as the grass is in flower.

When cultivated on a heath soil, the subsoil being a strong clay, the nutritive powers of
the grass were greater. 64 dr. of this grass afforded 4 dr. of nutritive matter, which shews
the grass, in this instance, to be of greater value than that from a clayey loam, in tlie propor-
tion of 8 to 5. But the weight of grass produced on the clayey loam, was superior to that on
the heath soil, in the proportion of 25 to 8. To account for this, we have only to obserre, that
the produce of the heath soil consisted chiefly of culms, while that of the clayey loam consisted
more of leaves. This grass is eaten by all sorts of cattle. Its produce is very great, but the
nutritive qualities of the grass are inferior to many other grasses. It pushes rapidly after being
cropped; and though later in flowering than many other species, produces an early and plen-
tiful supply of herbage in the spring. These properties would entitle it to rank high as a gn
adapted for the alternate husbandry, but its nutrjtive matter contains too large a proportion of
bitter extractive, and saline matters, to warrant its cultivation, without a consideralile admix-
ture of different grasses; and the same objection extends to its culture for permanent pasture.
It is always present in the composition of the best natural pastures; and, as before
tioned, eaten in common Avith other grasses. It does not, however, constitute a large pro-
portion of the herbage, but rather the least of any of the more valualjle grasses that have

been mentioned. *

Its produce on different soils, from the time it was sown, April 23, 1813, till the period it
was cut, July 10, 1813, being less than three months, was as follows:

Rich clayey loam, grass, 25 oz. 64 dr. of which afforded of nutritive matter
Clayey loam, grass, 23 oz. 64 dr. of which afforded of nutritive matter - _ -

Rich black siliceous sandy soil, grass, 13 oz. 64 dr. of which afforded of nutritive matter
Poor siliceous sandy soil, grass, 10 Oz. 64 dr. of which afforded of nutritive matter
Heath soil, grass, 8 oz- 64 dr. of which afforded of nutritive matter - ' -

■ass

iiien-

73 grains.

84

89
80

83

The difference in the quantity of nutritive matter afforded by the produce of these different
soils, seemed solely to arise from the proportion of culms contained in the different crops; the
produce of the rich black siliceous soil, for instance, contained by far the greatest proportion
flowering culms, and that of the rich clayey loam, the least.

From the above details it appears, that this grass should have a place in the composition

f

of

the best natural, or permanent pastures, though its proportion

as a

constituent, should be

much limited. Flowers towards the end of June, and ripens the seed about the second we
July.

ekof

/

f

61

/

62

Holms menaceus, var. Muticiis. Awnless tall Oat-like Soft-grass

Var. — Flowers without awns.

0^*.— This variety is smaller in every respect than the preceding ; leaves very short ; rpot
slightly bulbous ; panicle much contracted ; glumes pencilled at the apex with purple.
Flowers a week later than the awned variety ; in all other respects it is the same.

Native of Scotland. Curt.

Experiments, — At the time of flowering, the produce from a rich clayey loam, is,

Grass, 18 oz. The produce per acre
80 dr. of grass weigh when dry
The produce of the space, ditto

dr. qr.

oz.

lbs.

28
100 3f

196020

68607

^^251 4
4287 15

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying
64 dr, of grass afford of nutritive matter
The produce of the space^ ditto

The produce of latter-math is.
Grass, 5 oz. The produce per acre
64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter

79G

3 2
15 3

10719 13

66*9 15 13

1

54450
850 12

3403 2
5S 2 12

This variety is much later, in respect of producing herbage in the spring, and incomlno-
into flower, than the awned variety. It seldom perfects any good seed. It appears to be much
inferior in point of produce, as the following comparison will manifest :

664
^65

Holcus avenaceus, var. aristatus, or awned variety, affords of nutritive matter fror
the produce of one acre, at the time of flowering - - _ ^ .
The produce of latter-math affords of nutritive matter - - _ -

The Holcus avenaceus, var. muticus, or awnless variety, as above, affords of nutritiv
matter from the produce of one acre, at the time of flowering
The produce of latter^math, ditto - - ^ ^ - - , .

The weight of nutritive matter in which the produce of one acre of the awned variety
of the tall oat-like soft-grass exceeds that of the awnless variety, is - ■-

lbs.

m

\

rn

53

207

t

The latter-math produce is very inconsiderable, and hut little nutritive. The nutritive matter
contains a little more saccharine matter, in proportion to the other ingredients, than what is con-
tained in the nutritive matter of the awned variety. Hares give a decided preference to the
awnless variety. If this grass had merits which entitled it to a place among the superior
grasses, it could not be cultivated with advantage, on account of its deficiency of seed, and im-
patience of being transplanted by parting the roots. It can only be offered, therefore, as a bo-
tanical curiosity.

It flowers a week later than the awned variety,

j!

53

}

ia ■.

V

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H

9 J

.V

x"-

i. '-

/

Hokus avenaceus,

/

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Awnkss tall Oat-like Soft-grass

m

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54

^ ^

Bromus arvensis. Field Brome-grass.

Specific character : Panicle almost upright; spikets linear spear-shaped, compressed, naked;
flowers imbricated ; awn straight, about the length of the husks ; leaves villous.

0^5.— Culms from two to three feet in height ; more or less declining at the base, after-
wards erect, roundish, striated, smooth. Panicle generally six inches in length, many.
flowered ; main branch, or stem of the panicle, striated, smooth below, above flexuose.
Spikets greenish on the upper side, and of a purplish brown on the other. This species
resembles, in some measure, the Bromus multiftorus ; but the spikets being much more linear,
and the brown or purple tinge on the under side of the spikets, readily distinguish them.

Native of Britain. Root annual. E. Bot. 920 : Host. t. 14 ; Flo. Ger.

Experiments. — ^At the time of flowering, the produce from a sandy loam^ is,

r

dr. qr. <»• lb'-

Grass, 35 oz. The produce per acre, is, - - - 381150 == 23821 14

190575 = 11910 15

- 23821 14 = 1488 13 U

80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry - . 40

The produce of the space, ditto - - 280

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying ------ II910 15

04 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter - 4

The produce of the space, ditto - , - - 35
At the time the seed is ripe, the produce is,

h

Grass, 10 oz. the produce per acre

64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter - 1 2 per acre - ^o^^l 5 = 147

The weight of nutritive matter which is lost by leaving the crop till the seed be ripe, exceeding

ten times its value, is - - - ^ ^^^^ "^^ ^'^

108900 == C8O6 4

\

This species of Bromc-grass appears, from the results of all my observations, to be confined

lilt if! i

Bromus mollis, are chiefly found to prevail on poor or exhausted grass lands. They are all
strictly annual. This species appears to be the most valuable of the three. When this grass is
mown at the time of flowering, it affords a considerable weight of nutritive hay ; but when
left uncut till the time the seed is ripe, it is then comparatively of no value, which is manifest
from the above details. All these annual bromes are considered bad grasses by the Farmer.
This much, however, may be said in favour of the Field Brome-grass, that it affords an early
bite m the sprmg, and is eaten by sheep and lambs equally with other grasses. It exhausts the
sod but little ; the roots penetrate to little depth in the earth. The seed falls from the husks
as soon as ripe, and vegetates quickly among the root-leaves of the perennial grasses, and be-
fore autumn draws to a conclusion, attains to a considerable size. This grass withstands the
effects of frost better than many of the superior pasture grasses : hence it is among the early
grasses, which afford the principal herbage in the beginning of spring. Being strictly an annual
plant, Its existence another year depends on suffering it to perfect its seed, and, as before stated,
the value of its produce at this stage of growth is very little ■ so that its merits are reduced to
this one, the produce of eariy herbage in the spring, which will appear insufiicient to recom-
mend it tor the purposes of cultivation.

It flowers in the second week of June, and till A„ * v i ^ . , 'ri,P

J. . . , ^ , ,^ ' ^"^ *"i August It sends up flowering culms. The

seed IS ripe m the first week of July, and successivpl,. till *i, '^^^ re ,

•^ feuccessively till the middle of September.

^ *

»x

*•

1

//

/

;

V

s.

\

/

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Bromiis arvensis

Fidd Brome-grass.

I

**.-

66

Sromus multifli

ifi

Many-flowered Brome

-srrass.

flowers imbricated ; awn straight ; leaves woolly. Host. t. 1 1 ,
Obs.—By attending to the form of the spikets, this species may readily be distinguished from

the Bromus arvensiSy whose

ipear

The Bromus mollis may likg.

wise he distinguished from the Bromus arvensis, by the same character; and from the^^o

^

mulfifli

mus multiflorus by its downy hairs, which cover the spikets ; the
and B. multiflorus, being naked. This is nearer to the Bromut
than to the Bromus secalinus.

Native of Britain. Root annual.

Experiments, ^~r- Ax the time of flowering, the produce from a sandy loam, is.

dr. qr

-* - 44

290

Grass, 3^ oz. The produce per acre A

80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry -

The produce of the space, ditto

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying

64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter - , 5

The produce of ,the space, ditto

oz.

lbs.

359370

197653 8

- 41 1

^8075 12

V

22460 10
12353 5 .8
10107 4 S

1754 11 12

4

On comparing the quantity of nutritive matter afforded by the produce of one acre of this
grass at the time of flowering, with that afforded under the like circumstances by the Bromm
arvensis, It manifests a superiority of 266]bs. per acre. This, and also the superior nutritive
qualities of the grass, appear to arise from the greater proportion of culms in the produce of
the Many-flowered Brome-grass; for though the cuJms of the Brotnus arvensis grow to a much

multifli

ultifli

Tb

the spring produce of foliage Is proportionally less ; so much so, as 2 to 1 . If there was any
doubt of rejecting the Field Brome-grass as unfit for cultivation, there can be none for the Many-
flowered Brome-grass, because it Is Inferior In almost every respect. It Is natural to soils of a
less rich nature, than those which produce the superior pasture grasses, and the Bromus arven-
sis. It flowers about the second week of July, and the seed Is generally ripe in three weefe
iafterwards.

V

67

^

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w

t

\

^

• .

/-

/

\

\

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Brom

us multiftorus

ii-

• L

Many-flowered Brome-grass

m

r

68

JSromus mollis

Brome-g

_ , -^ 3ts oval oblong, a little compressed, covered with

down? flowers imbricatedTouter'husk of the blossom divided at top; awn straight, about

the length of the husk; leaves soft and downy.

0^..-The panicle branches are simple, seldom supporting more than one spiket. In ^he
Bromus arvensis and Bromus muUiJlorus, the panicle branches are branched, and some of
them simple. The oval oblong figure of the spikets, and the downy hairs which cover
them, are characters which readily distinguish this species from the others.

Experiments.— At the time of flowering, the produce from a sandy loam, is.

dr. qr,

Grass, l6oz. The produce per acre is
80 dr. of grass' weigh, when dry
The produce of the space, ditto

oz,

174240

lbs.

10890

. 40 0^
128 S

87 ISO

5445

3
12

8167 8

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying
64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter
The produce of the space, ditto

At the time the seed is ripe, the produce is.
Grass, 4 oz. The produce per acre
80 dr. of grass weigh when dry
The produce of the space, ditto
64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter
The produce of the space, ditto
The weight of nutritive matter, in which the crop at the time of flowering exceeds that

at the time the seed is ripe, is, ^ - ^ _ - -

5445

510 7 8

60

48

3

3

43560
32670

2722 8

2041 14

510 7

5\ 14 7

478 9 1

On all poor exhausted soils that have been Injudiciously laid down to grass, this species is
more common than on any other land. It very much resembles the Lavo last-mentioned species
oi bromus in appearance and habits, but flowers several weeks earlier, and the seed is ripe gene-

w

rally before hay-harvest commences. This circumstance, which is an unfortunate one to the
Farmer, is favourable to the Soft Brome-grass, as it secures its existence for another season.
From the above details it appears to be greatly inferior to the Field Brouie-grass, and Many-
flowered Brome. . It produces but little foliage in the spring ; and the flowering culms are

soon

formed, and become nodding at top, or bent downwards with the weight of the seed, which is
large, and much relished by birds. When once this grass introduces itself into a field, it
is a very difiiciilt task to overcome it: for though an annual, or one-year lived plant, hke the
other two bromes, and though cut when in flower, it will, nevertheless, continue to send up
fresh culms from the root till a late period of the season; and these late or secondary culms
being of a very low stature, are seldom perceived, but on a close inspection of the
herbage. Thus it happens, that after sacrificing the crop of hay (but which indeed is
never great if this grass prevails), by mowing the field when this ^rass is in flower,

the Soft

and before the

other pasture grasses have attained to any degree of maturity,

One remedy

Brome-grass next season makes its appearance

in abundance, as before.

is, therefore, to mow repeatedly, as the flowering culms make their appearance, till the
roots of the annual grass are exhausted, and then to apply sufficient top-dressings to com-

t

69

.1

*

I

*

i**'

i

'*

*

/

V

f
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Bromus mollis.

J

i %

/

Soft Brome-grass^

60

pensate the soil for the want of the grazing manure. But prevention is most to be recommended,

and that is effected by judicious cropping

an

d never suffering the land to become too

exhausted : when this is faithfully perfornied, the Soft Brome will but seldom appear, or will

poor or

sooa

b

e overcome

y

by its more powerful neighbours. This grass, however, sometimes makes its appear.
ance on a sudden in lands that were before strangers to it, which is caused by its seed being
mixed with that of the grain or grass-seed used in sowing the land. It may therefore be worth
the notice of the Agriculturist to examine such seeds before they are committed to the soil. Th
specimens of seeds given in the Introduction, will enable lilm to detect the seed of the Soft
Brome, and other inferior grasses.
. It flowers about the middle of May, and ripens the seed about the first or second week of

June.

t

I

Festuca loliacea. Darnel-like Fescue.

Specific character: Flowers collected into a 'spike ; spikets alternate, sitting, compressed

awnless.

Ohs,

(^y

closer inspection, the calyx, or outer husk, so conspicuous in the spikets of the ryc-m-ass, h
in the spikets of this grass almost wanting. The spikets are also arranged in a different
manner : in the rye-grass they stand facing the spike-stalk ; but in the Darnel-like Fescue,
they Stand with their back towards it. E. Bot. 1821; Curt. Lond.; Huds.

^ ■

Native of Britain. Root fibrous. Perennial,

Experiments. — At the time of flowering, the produce from a rich brown loam, is,

4

Grass, 24 oz. The produce per acre,

80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry

The produce of the space, ditto

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying

64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter

dr. qr

oz,

£Cl360

lbs.

16335

35

168

114345

7146 9

3

18

1

4

12251 4

x^

33
105 0^

71874

The produce of the space, ditto

At the time the seed is ripe, the produce is,
Grass, 16 oz. The produce per acre - - - . , ^ 174240

80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry
The produce of the space, ditto
The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying
64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter
The produce of the space, ditto

r
^

The latter-math produce is.
Grass, 5 oz. The produce per aerie
64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter

9188 7
765 11

10890

3 1
- 13

- 8848 2

4492 2
6397 14

653 2

1 1

54450
1063 7

3403 2
66 7 7
212 9

The weight of nutritive matter which is lost by leaving the crop till the seed be ripe, is

The proportional value which the grass, at the time the seed is ripe, bears to that at the time
of flowering, is as 13 to 12; and the grass of the latter-math stands in proportion to that at the
time of flowering, as 12 to 5, and to that at the time the seed is ripe, as 13 to 5.

^

m

/

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p

r ■

N

\

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BarneUlihe Fescue

J

1 h

en

S2

m

^

This species of fescue is very much like the rye-grass in appearance ; it likewise affects the
same kind of soil as Rye-grass. Some Botanists have supposed it to be a hybrid, the joint pro-
duce of the Lolium perenne, (rye-grass), and Festuca fiuitans, (flote fescue) ; but the time wh
the rye-grass, ( Lolium perenne) , comes into flower, is nearer to that in which the Meadow Fescue
CFestuca pratensisj is in flower than the Flote Fescue ; the soil and habits of the two former

grasses are likewise more similar.

From the above details, it appears that this species of fescue is much superior to Rye-grass i
point of produce. The following comparison of the quantity of nutritive matter afforded by th,
produce of one acre, will shew the degree of superiority,

4

Lolium perenne, rye-grass, affords,

lbs. lbs.

Of nutritive matter, from the produce of one acre, at the time of flowering 305 11 15

Of nutritive matter, from the produce of one acre, at the time the seed is ripe 643 6 7^ 1002 5 2

Of nutritive matter, from the produce of latter-math - - ^ - 53 2 12

in

Festuca loliacea, darnel-like fescue, affords,

' ■ r

Of nutritive matter, from the produce of one acre, of the flowering, seed, and latter-

math crops, as above

1385 4 7

The weight of nutritive matter, in which one acre of the darnel-like fescue exceeds that of

the Lolium perenne^ or rye-grass, is

382 15 5

Or in tlie proportion nearly of 4 to 3. v

I ^^

This grass likewise springs earlier than the Rye-grass, and improves by age, which is not
the case with Rye-grass, as it decreases in value, with respect to produce and early growth, after
the fourth year of its being sown, while the Darnel-like Fescue improves in these properties
after that period of growth. Unfortunately, however, this gi\nss does not perfect its seed, the
flowers generally proving abortive, which renders its cultivation, or rather, propagation, incon-
venient and expensive. By parting the roots, and transplanting them, it might readily be propa-
gated; but its merits hardly warrant the practice.

July.

(if any)

y
+

Festuca glabra. Smooth Fescue.

i

Specific character : Panicle branched, upright, compact; spikets spear-shaped, 4-6 flowered,
smooth, awned. Root fibrous.

Oi^5.— This is nearly allied to the Festuca duriuscilJa; it dilFers in having the awns longer,
panicle branches, and spikets smoother; spikets shining, root and leaves much longer. This
is, according to Dr. Smith, a variety of the Festuca rubra; but the roots are fibrous and
not creeping, which characterises the varieties of the Festuca rubra. To the Agriculturist
the distinction, creeping root, is sufficient to guide him in this instance, as the varieties of
the creeping-rooted species are all to be rejected as unfit for cultivation ; and among the
fibrous-rooted varieties of the Festuca duriuscula, there is not so great a difFereace in their

I

63

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64

comparative value, as to render the adoption of one for the other of so much importance
in many other instances, where the distinctions are equally minute.

as

Native of Britain. Perennial.
Ewperiments,

with

dr. qr.

oz.

Grass, 21 oz. The produce per acre
80 dr. of grass weigh when dry
The produce of the snace. ditto

52
134 It

- 228690

. 91476

2
10 2

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying
64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter
The produce of the space, ditto

At the time the seed is ripe, the produce is.
Grass, 14 oz. The produce per acre
80 dr. of grass weigh when dry
The produce of the space, ditto - *

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying
64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter
The produce of the space, ditto

7146 9

lbs.

14293 2

5717 4

8576 14

446 10 Q

32
89 2:

- 152460
w 60984

1 1

4 li

2977

9528 12

3811 8

5717 4

186 1

The proportional value in which the grass, at the time of flowering, exceeds that at the time the seed is ripe,

is as 8 to 5.

The produce of latler-math is,
Grass, 9 oz. The produce per acre
64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter

2

^ 98010

765 11

6125 10
47 13 11

The proportional value, in which the grass at the time of flowering exceeds that of the lat-
ter-math, is as 4 to 1 ; and the grass, at the time the seed is ripe, exceeds that of the latter-
math in the proportion of 5 to 2.

From the ahove details, which shew the produce and nutritive qualities of this grass, it
appears to be inferior to the Festuca duriuscula^ which will be manifest on a comparison of the
former details respecting the Festuca duriuscula, with the above. In regard to early produce,
however, this grass is superior. The herbage is uncommonly fine and succulent. But these
merits appear hardly suflficient to compensate for the deficiency of produce. If its merits he
compared with those of some of the early grasses, the Anthoxanthum odoratiim, for instance, it
will be found superior.

446
186

Festuca glabra affords of nutritive matter,

From the crop at the time of flowering ^ ^ . . «

At the time the seed is ripe * - - ,- ^

Anthomnthum odoratum affords of nutritive matter.

At the time of flowering • - _ « ^ . _

At the time the seed is ripe

The weight of nutritive matter afforded by one acre of the Festuca glabra, exceeding that of the

lbs. per acre.

632

- 122
. 311

433

Antkoxanthum odoratum in the proportion nearly of 3 to 2 is

199

Though

IS

for

evident from the above details, that among the fine-leaved fescues, it is the best substitute
that species where it is wanting. It is not so common as the Festuca duriuscula, being more
confined to the moist spots of the pastures, though occasionally found also on the drier places,

\ .^„ ,,^.1, i^ Flowers in the second week of June, and ripens the seed in the second

with

week of July,

65

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1

m

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I

r;'

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fl

ttS

s

66

JPoa nemoralis. Wood Meadow-grass

V

Specific character : Panicle flowering a little on one side, diffuse ; spikets spear-shaped, mostly

3-flowered.
Obs.-The sheath-scale is very short, and truncated ; straw rather compressed than otW
wise, vagina smooth, root stoloniferous. Hardly any grass varies more than this one, in the
number of florets contained in the calyx. In its natural place of growth, in woods under
the shade of trees, it contains only three florets, and, when long cultivated, in exposed
situations, the calyx is 4 and 5-flowered. The next following grass, though a distinct
species, resembles this in several of its agricultural merits. E. Bot. 1265 ; Host. t. 71;

Flo. Dant. t. 749; Flo. Ger. 301.
Root fibrous. Perennial.
Experiments. — At the time of flowering, the produce from a brown loam, is.

\

dr. qr.

34
91

Grass, 13 oz. 8 dr. The produce per acre

80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry

The produce of the space, ditto

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying

64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter

The produce of the space, ditto

At the time the seed is ripe, the produce is,
Grass, 7 oz. The produce per acre
80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry
The produce of the space, ditto

oz.

147015

lbs.

9188

7

62481 6

3905 r 6

5283 5 10

4
13 2

9138 7

574 4 7

76230

4764 6

32

44

3sw

30492

1905 12

h

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying
64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter

2858 10

3 1

5

H

3871

The produce of the space, ditto

The weight of nutritive matter which is lost by leaving the crop till the seed be ripe, exceed-

241 15

ing one-half of its value, is

352 5 7

This grass springs early, but the produce is inconsiderable, compared to that of many others
equally nutrient. It is seldom, or, according to my experience, never found in a natural state,
except in woods and under the shade of trees. Nevertheless, the seeds vegetate readily when

r

sown on exposed situations, and the plants grow freely, and attain to a greater size and
strength, than those in the woods and in the shade. It is singular, that before the period of
coming into flower, the plants that ai^e thus cultivated, are invariably attacked by the disease
termed rust, which pervades every part of the plant. In moist and cloudy seasons the disease
is much less severe, being chiefly confined to the leaves. I never could observe the least trace of
this affection in the plants of this species, while in their natural place of growth. The Tall Oat-like
Soft-grass, (Holcus avenaceus), which affects the shade, and is subject to the above disease, is
always free from this affection when growing in the shade. It is likewise precisely the case
^N\\kt\ie Agrostis stohnifera, var. Sylvatica, or Wood stoloniferous Bent-grass. There are grasses
which are also peculiarly confined to woods or shady situations, but which continue free from
this disease when transplanted to exposed situations, as the Wood Millet-grass, (Miliim effusum);
hairy Wood Brome-grass, (Bromiis hirsutiis); and Tall Brome-grass, (Bromus gigaiiteus). There
exists no difference in the structure of those grasses subject to the disease, to distinguish them

' -

t

y

>

'

,1

\

Wood Meadow-grass

68

^

from those that are always affected by it when transplanted to exposed situations, only that the
former grasses are smooth, or have their surface free from hairs ; while the latter are in general

h

ai

ry

or have their surface furnished with numerous hairs.

B

(spiked Wood Fescue)

when taken from their natural places of gi'owth : these grasses have hairs, but they are minute,

and thinly scattered on the leaves.

The Wood Meadow-grass flowers in the third week of June, and ripens the seed in the end

of July.

JPoa cmgmtifolia. Narrow-leaved Meadow-grass.

Specifc character: Panicle diffused; spikets 4-flowered, pubescent; culm erect, round.

Linn. Spec. 99.
Obs, — Dr. Smith regards this as a variety of the Poa pratensis ; but as it differs much from

that species in its agricultural merits, being much superior, I have rather followed Dr.

Willdenow, in keeping it a distinct species, that it may more readily impress the memory.
Native of Britain. Root creeping. Perennial.
Experiments, — At the time of flowering, the pioduce from a brown loam, is.

dr. qr.

oz.

Grass, 27 02. The produce per acre

80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry

The produce of the space, ditto

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying

64 dr, of grass afford of nutritive matter

34
183 2f

294030

1249C2 12

lbs.

1837C 14

7810 2 12
10566 11 4

5

32
89

i

The produce of the space, ditto - - 33

At the time the seed is ripe, the produce is,
Grass, 14 oz. The produce per acre ^

80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry - p

The produce of the space, ditto

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying
64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter ^

1

The produce of the space, ditto

The produce of latter-matb is.
Grass, 18 oz. The produce per acre
64 dr. of grass afford of ijutritive matter

o
O

22866 11

1430 6 11

152460

9528 12

60984

3811 8

5717 4

o

1

18 U

12506 7

781 10 7

1

196020
3062 13

The weight of nutritive matter which is lost by leaving the crop till the seed be ripe, ex-

ceeding one-third part of its value, is

12251 4
191 6 13

649 4

The proportional value in which the grass, at the time the seed is ripe, exceeds that at tlie
time of flowering, is as gl to 20.

I

In the early growth of the leaves of this species of Poa, there is a striking proof that the
property of coming early into flower, is not always connected with the early growth and pro-
duce of herbage in the spring. In this respect, most of the grasses that have come under exa-
mination, are inferior to this now spoken of. Before the middle of April, the leaves attain to
more than twelve inches in length, ^nd are tender and succulent. In the month of May, like-
wise, when the flowering culms make their appearance, it is not subject to the disease that

69

•^

^

r I

.>

/

k

f

harrow-leaved Meadow^grms

cyof

70

\

4

afFects the foregoing species, the bad effects of which were manifested in the great deficien.
produce in the crop at the time the seed was ripe, being one-balf less than at the time the grass
in flower. Though the disease begins in the straws, the leaves sufier most from its efFect
being at the time the seed is ripe completely dried up. The culms therefore constitute the pr J
cipal part of the crop at the time the seed is ripe, and they contain more nutritive matter in pro,
portion, than the leaves. When the grass is cut before the time of flowering, the disease mates
but small progress, or does not make its appearance if the grass is kept closely cropped. Tt
has the property of sending up flowering-straws till a late period of the season, and when cut
only thrice in the season, the latter- math is considerable.

When the Poa nemoralis is raised from seed, the first year the calyx contains only from
3 to 5 florets; afterwards, the number increases to 9 florets in each calyx; when raised from
seed in shady situations, it has frequently only 2 florets in each calyx, and sometimes only ]
the first year: the number does not increase afterwards to moi^e than 3 florets in each calyx.

ifolia

an emment degree, recommends it for the purpose of permanent

pasture. It sends up

flowering culms successively for several weeks. In this itdifiers from the Poapratensis, which
produces culms only once in the season. The root is as powerfully creeping as that species
and but for which, it might rank with the most valuable grasses. It contains more nutritive
matter than the Poapratensis, or Poa trivialis. Its spring produce is nearly double that of
either of these grasses; and it is perfectly exempt, as before observed, from any disease that
detracts so much from the merits of the Poa nemoralis y which nearest approaches to this species,
m the superiority of early and abundant herbage in the spring. It flowers towards the end of
May, and the seed is ripe about the third week of June.

Poci fertilis. Fertile Meadow-grass.

r

Specific character: Panicle loose, spreading; spikets oval, spear-shaped, 5-flowered; florets
connected at the base by woolly hairs; husks generally 5-nerved, sheaths of the culms a
little rough, straw somewhat compressed ; root slightly creeping.

0^5— This grass seems to be allied to the Poa nemoralis. It differs in having the panicle
more loose and spreading, and less attenuated. The spikets are more oval and nemd,
otherwise the number of florets might occasion a doubt. Tlie culm rises from a foot and
a half, to two feet in height, and sometimes more; ascending at the base, afterwards
erect, somewhat compressed. ' In long continued moist weather the lower joints send up
flowering culms. The panjcle is erect, and spreading when in flower, but contracted and
drooping when the seed is ripe, Flo. Ger. 299, Poa serotina ■ Host. v. 3, p. 10, t. 13,
Poa fertilis.

Native of Germany. Perennial,

Experiments. -k% the time of flowering, the produce from a sandy loam, is.

Grass, 23 oz. The produce per acre
80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry
The produce of the space, ditto

dr.

qr.

oz.

lbs.

250470

34 (

106449

3

15654 6

m^^ 1 3

71

--

^

^.

■Fertile Meadow-grass^

70

V ■

affects the foregoing species, the bad effects of which were manifested in the great deficiency of
produce in the crop at the time the seed Avas ripe, being one-half less than at the time the grass

s

J

in ilower. Though the disease begins in the straws, the leaves suffer most from its effect
being at the time the seed is ripe completely dried up. The culms therefore constitute the mln^
cipal part of the crop at the time the seed is ripe, and they contain more nutritive matter in pro
portion, than the leaves. When the grass is cut before the time of flowering, the disease mak
but small progress, or does not make its appearance if the grass is kept closely cropped Jt
has the property of sending up flowering-straws till a late period of the season, and when
only thrice in the season, the latter- math is considerable.

When the Poa nemoraUsi is raised from seed.

cut

n the Poa nemoralis is raised from seed, the first year the calyx contains only from
3 to 5 florets; afterwards, the number increases to 9 florets in each calyx: when raised from
seed in shady situations, it has frequently only 2 florets in each calyx, and sometimes onlv 1
the first year: the number does not increase afterwards to more than 3 florets in each calyx

Ihe property of early growth In the spring, which this grass, Poa angustifolia ^ possesses
in an eminent degree, recommends it for the purpose of permanent pasture. It sends un
flowering culms successively for several weeks. In this it differs from the Poa pratensis, which
produces culms only once in the season. The root is as powerfully creeping as that species
and but for which, it might rank with the most valuable grasses. It contains more nutritive
matter than the Poa pratensis, or Poa trivialis. Its spring produce is nearly doiiLle that of
either of these grasses; and it is perfectly exempt, as before observed, from any disease that
detracts so much from the merits of the Poa nemoralis , which nearest approaches to this species,
in the superiority of early and abundant herbage in the spring. It flowers towards the end of
May, and the seed is ripe about the third week of June.

Poa fertiUs. Fertile

ifii

-grass

connected at the base by woolly hairs; husks generally 5-nerved, sheaths of the culms a
little rough, straw somewhat compressed; root slightly creeping.
Obs.—Thh grass seems to be allied to the Poa nemoralis. It differs in having the panicle
more loose and spreading, and less attenuated. The spikets are more oval and nemed,
otherwise the number of florets might occasion a doubt. The culm rises from a foot and
a half, totwo feet in height, and sometimes more; ascending at the base, afterwards
erect, somewhat compressed. In long continued moist weather the lower joints send up
flowering culms. The panjcle is erect, and spreading when in flower, but contracted and
drooping when the seed is ripe. Flo. Ger. 299, Poa serotina ; Host. v. 3, p. 10, t. 13,
Poafertilis,

Native of Germany. Perennial.

Experiments. ~kX the time of flowering, the produce from a sandy loam, is.

Grass, 23 oz, The produce per acre
80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry
The produce of the space, ditto

dr.

qr,

oz.

250470

34

156 U

106449

3

lbs.

15654 6

73

V

72

dr. qr. oz. 11,5,

•

733 12 12

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying - - " " , • " 9000 14 q

64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter - 3 0/ ^ i o —

The produce of the space, ditto - - 17 1 5

At the time the seed is ripe, the produce is,
Grass, 22 oz. The produce per acre - - - . - 239580 = 14973 12

8235 9

80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry - ■ 44 > iqi^'/^o ^

The produce of the space, ditto - - 193 2t 3

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying . - - ^ 6733 3 q

64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter - 5 0}

m. . C • - - 1^717 3 == 1169 13 S

ihe produce of the space, ditto - - 27 2 )

The weight of nutritive matter, in which the crop at the time the seed is ripe, exceeds that at
the time of flowering, is - ^ - -■" " -3

r

The nutritive matter contained in the grass at the time the seed is ripe, exceeds that in the grass at the time
of flowering, in the proportion of 5 to 3. '
The produce of latter-math is.
Grass, 7 oz. The produce per acre - r - - - 76230 := 4764 Q q

64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter - 12 per acre - 1786 10 = 111 10 10

On the 6th of April, the produce is,
Grass, 8 oz. The produce per acre - - - -

87120 = 5445

SUC'

64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter -53 - - 5104 11 = 319 oil

The proportional value whicli tlie grass of the latter-math hears to that at the time of flower-
ing, is as 6 to 3; and to the grass at the time the seed is ripe, as 10 to 3.

V

In regard to early growth, this grass stands next to the Meadow -foxtail, Cock's-foot, and
TalJ Oat. The herbage is more nutritive than that of either of these grasses. It will appear
remarkable, that the grass of the latter-math should contain more nutritive matter than the grass
at the time of flowering, but this is owing to the property it possesses, of sending forth a
cession of flowering culms till the frost arrests it; and hence the trivial names, fertilis, and
serotina, fertile, and late -flowering Meadow-grass, quoted above. M. Host* mentions, that
it is natural to moist pastures and the banks of rivers ; and Schrader remarks also, that in Ger-
many it grows in meadows, vineyards, marshes, walls, and elsewhere, not unfrequently. I
have found it to grow on almost every kind of soil ; but it attains to the greatest perfection in a
rich moist one. Hares and rabbits are very fond of it. It is one of those grasses that tkive
best when combined with others : it will not make a superior turf of itself, but it adds much to
the value of a sward, from its nutritive qualities, and powers of early and late growth. As it
perfects an abundance of seed, it may be easily propagated.

By comparing its produce of nutritive matter from one acre, with those of the Cock's-foot
Meadow-foxtail, and Sweet-scented Vernal Grasses, it will be found superior to Foxtail in
proportion of 5 to 3, and only inferior to the Cock's-foot in the proportion of 7 to 5.

Sir Humphry Davy has shewn that its nutritive matter consists of mucilage 65 ; saccharine
matter, or sugar, 6 ; extractive matter 7 = 78.

From these facts and observations it will appear, that the Fertile Meadow-grass deserves
place in the composition of rich pastures, and ranks with the superior grasses of irrigated mea-
dows.

It flowers in the beginning of July, and the seed is ripe towards the end of the month.

^

* Nic. Thorax Host icones et Descriptiones Graminum Austrlacorura.

')

the

a

^

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75

ij

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74

Lathyrus pratensis. Yellow Vetchling, Tare Everlasting.

ifi

(L

Native of Britain. Root creeping. Perennial. E. Bot. 670 ; Fl. Dan. 52? ; Wither. Arr.

+

V. ii. p. 619; Anderson's Essays.
Experiments, — At the time of flowering, the produce from a clayey loam, is.

\

dr. qr.

oz.

Herbage, 36 oz. The produce per acre

t

80 dr. of herbage weigh, when dry

The produce of the space, ditto

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying

64 dr. of herbage afford of nutritive matter

The produce of the space, ditto

392040

40
288

196020

2 1
20 1

13782 10

lbs.

24502 8

12251 4

12251 4

861 6 10

The merits of this vetchling, in point of produce and nutrient qualilies, appear by the fol-
lowing comparison, to be much inferior to those of the Red or Broad-leaved cultivated Clover :

Trifolimn pratensCy
Broad-leaved cultivated Clover,

Green food

affords per acre < Hay

Nutritive matter

lbs.

49005
12251

1914

The Red Clover, therefore, exceeds in value that of the Yellow Vetchling, in the proportion
nearly of 7 to 3; The weight of hay afforded by the Yellow Vetchling, is equal to that
afforded by the Red Clover, which arises from the greater quantity of superfluous moisture
contained in the latter, and the greater proportion of woody fibre in the produce of the former:
hence one pound of the hay of Red Clover contains 40 dr. of nutritive matter, while an equal
weight of the Yellow Vetchling hay contains only 17 dr. 2 grains.

This vetchling is not unfrequent in good pastures and in rich meadows : it delights ia mois-
ture, and it attained to the greatest perfection in a tenacious clayey soil. It is a late-springing'
plant, and the shoots come up thinly, but attain to a great length. It appears to be eaten
by oxen, cows, and sheep, but with less relish than they seem to have for the Vicia sepium,
(creeping vetch), or the Red and White Clovers. The nutritive matter it affords contains a
much greater proportion of insoluble and bitter extractive matters than the plants now men-
tioned. It affords little or no sugar. One hundred parts of the nutritive matter submitted to the

1

action of cold and boiling water, and alcohol, separately, afforded me :

Mucilage - _ _

Bitter extractive and saline matters
Saccharine matter ^ *

Insoluble matter ^ r

"m

37
31

30

100

Javy has shewn, that Red Clover contains in every

Mucilage, or starch - - .

.Saccharine matter, or sugar ^ - - «

Gluten, or albumen - - ^

Extract, or insolubl e matter -

791
7§
6

8

100

-^

77

V

/

1 -

Nerved Meadow-grass,

«

7H

different species that grew around it, remained in a healthy state; but were all inferior, and
more or less injured by the severity of the weather. In the following season, the produce
rather exceeded the above, though it had been mown the preceding season, and no manure
had been applied. It is a native of North America, where the winters are longer or more
severe, and the summers warmer than in this climate ; and the plants, natives of Siberia, exhi-
bit a similar habit, for the severer the winter, the greater is their produce, and the milder the
winter, their produce is comparatively less. The long-rooted Clover is one of this class: after a
severe winter the produce is very great, but after a mild winter the produce is considerably
inferior.

The Nerved Meadow-grass affects most soils, but not such as are tenacious. The seed does
not vegetate so readily as might be presumed, from the plentiful manner in which it is
duced; nor does the plant attain to maturity so soon as many other grasses that have equal
merits in other respects. The above facts do not offer sufficient grounds to recommend the
Nerved Meadow-grass strongly, for the purposes of the Agriculturist; nor go the full length to
discourage farther attempts to cultivate it to more advantage, as it is a foreign plant, and its
defects may, probably, be lessened by frequently raising it from seed ripened in this climate.

pro

It flowers in the third week of June, and the seed is ripe in the last week of July.

r

Poa CtJBsia, Sea-green Meadow-grass.

Specific character: Panicle spreading; spikets 5-flowered, husks spear-shaped, sUky-edged,

unconnected with any web, sheath-scale short and blunt.
Obs. — Culms from six inches to a foot and a half, according to the nature of the soil it grows
- in. The leaves are bluntish, flat and smooth on the back next the base, but in other parts

rugged; sheaths the length of the leaves, striated, somewhat rugged. It seems to he very

different from the Poa glauca in the Flora Danica, that approaches nearer to the Poa

ralis. (Dr. Smith). E. Bot. iyiQ.
Native of Scotland. Root fibrous. Perennial.
Ewperiments. — At the time of flowering, the produce from a brown loam, is.

nemo-

dr.

qr.

oz.

34
- 68

108900
46282 8

3867 9

\

Grass, 10 oz. The produce per acre

80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry

The produce of the space, ditto

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying

64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter - %

The produce of the space, ditto - " . _ 5

At the time the seed is ripe, the produce is,
Grass, 7oz. the produce per acre
80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry
The produce of the space, ditto
The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying
64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter - 3

The produce of the space, ditto - ' - 5

The weight of nutritive matter, in which the produce of onp n.. *..!,.■ c a • ^

, , , . F'uuute or one acre, at the time of flowermg,>

. . . >

lbs,

6806 4

2892 10

3913 10

241 11 9

76230 = 4764 6

40
5Q

38115

3

3

3573 4

223 5 4

exceeds that at the time the seed is ripe, is,

18 6 5

79

t

V,>^'!

>v ^

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i

^^^

Poa ccesia.

A:

i

Sea-green Wleadow-grass.

80

The weight of grass at the time the seed is ripe, is less than that at the time of flower'
which at first sight appears contrary to what might have been expected, as the grass had ^'
least three weeks of growth more than that of the flowering crop. But after the time of flow
ing, the leaves do not appear to increase, but rather diminish, many of them becoming co
pletely dry before the seed be perfected. The culms retain their succulency, and bee
heavier till the seed be ripe, which points out the true cause of the superior quantity of nm "
tive matter contained in the grass of the seed crop.

Dr. Smith informs us, that it is an Alpine plant, and only as yet found a native of S
land, where it was found by Mr. Mackay, on Ben Lawers. It appears, however, to be ea 1
cultivated on soils of an intermediate quality as to moisture and dryness. Its seed is Pood . i
produced in plenty.

The above details prove this grass to be capable of cultivation; but possessed of no exc 1
lence in a sufficient degree to render it worthy of a place in the composition of good pasture

It flowers in the third week of June, and the seed is ripe about the second and last week f
July, according to the state of the weather.

Poa glauca. Glaucous Meadow-grass.

Specific character: Panicle glaucous, slender, erect, silky-edged, unconnected witb any
web ; spikets very short,

Obs. — This species resembles the Poa nemoralis, and, in a less degree, the P. trivialis, and
likewise affects a similar soil ; while the preceding species resembles more the Poa alpim,
Poa subccemka, and Poa prat ensis, and, like these, affects a somewhat drier soil Calms
from a foot and a half to two feet in height.

Native of Britain. Root fibrous. Perennial.

Experiments.— At the time of flowering, the produce from a rich black sandy loam, is,

dr.

8

Grass, 13 c/z. The produce per acre is

SO dr. of grass weigh when dry

The produce of the space, ditto

64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter

The produce of the space, ditto

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying

At the time the seed is ripe, the produce is,
Grass, 15 oz. The produce per acre
^ 80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry p
The produce of the space, ditto
The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying
64 dr, of grass afford of nutritive matter
The produce of the space, ditto

qr,

32

83 1

2 2

OZ,

141570
56628

lbs.

8848

S5^9 4

Oi

5530 1

345 10
5308 14

163350 6

108

n

73507 8

2 3

10

1?--

7018 15

10209 6

4594 3 8

5615 2 8

438 10 15

This grass is said to be a native of the North of England, and Scotland. It inhabits alpine
situations, but is easily propagated, as it perfects plenty of seed, which vegetates freely on
almost every kind of soil. It grows to a larger size than the Sea-green Meadow-grass ; and if
the above details of its produce, and nutritive powers, be compared with those of that grass, it

81

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y

.'.-'.

' . '

t

¥

/

\ 4

Glaucous Mead.

'.-*

^

^

ow-grass.

__'

/

^

f

82

will be found greatly superior. But it is still much inferior to a great number of grasses, in th
quantity of herbage, hay, and of nutritive matter it affords ; and in other respects it posses
no superior merit, either with respect to early growth, reproductiveness, or late growth T
cannot therefore as yet be recommended as a plant for the purposes of the Agriculturist.
It flowers in the third week of June, and the seed is ripe about the end of July.

Phleum prate

Meadow Cat's-tail Grass. Timothy

Specific character: Spike cylindrical, very long ; calyx fringed and awned ; straws iiprifflit

Obs. — Culms from a foot and a half to three feet high, according to the nature of the soil i
which it grows ; in moist deep loams it attains the greatest height. Spike regularly cvlin
dric, and blunt at the top ; sometimes five or six inches long in young plants, but in old
plants it is much shorter. Compare the husks of the florets with those of the foUowinp-
variety, (Phleum pratense, var. minus), and likewise with those of the next followinp*
species, (Phleum nodosum, bulbous-jointed Cat's-tail grass), and they will be found much
shorter and straight in the forks or dagger-like points which terminate them. This is a
sure distinction, the length of the spike being a very uncertain character, for the reason
just now mentioned. Root fibrous, sometimes inclining to a bulb.

Native of Britain. Perennial.

Experiments. — About the middle of April, the produce from a clayey loam, is.

dr.

GrasSj 8 oz. The produce per acre
64 dr. of grass afFord of nutritive matter

At the time of flowering, the produce is,
Grass, 60 oz. The produce per acre
80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry
The produce of the space, ditto
The -weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying
64 dr. of grass aiford of nutritive matter

I

The produce of the space, ditto

(ir.

oz.

% 3

87120
3743 7

lbs.

5445
223 15 7

653400

40837 8

34
408

277695

17355 15

23481 9

2 2
- 37 2

- 25523 7

1595 3 7

At the time the seed is ripe, the produce is,

38

Grass, 60 oz. The produce per acre

80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry

The produce of the space, ditto

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying

64 dr. of grass afFord of nutritive matter

653400

456

310365

The produce of the space, ditto

The produce of latter-math is,
Grass, 14 oz. The produce per acre
64 dr. of grass afFord of nutritive matter
64 dr. of the culms or straws afFord of nutritive

5 3
86 1

58703 14

40837 8

19397 13

21439 11

3668 15 14

2

152460
4764 6

9528 12
297 12 6

matter

7

The weight of nutritive matter which is lost by taking the crop at the time of flowering, is, 2073 H

The culms of this grass, at the time the seed is ripe, contain more nutritive matter
those of any other species of grass that have been submitted to experiment. In regard to
production of early herbage in the spring, it is superior to the Cock's-foot grass; the results of

than
the

.'

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84

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^

the experiments shewed the quantity of grass to be equal in both plants ; but the nutritive iiiat.
ter afforded by the grass of the Meadow Cat's-tail, in the early part of the spring, was superior
to that of the Cock's-foot, in the proportion of 9 to 8. The value of the culms simply, exceed
that of the grass, at the time of flowering, in the proportion of 14 to 5 ; a circumstance which
gives value to this grass above many others for the purpose of hay ; as its valuable early folj^^g
may be cropped to a late period of the spring without injury to the culms, which cannot b
effected with those grasses which flower earlier in the season, without incurring a loss of nearly
half the value of the crop, as has been proved by former examples.

Though there is more nutritive matter contained in the seed crop, than in the flowerino-
crop, nevertheless, the loss of latter-math which would have been produced in the time tli
seed was ripening, would more than outweigh the superior quantity of nutritive matter con
tained in the grass of the seed crop. To the practical Farmer this last observation, (which like
wise applies to every similar statement throughout these details), is, I am sure, unnecessarv If
the season has been dry, this grass should be cut at the time of flowering ; but in moist cloudv
seasons it should be suffered to stand at least eight days after the period of flowerinp" in
two days after this period it will accumulate more nutritive njatter than it did in ten days pre-
vious to that stage of growth, provided circumstances do not interrupt the progress of veg-etatioij
which the results of numerous experiments have proved.

This grass is very deficient in the produce of after-math, and is slow in growth after beino"
cropped : these defects take much from the merits above-mentioned. It appears, therefore, to
be unfit for cultivation by itself as an alternate husbandry grass, but of great value, as a constitu-
ent of any mixture of grasses for permanent pasture, or the alternate husbandry, where it should
always form a part.

In the Annual Register for 1765, we find that it was much recommended about fifty

year:

Wyn

ginia in 1763. It received this quaint appellation from Mr. Timothy Hanson, who first brought
Its seeds from New-York to Carolina. It had then a great character in America, where it h

called Herd-grass. I

(1815)

considered the best grass in that kingdom.

It flowers in the third week of June, and ripens the seed in the end of July.

Phleum pratense, var. minus. Smaller variety of Meadow Cat's-tail Orass.

O^^.-This differs from the preceding variety in the dagger-like points which terminate the
husks, these bemg longer in this variety, and more recurved or bent outwards ; the husks
are arger m every respect, and less ciliated. Culms almost covered with the sheaths of
the leaves ; jomts of the culm less swoln; not upright, but ascending, and the root is
more like a bulb. These distinctions have continued stedfast after the plant has been

. . • 1 r ^^iitiiiucu fciteuiasc alter tne piant na^ ^--

twice raised from seed. The annexed specimen was produced from the second sowing-
The foregoing specimen of the first variety is also of the second sowing; both varieties

were raised on the same soil, and, indeed n„ tl, u j r u

Native ^f Tj V . „ ' "laeea, on the same bed of earth,

i> ative of Britain. Root perennial

^

I

85

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jnieum prat erne

var. minus,

I

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rv

%

Smaller variety of Meadow CaU^di

86

i

Experiments .—At the time of flowering, the produce from a clayey loam, is.

dr. qr,

oz.

Grass, 22 oz. The produce per acre, is
80 dr. of grass weigh when dry
The produce of the space, ditto

239580

40

176

119790

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying

64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter
The produce of the space, ditto

At the time the seed is ripe, the produce Is,

■ L

Grass, 40 oz. The produce per acre

*

66 gr. "^

^63

8235 9

lbs.

J 4973 12

7486 14

7486 14

514 11 Q

435600

27225

- 272

■ 4

80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry

The produce of the space, ditto

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying

64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter

The produce of the space, ditto

The produce of latter-math is.
Grass, 14 oz. The produce per acre
64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter

dr. qr.

34

185130

2 3

27 2

18717 3

11570 10
15654 6

1169 13 3

'.»

1 2

152460
3573 4

9528 12

223 5 4

A comparison will shew, how inferior this smaller variety of Meadow Cat's-tail grass is to
the larger variety.

The larger Meadow Cat's-tail grass, as before, affords of nutritive matter from the produce

of

one acre:

At the time of flowering
At the time the seed is ripe

lbs.

15951
36685

1T)S.

5263

The smaller variety of Meadow Cat's-tail grass affords, from the produce of one acre at the
time of flowering and ripening the seed, as above

e weight of nutritive matter, in which the produce of the larger variety of Meadow Cat's-
tail grass exceeds that of the smaller, is . .

1684

Th

s

3579

Or, the former grass is superior to this one, in the proportion nearly ^f 25 to 8. Tii
shews how important a point it is to distinguish one variety of grass from another, when they
are so very much alike in outward characters, as in the above instance. The seeds are also
very snmlar to each other, or rather the marks which distinguish them from each other,

(n

are
as

■tail
the

^ -T 1 ^ ^^^^^^ ^^^'^^ yxiV7. T , <XXJ.\_1 J_llW. -^3L--;3^ T J-xy -

g.ven m the Introduction to this work, will assist in distinguishing the seed of the true CatVtai
grass from that of the mferior variety. This is much later in the produce of herbage in
spring, than the larger variety, and it is much less nutritive
soils than m such as are rich, in company with the true Me.
perfects its seed about a week later than the preceding variety

It is more common on tenacious
iow Cat's-tail. It flowers and

Phleum nodosum.

r

Specific character: S

Bulbous-jointed Cat's-tail Grass

joints, which send out branches.

Of 30

grains to the drachm.

S7

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Bulbous-jointed Cai's-tail

\

/

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^

^§' and

soil

s

I

88

f

Obs.— There is still another variety of tlie Phkum pratense, distinct from the precedi
which may be mistaken for the PAfem JZO^o^M'^ •• that variety grows on poor clayey
particularly by road-sides. It approaches to the present species, in having the root some
what bulbous ; the straw is likewise ascending, but not knee-bent, as in the P/./g,,,,
nodosum: these characters continue constant when the plant is cultivated on different soils
Ci. e.J on light sandy soil, heath soil,' and tenacious clay. It is smaller in every respect
than the two varieties of which specimens have been given. The P. nodosum differs fro^
the P. pratense, in having knee-bent culms, bulbs growing out at the root of the stem-
leaves, which in time become plants. Culm leaves shorter and smooth, except at the

dges. Anthers white. The dagger-like points of the husk are also longer, and
reflexed than in those of the Phleum pratense.

«

Native of Britain. Root bulbous. Perennial.
Ewperiments.^- At the time of flowering, the produce from a clayey loam, is

more

dr. qr.

oz.

Grass, 18 oz. The produce per acre

80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry

The produce of the space, ditto

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying

64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter

196020

lbs. *

1^251 4

38
136

93109 8

5819 5 8

6431 14 8.

2 2

The produce of the space, ditto - - 11

At the time the seed is ripe, the produce is.
Grass, 14 oz. The produce per acre
80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry _ ^ 40

The produce of the space, ditto - - 112

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying
64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter
The produce of the space, ditto

7657

478 9

152460

76230

9528 12

4764 6

4764 6

\

3 3

13

OJ

8933

3

558 5 3

Woburn

The above details shew, that this species of Meadow Cat's-tail is much inferior even to tlie
lesser variety of the Phleum pratense. It is a very scarce grass, at least as far as my researches
have extended, having found it but in one meadow in a wild state. It grows in a clayey mi

park, from which the annexed specimen was propagated. Hares aud
rabbits neglected this grass for the common Cotton-grass, (Eriophorum angustifollum) , whldi
grew closely adjoining.

It flowers in the second week of July, and ripens the seed in the end of the same month;
but the seed is seldom good.

Cynosurus eruce^formis

ijii

Linear-spiked Dog

Grass

1 and 2-£lowered; husks obtuse, boat^shinprl . l. i i,. n • .

. ' ' ^"^^ snaped ; keel obtuse ; corollas acummate.

yjuS, — J his Prass is ma-rlrf^rl Qr» ov»t^,,«i :.- 1 . . ,

grass

Before

the time of flowering, the spikets are heautifuUy tinged with crimson on the sides; H

89

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Cynosurm erucceformis.

- 1

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a

Linear-spiked Dog's-tail

I

90

4

deserves a place in the flower-garden, on account of the singularity and beauty of t),

spike.
Native of Germany, Russia, and Hudson's Bay. Root fibrous. Perennial. Hort. Kew. :

Host. t. 6. Bechmannia erucceformis .
Experiments. —At the time of flowering, the produce from a clayey loam, is.

)

dr, qr.

O

34

68

Grass, 10 oz. The produce per acre -

80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry

The produce of the space, ditto

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying

64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter

The produce of the space, ditto

At the time the seed is ripe, the produce is,
Grass, 18 oz. The produce per acre *

H

80 dr. of grass weigh,^ when dry
The produce of the space, ditto

oz.

108900

46282 8

103 gr. I
2571 >

- 5867

lbs,

6806 4

2892 10 8

3903 9 8

365 2

] 96020

12251 4

dr. qr.

36

129 2f

88209

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying
64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter
The produce of the space, ditto

3 1

I

14 2^

9954 2

5513 1
6738 3

■622 2 2

L

The produce at the time the seed is ripe, as above stated, was taken the season preceding
that in which the flowering crop was submitted to experiment; and as the season of 1812, in
which the seed crop was ascertained, happened to be more favourable to the growth of this
grass than that of 1813, when the flowering crop was experimented upon and the seed crop
likewise, according to the following details of results j it will be more just to compare the pro-
duce of the crops of the same season.

I

At the time the seed is ripe, the produce of the season in which the flowering crop was
ascertained, is.

dr.

qr

or,

98010

o

6

64 3

44104 8

5257 13

Grass, 9 oz. The produce per acre

80 dr., of grass weigh, when dry

The produce of the space, ditto

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying, is

64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter - 103 gr.

The produce of the space, ditto - _ 2311

The weight of nutritive matter in which the crop, at the time the seed is ripe, exceeds that at
the time of flowering, is - - - _ .

Or superior to the crop, at the time of flowering, in the proportion nearly of 2 toL
The produce of latter-math, is,

Grass, 4oz. 8 dr. The produce per acre
64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive mutter

lbs.

6W-

o 10

2750 4 8

3375 5 8
328 9 13

^9S 8 5

dr.

qr.

OK,

49005

lbs.

3062 13

2

- 1531 6

95 11 6

I

have never been able to obtain anv seed from ^^.' i i ^^ +otP

^ ^^^^ ^^^^ ^^^^ grass, that, when sown, would vegetate,

though in general it appears good to the eye. I have tried it

success.

on three different soils, but without

It thrives best on a rich deen loam ar.^ ^ i , , -l ^nlti-

, .^. . ^ ^^^^' ^»d next to that, on a clayey loam: whencuiti

very

on a c
ior ; on this account it is

introduced m

91

this place. It might be propagated to any extent by parting the roots • but its merits as will
appear from the above details, do not warrant any recommendation to that efFect bnt rant ;.
with the interior grasses.

It flowers in the third week of June, and the seed is perfected about the third week of July.

■ k

J

.*

s

92

Triticum caninum. Bearded Wheat-grass

cifc Ci

iwned

'ets

OA^.-This differs essentially from the common couch-grass, CTrkicum repensj, in having
the root fibrous ; the awns are also much longer than those of the awned variety of common
couch, (Triticum repem, var. aristatum). E. Bot. 1372.

Native of Britain. Root fibrous. Perennial.

Experiments.— Ax t\i^ time of flowering, the produce from a sandy loam, is.

dr. qr,

32
115 01

Grass, 18 oz. The produce per acre

80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry

The produce of the space, ditto

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying

64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter

The produce of the space, ditto

At the time the seed is ripe, the produce is,
Grass, 16 oz. The produce per acre
80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry
The produce of the space, ditto

oz. lbs.

196020 = 12251 4 o

78408

2 2
11 1

7657

4900 8

7350 12

478 9

174240

46
147

100188

10890
6261 12

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying
64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter
The produce of the space, ditto

4628 4

2
8

5445

340

5

At the time of flowering, the produce in the same year that the above seed crop was ascertained, con-

sisted of:

■

Grass, 16 oz. The produce per acre
80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry
The produce of the space, ditto

174240

46
- 147

100188

10890
6261 12

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying
64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter

4628 4

2 2
- 10

- 6806 4

The produce of the space, ditto

The weight of nutritive matter which is lost by leaving the crop till the seed be ripe, is.

425 6 4

85 1 4

The crop, at the time of flowering, is therefore of greater proportional value than that at the time the

seed is ripe, nearly as 6 to 5.
The produce of latter-math is,
Grass, 4 oz. 8 dr. The produce per acre
64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter
The produce of the space, ditto

49005

2
2

1531 1

3062 13
9^ 11 1

F

From tlie above facts it appears, that this grass is of considerable value, more particularly
as it affords herbage early in the spring, in a degree superior to Rye-grass, Sweet-scented
Vernal, and nearly equal to the Meadow Fox-tail. It produces a sufficiency of seed, which
vegetates quickly, and the plants soon arrive at perfection in almost every kind of soil, except
in such as are tenacious or retentive of moisture. If to these valuable properties it added late
growth, or a proportional supply of latter-math, it would rank high among the superior,
grasses j but in this it is deficient, as are most of the grasses which produce early foliage in the

tions, properly, to this point.

Meadow

^#1

M.

t

A

/

/

»,

94

On soils of an inferior quality, it might be cultivated to advantage instead of Rye-grass; Lu
for soils of the best quality, it does not as yet uphold a sufficient claim, the av.ns of the spik,
being objectionable. It flowers about the first and second week of July, and the seed h
generally about the end of July, and beginning of August.

npe

I

JSromus erectus. Upright Perennial Brome-grass.

Sj)eayic character : Panicle upright, ending abruptly ; spikets oblong, hairy, awned, about

5 florets in each; culms straight, leaves hard.
0^*.— The awns are a continuation of the keel of the blossom, thus forming the connecting

odward). Corolla with a large knot at the base,

(W^

hairy, outer valve ribbed and keeled ; awn shorter than the blossom ; anthers of a beau-
tiful saflron colour. (Withering). E. Bot. 471 ; Host. ;

With

Native of Britain. Root fibrous. Perennial.

Experimejits. — ^At the time of flowering, the produce from a rich sandy soil, is.

dr. qr.

oz.

Grass, 19 oz, The produce per acre

80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry

The produce of the space, ditto

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying

64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter

206910

lbs.

12931 14

S6

136

93109 8

5819 5 8

7112 8 8

2 3

- 13

The produce of the space, ditto

At the time the seed is ripe, the produce is,
Grass, 16 oz. The produce per acre
80 dr. of grass weigh when dry
The produce of the space, ditto
The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying
64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter - 2

The produce of the space, ditto ^ ^ 8

^\

8890 10

555 10 10

174240

10890

46 ^
147 0?S

100188

6261 12

4628 4

5445

340 5

The weight of nutritive matter, in which the produce of one acre, at the time of flowering,^
exceeds that at the time the seed is ripe, in the proportion nearly of 5 to 3, is,

215 5 3

h

Mr. Curtis has remarked of this grass, that it is peculiar to chalky soils, and that its
appearance in a wild state, is much less favourable than M^hen cultivated in a garden. I have
found it on rather low-lying sandy soils, as in some parts of Woburn-park, where it appeared
as luxuriant as when cultivated in the grass-garden. But the fact is, the culms rise to a consi-
derable height, and the root-leaves are but few in number, though growing to some length;
the grass, by this means, appears to be much more productive than it really is. It seems to
be but little relished by cattle, the leaves being rough with hairs. I have not had an opportu-
nity to examine it while growing on chalky soils in a natural state, nor to submit it to experi-
ment on a soil of that nature ; however useful, therefore, it may be found hereafter on chalky
soils, it is evident, from the above details, that it is but little adapted for the best pasture land,
It flowers rather early, but the foliage is comparatively late in growth.

I

i

' -

- \

95

t\

r

/

/

I

I

1
1

{

\

i

96

Pheasants appear very

r

fected. The seed is afforded in very

IS

per-

Flowers in the second and third weeks of June, and the seed is ripe in the second and third

weeks of July.

Briza media. Common Quaking-grass^ Ladies' Tresses.

Specific character: Spikets egg-shaped ; calyx shorter than the florets.

0^5.— Stems from half a foot to a foot and a half high, according to the nature of the soil it

grows on. In moist soils it attains to the greatest size.

With

a

vdth

and roots perfectly formed. Professor Martyn observes, that it is easily distinguished as a
species of Briza by the shaking disposition of its panicle ; whence its name among ancient

auth

ors

ec

Gramen tremulumJ' The French call these quaking grasses. Amourettes.

Native of Britain. Root fibrous. Perennial. E. Bot. 340 ; F. Rust. t. 39 ; Wither, ii.
p. 148,

r

Experiments. — At the time of flowering, the produce from a brown loam, is,

dr. qr

- 26

- 72

Grass, 14 oz. The produce per acre

80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry

The produce of the space, ditto

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying

64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter

The produce of the space, ditto

At the time the seed is ripe, the produce is,
Grass, 14 oz. The produce per acre
80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry

oz.

152460

3tV

49549 8

lbs.

9528 1%

3096 13 8

6431 14 8

2 3
9 2

6551

409 7

28

^

The produce of the space, ditto - - 78

h

H

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying
64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter
The produce of the space, ditto
The latter-math produce is.
Grass, 12 oz. The produce per acre is
64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter

152460
53362

9528 12

3335 1

3 ]

U H

7742 1

6193 11

483 14 1

2

- 130680
4083 12

From a poor sandy soil destitute of manure, the produce, at the time of flowering, is,

8167 8
255 3 12

Grass, 16 oz. The produce per acre
64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter

174240 = 10890

80 gr. per acre

7260

From a moist clayey soil without manure, the produce, at the time of flowering, is.

453 12

Grass, 12 oz. The produce per acre
64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter

69 gr.

From a rich black loam, at the time of flowering, the produce is

130680
4696 5

8167 8

293 8 5

Grass, 14 oz. 8 dr. The produce per acre
64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter

90 gr.

157905

7401 12

9869 1 ^
462 9 12

From the above details, it appears that the weight of ^tritive matter which is lost by *
mg the crop at the fme of flowerbg, e«eeds oue-seventh part of its value ; and .he nu»*«

4

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98

matter contained in the grass of the seed crop, exceeds that in the flowering grass, in the
portion of 13 to 11, and that of the latter-math as 13 to 8.

The results of the experiments on the three different soils now mentioned, shew this grass to
be best fitted for poor soils, and afford one instance, that manure is even hurtful to some grasses
Its nutritive powers are considerable, when compared to other grasses affecting a similar soil
It is eaten by horses, cows, and sheep. These merits, therefore, demand attention, and though
it is unfit, comparatively, for rich permanent pasture, yet, for poor sandy, and also for poQ^
tenacious soils, where improvement in other respects cannot be sufiiciently effected to fit them

Quaking
It flowers in the second and third weeks of June, and the seed is ripe about the second

Week

of July,

/

Sromus inermis. Smooth awnless Brome-grass.

Specific character: Panicle upright ; spikets linear, cylindric, ^aked, awnless, or with very
short awns sometimes ; imbricated ; leaves smooth,

Obs. — Root powerfully creeping, like common Couch-grass ; culms from a foot to two feet
high, erect, scored, smooth. Leaves broad, acuminate, smooth, dark green, mid-rib
whitish, and rough. Panicle from six inches to a foot and more, in length; at first
contracted and upright, afterwards nodding. Flo, Ger. 359 ; Host. t. 9 ; Hort. Kew.

Native of Germany. Root creeping. Perennial. ^

Experiments,— At the time of flowering, the produce from a black siliceous sandy loam, is,

\

Grass, 18 oz. The produce per acre m

80 dr. of grass weigh when dry -

The produce of the space, ditto r

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying

dr. qr.

oz,

- 196020

lbs.

12S51 4

r 40

144

r 98010

6125 10

6125 10

dr.

35

126

64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter
The produce of the space, ditto

At the time the seed is ripe, the produce is,
(arass, 18 oz. The produce per acre

80 dr. of grass weigh when dry r

The produce of the space, ditto - ^

The weight lost by the produce of one acre In drying

64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter . 4

The produce of the space, ditto -

The produce of latter-math is,
Grass, 13 oz. The produce per acre
64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matt
The produce of the space, ditto

108 gr.
486f

11026 2

680 2 2

- J 96020

12251 4

qr.

- 857^8 12

19

13016 15

5Sb9 14 n

6891 ,5 4

813 8 15

"h

1 1

4 01

141570
2765

8848 2
172 13

In Germany, where thi. grass is a native, it grows in moist pastures, orehard., and by
bank. „f „„. Ite ,^t is powerMly creeping, like the eommon Couch-grass, and po.

the banks of rivers.

.esses the property of pnpovenshing the soil i„ as eminent a degree as that grass fo prod«,

/

09

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romus mermis

/

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' 1 |i

Smooth

9m

azmiless

rome.

'V

100

ers.

r

when first planted on a soil, is mucli greater than afterwards, on account of its exhausti
nature. The produce of early foliage is inconsiderable, and less nutritive than many otli.^^
To the eye it produces an abundance of seed, but, in general, it is imperfectly formed, and
when sown, produces few plants, in proportion to the quantity of seed employed. The merft^
of this grass will appear, from the above details, to be inferior to most of the grasses that
already come under observation, and offer no grounds on which to recommend it to th(

have

notice

of the Agriculturist.

The smooth awnless Brome-grass flowers in the second week of July, and ripens the seed in
the second and third weeks of August.

spear-

Melica ciliata. Ciliated Melic-grass.

Specific character: The outer petal of the lower floret ciliate; panicle spike-like ; spikets erect
Obs, — Culms from one to three feet high, according to the quality of the soil. Leaves
shaped, mucronate, from three to nine inches long, smooth underneath, slightly pubescent
above, somewhat rugged downwards, a white nerve runs along the back. Sheath-scale
white, cloven; sheaths striated, the lower a little pubescent and rugged, the upper ones
smooth and glossy ; but as the seed approaches towards perfection, it becomes feathered

r

with long woolly hairs.
Native of Germany. Root fibrous. Perennial,
Experiments.— -Ax the time of flowering, the produce from a rich sandy loam, is,

dr.

Grass, 10 oz. The produce per acre, is

80 dr. of grass xyeigb, when dry

The produce of the space, ditto

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying

64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter

qr.

oz.

32
64

1089D0
43560

lbs.

6806 4

2722 8

4083 12

- 200

The produce of the space, ditto *■

At the time the seed is ripe, the produce is.
Grass, 10 oz. The produce per acre r

h

80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry - - „
The produce of the space, ditto -

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying
64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter

80 gr,

4537 8

283 9 8

^

108900

6806 4

dr. qr.
36 ^

72 V

49005

3062 13

3743 7

The produce of the space, ditto

60gr.
- 150

3403 2

212 11 2

The weight of nutritive matter, which is lost by leaving the crop till the seed be ripe, exceeds

one-fourth part of its value, and is

70 14 6

The proportional value which the grass, at the time of flowering, bears to that^at the time the seed is ripe,

is as 4 to 3.

The produce of latter-math is.
Grass, 3 oz. The produce per acre
64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter

Id

- 32670
510 7

2041 14

31 14 r

The above fa* shew this grass to be one of the inferior species, with respect to p.«aace,
»«tr,fve quabfes, and reproductive powers. In Germany it grows wild on hiUy g»«nJ',

^ h

101

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1 F

Melica ciliata.

ii

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f\

-

Ciliated

hc'grass.

A

4

I

'i

f

102

downs, and by the margin of woods; it may be ranked with the Glaucous, and Sea-gree^
Meadow grasses (Poa glauca et Poa ccesia). Among the grasses not natives of Great Britain,
that have been brought under observation in the course of these details, two species only \^^^
offered proofs of fitness for the purpose of permanent pasture, on soils of the best quality.

d meadow-grass (Poa nervata), and fertile meadow-grass (Poafertilis); the superior merits
of these, over many other grasses, have already been considered.

It flowers in the third week of June, and the seed is ripe about the second week of July.

nerve

Vicia sepimn. Bush Vetcho

Specific character: Legumes pedicelled, mostly four together, erect, smooth; leaflets ovate,
obtuse, the outer ones smaller.

0Z>5.— Stems climbing by tendrils, from one to two feet high, according to its place of
growth, grooved. Leaves many paired, terminated by a branching tendril. Leaflets
ovate, obtuse, sometimes emarginate, somewhat hairy, the outer ones gradually smaller.
Flowers commonly in fours, on very short pedicels, all directed one way, dark blue^ pur-
ple. Legume or pod, neai^ly erect, brown, dotted, smooth. Seeds globular, even. Flo.
Brit.; E. Bot. 1515; Flo. Dan. 699; Wither, Arr. ed. 4, p. Q<iS; Bath Soc. Pap. v. ii.

p, 49.

^

A

Native of Britain. Root Perennial.

Experiments. — ^The produce on the sixteenth of April from a brown sandy loam, wltli

manure, as

dr. qr.

oz.

87120

3
6

4083 12

Grass, 8 oz. The produce per acre . f-
5'4 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter
The produce of the space, ditto

At the time of flowering, the produce is,
Grass, 26 oz. The produce per acre ^ - - - -. - 283140

80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry

lbs.

5445

^55 3 12

17696 4

20
104

3 2

- 22 3

The produce of the space, ditto

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying

64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter

The produce of the space, ditto

At the time the seed is ripe, the produce is,
Grass, 30 oz. The produce per acre
80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry
The produce of the space, ditto
The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying
64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter

70785

4424 4

- 15484 3

13272
967 12 3

326700

22
132

89842 8

The produce of the space, ditto

4
30

20418 12

20418 12
5615 2 8

14803 9 8
1276 2 12

The weight of nutritive matter, in M^h the crop at the time the seed is ripe exceeds that at
the time of flowering, is - . ^ ^

The produce of latter-math is,
Grass, 10 oz. The produce per acre
64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter

308 6 9

3 1

108900
5530 1

6806 4
345 10 1

4.

10

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green

104

i

la the Memoirs of the Bath Agricultural Society, the Rev. G. Swayne informs us, that the
Bush Vetch " shoots earlier in the spring than any other plant eaten hy cattle; vegetates late J
the autumn, and continues green all winter. But it is difficult to collect the seeds, as the pods
burst and scatter them about, and, moreover, hardly a third part of them will vegetate, being
made the nidus of an insect. A patch sown in drills in a garden, was cut five times in the
course of the second year, and produced at the rate of twenty-four tons on an acre, of
food ; and when diy, would weigh near four tons and a half." The nutritive matter of this
vetch, consists almost entirely of mucilage and sugar ; the bitter extractive principle, which
exists in the nutritive matter of the leaves of all grasses, is here in a less proportion. The pro.
duce in these experiments is less than that obtained by Mr. Swayne, but the difference is to be
accounted for from the different soils employed. The plant attains to a considerable height
when connected with bushes, and evidently prefers shady situations. But the produce as
shewn above, on a middling soil, in an exposed situation, is very considerable; and it maintains
its place when once in possession of the soil. Horses and oxen are very fond of it ; I have oh-

I

served them eat it closer to the ground than they did the surrounding herbage of Cock's-foot
Tall Oat-like Soft-grass, Ray-grass, and Cow Clover. Its produce is very inferior when cuhi-
^ated on a clayey soil, for which it appears unfit.

It comes intp flower about the middle of May, and the seed is ripe about the middle and
end of June.

Lolium peremie. Rye-grass^ Ray-grass^ Perennial Rye-grass*

Specific character: Spike awnless • calyx sliorter than tlie splket.
- Ohs.

lei'ous; as the slender Rye-grass, (var. tenue),
(var. compositum); Pacey's Ray-grass, (var

%

m.

and worn out by injudicious cropping; it is distinguished from the other varieties of Rye-
grass by its perfectly upright spike, which is slender, and the spikets small, and dis-
tant from each other, consisting of 3-5 flowers ; the root-leaves are very narrow, and few in
number ; the culms are almost naked, or destitute of leaves. The second variety, (comf
situm), grows in a richer soil, or in soils that have been long under grass, and is there, h
the most part, confined to beaten parts, as the cart-ways, and sides of paths. It is distin-
guished by its short and broad spike, crowded with spikets towards the top ; spikets con-
sisting of from seven to nine florets, of a green or purplish colour ; the culm is never up-
right, but ascending, and almost covered with the sheaths of the leaves, which are numerous.
The third variety, (ramosumj, is more common in rich meadow land than in any other soil ;
the spike is nearly upright, spikets shorter, gUm,es more pointed, and the stem furnished
with long leaves ; the root-leaves are numerous, and larger in every respect than any of
the preceding. I believe this to be the improved, or Pacey's Rye-grass, as it is the most
valuable of any of the varieties of Rye-grass ; otherwise, I have been furnished with each
Pf these varieties froir, different persons, for the true improved Pacey's Ray-grass. The

4

i

105

^.

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Rye-grass. Kay^^^r^s

■■ ^

\

\

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106

Mess

sown OT. A\iv^^^^^

soils, Tlie annual species of Rye-grass are common only to land under cultivation •
will be found under the head of Plants adapted for the Alternate Husbandry.

Root perennial^ fibrous.

Experiine^its. — On the 16th of Aprils the produce from a rich brown loam, is,

dr. qr. or. lbs.

Grass, 6 oz. The produce per acre . - - - 65340 = 4083 12 n

64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter - 2 1 - - 2297 = J 43 n n

At the time of flo^yering, the produce is,

Grass, 11 02. 8dr, The produce per acre - - _ 125235 =: 7827 3 n

80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry - - 34

The produce of the space, ditto - - 78 0? J " ^^^^* ^* ^ ^^^^ ^ 14

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying - - _ . 4438 2 2

64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter - 2 3

The produce of the space, ditto - . - 7 OiJ * 489115= 305 1115

At the time the seed is ripe, the produce is,

Grass, 22 oz. The produce per acre - _ « » 239580

80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry - - 24

The produce of the space, ditto - - 105 2f ^ " " ^~^^^^^ ^ "= ^^^2 2

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying - .... 10481 10

64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter - 9. 5

The produce of the space, ditto - - 15 0| ^ ' * ^^^^^ ^ "^ 643 6 7

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying, is,
Grass, 5 oz. The produce per acre - . . . 5445O q^ ^^^^ ^ ^

64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter - 1 - - . 850 12

14973 12

The weight of nutritive natter, in which the produce of one acre, at the time the seed is ripe,
exceeds that at the time of flowering, is

53 2 12

337 10 8

The proportional value which the grass, at the time of flowering, bears to that at the time
the seed is ripe, is as 11 to 10; and to the grass of the latter-math, as 5 to 2.

There has often been occasion to observe, that though grass, when left till the seed be ripe,
may afford a greater quantity of nutritive matter, nevertheless the value of the 1 atter-math which
IS lost by this means, is often greater than the extra quantity of nutritive matter thus obtained;

*-fc ^ ^i -I- .^^-1-1-^ _ _t_l__ *l* i'V* J^ -w

add to this, the impoverishing eff-ects of the plants on the soil by the process of ripening th
seed and the less palatable nature of the hay. The plants of grass are likewise much weakened

by the production of seed, for in all the exnprii^ov.+o t i, i i -, n . ^

/, , expenments 1 have made, the produce of latter-matli

proved always less, in many instances one-half Uco \ - - p i -, i

r , ■ ^ ^^^^^ ^^^s \n a given time after the seed crop, than

alter the crop taken at the time of flowerino^ • T r>o.rl. i^ • i i \ u A

rr 1 , . ^xuvvi^ung, A never could perceive, however, that the bad

effects extended in

any degree to the next following' season, the weight of produce being then
as frequently superior, as equal or less. '

Rye-gras, appear, .o have beeu cultivated prevl„; to the year 1677»; besides which, Kad
Clover, Samfom Spun-ey, Trefoil, and Nonsuch, were the only plants then cultivated .
grasses, or te^rcd such. And it is only of late years that any other species of the natural gr«»
!.as been tned as a subsftute for it, in forming artificial pastt„ catVtail grass, r»-

* Bee the first edition of Woldridg-e's HiKii.n^

B Husbandry: my copy is the third edition, dated I68I.

i

'*t

-\

\

107

prafensej; cock's-foot grass, CDaciylus glomerata); and fox-tail grass, (Alopecurus pratensis )
The Cat s-tail grass appears to^have been made trial of before either of the other two, not more

The seed of

Walham

cattle.

the Cock's-foot grass was introduced about the same time from Virginia, by the Society of Arts
&c. but no trial was made of it till several years afterwards : it was then called Orchard-grass*'
and it is but lately that the Fox-tail grass has been tried on an extensive scale, the merits of
which seem to have been first accurately pointed out by the late excellent Mr. Curtis, in his
several works on grasses.

There has been much difference of opinion respecting the merits and comparative value of
Rye-grass. It produces an abundance of seed, which is easily collected, and readily vegetates
on most kinds of soil under circumstances of different management ; it soon arrives at perfection
and produces in its first years of growth a good supply of early herbage, which is much liked by
-"'" These merits have, no doubt, upheld it till the present day in practice, and will pro-
bably, for some time to come, continue it a favourite grass with many Farmers. But the latter-
math of Rye-grass is very inconsiderable, and the plant impoverishes the soil in a high degree
if the culms, which are invariably left untouched by cattle, are not cut before the seed adva^ncel
towards perfection. When this is neglected, the field, after Midsummer, exhibits only a brown
surface of withered straws.

Let the produce and nutritive powers of Rye-grass be compared with those of the Cock's-
foot grass, and it will be found inferior in the proportion nearly of 5 to 18 ; and also inferior
to the Meadow Fox-tail, in the proportion of 5 to 12 ; and Inferior to the Meadow Fescue, in
the proportion of 5 to I7. In these comparisons, from which the above proportions arose, ib
was necessary to omit the seed crops, for the truth of comparison.

But as the seed of the Fox-tail is often defective, and the plants of the fescue (Festuca pra-
tcnm) do not arrive at perfection so soon as those of Rye-grass ; their superiority, as above,
over Rye-grass, is somewhat lessened with respect to their value as alternate husbandry
^ grasses ; for permanent pasture, however, the above proportional values will be found true, as
» Rye-g,-ass is but a short-lived plant, seldom continuing more than six years in possession of the loil,
but IS continued, by its property of ripening an abundance of seed, which is but little molested
by birds, and suffered to fall and vegetate among the root-leaves of the permanent pasture
grasses. But Cock's-foot grass perfects an abundance of seed, and the plants arrive at a pro-
ductive state as soon as those of Rye-grass ; hence its superiority over Rye-grass, as above, is
equally great for permanent pasture, and the alternate husbandry; which is not so precisely
the case with the Fox-tail grass, and Meadow Fescue. One peck of Ray-grass, with fourteen
of Clover, per acre, is generally considered sufficient for sowing artificial pastures.

Rye-grass, when not more than three years old, flowers in the second week of June, and
ripens the seed in about twenty-five days after: as the plants become older, they flower much
later, sometimes so late as the beginning of August.

J

* Annual Register for 1765, p. 141, et seq.

*/

H r

■^

108

TrifoUum medium. Red Perennial Clover^ Cow-grass.

Specifii

Spikes loose, stems flexuose, branched; corollas nearly equal;

sublate, linear. E. Bot. t. 190; W

stipules

Obs.— The common Broad-leaved Red Clover is distinguished from the present plant, Ly tli
spike vi^hich is supported on a foot-stalk ; the spike, or flowering head of the Perennial
Clover or Marl-grass, being without any foot-stalk, but sitting on the base of a leaf Xli
stem of the perennial sort is more constantly zig-zag ; and the root is slightly creepino-
The spike is evidently less compact than that of the Broad-leaved, or Biennial Red
Clover. The leaves are also smoother, and longer. There are three varieties of tli

mentioned by botanical writers, one of wliichis
said to be perennial, and the true Marl or Cow-grass; but all the seeds and plants 1 have

(^TrifoUum pratensej

Mess

)

vated on various soils; and I never could find a perennial variety which answered to the
description of the TrifoUum prat ense, though I have searched for it in every soil where

'

opportunity offered. The plant upon which the following experiments were made, was
taken from a rich ancient pasture, which was so closely cropped at the time, that tlie
plant was only three inches high, though in flower. This plant is also frequent on cold
tenacious clayey soils, where it is of smaller stature, more woody, and darker coloured;

r

but when transplanted to a richer soil, its appearance is much altered. The distinctions of
the perennial and the biennial root, are the most certain, and of the most importance totlie
Agriculturist, in choosing between two plants of nearly equal valup for the purpose of
permanent pasture. To avoid any chance of mistake, therefore, I here present a specimen
of the Perennial Red Clover, which I have brought from a rich ancient pasture that bad

never been under, the plough, according to the oldest recollection.
Experiments.— At the time of flowering, the produce from a rich black loam, is,

r

dr.

Grass, SO oz. The produce per acre

80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry

The produce of the space, ditto

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying

64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter

The produce of the space, ditto

qr,

oz.

326700

lbs.

20418 n

25
150

102093 12

6380 13 12

2 1
16 3^

- 11485 8

14037 14 4

717 IS 8

The produce of latter-math at two different cuttings, is

Grass, 28 oz. The produce per acre
64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter
The produce of the space, ditto

304920

2 1
15 3

10719 13

19057 8
669 16 13

The weight of nutritive matter contained in the latter-math herbage, is equal to that afforded
by he flowenng herbage. The plant, as it passes this stage of growth, becomes woody, par-
ticularly at the bottom of the stalks. Jt pushes forth flowering stems during all the summer and

autumn, if never suffered to perfect its seed.

. ,, :, ^" -peoectits seed. It withstands the eff-ects of severe dry weain^'

etter than most pasture plants, continuing to flower, even when the surrounding herbage is

Durnt up on strong loamv sdiis. The wl,,-*. „i _„ .^ . . ,. . . .i.„ u... .lover,

burnt up on strong loamy soils.

(TrifoUum repens)

and the hop clover;

^"N

109

' t

. *.

^

#

*•

I ^

^ -

-*

'ii

, '

Ued Perennial Clover?

- '

IIQ

(TrifoUum procumhens), are, at least as far as my observations have extended, tlie only pla,t,
beside, that retain verdure and powers of growth under such circumstances. There were
favourable opportunities during the long-continued season of dry weather in this year, (isig)^
to observe the powers of different grasses and plants to resist the effects of drought: there
were no plants on ancient pasture land, on lighter soils, or on clays, that appeared so little

affected by it as those I have mentioned.

CB

media)^

all appearance completely dried up, wliile on a sandy soil, a rich black loam, and a str

^asto

(A<yrostis capiUaris)

ong

Q

grass. This property, therefore, gives additional value to the Perennial Red Clover.

On a comparison of the produce and nutritive qualities of the broad-leaved clover, (Trifolmn
pratensej, v^ith those of the above, the Broad-leaved Clover is found to be greatly superior.

(TrifoUum pratense)

lbs.

At the time of flowering, affords of nutritive matter from the produce of one acre of

lbs. per Acre in
one Year.

a clayey loam

1861

2791

l^rom the produce of latter-math, taken at two different times

TJie perennial red clover, (TrifoUum medium)^ as above.

Affords of nutritive matter, from the produce at the time of flowering
From the produce of latter-matb, at tv/o different cuttings

- 930

717
670

1387

The weight of nutritive matter, in which the produce of one acre of the TrifoUum jjvafense,
(broad-leaved cultivated clover), exceeds that of the Perennial Red Clover, is - -

1404

r

In regard to produce, therefore, the Biennial-rooted Clover is superior to the Perennial,
in the proportion nearly of 2 to J. As a plant for the alternate husbandry, tlie Broad-
leaved cultivated Clover will evidently be preferred; but for permanent pasture, the cow clover,
(TrifoUum mediumj, must of necessity have the preference. The quantity of nutritive matter
contained in the herbage of the Broad4eaved Clover is somewhat neater than in the herba*^e of
the Perennial Red Clover, proportionally, according to my expenments, as 10 to 9. The con-
stituent parts of the nutritive matters of the plants are nearly alike, only the Broad-leaved Clover
contains nearly three per cent, more of the hitter extractive and saline matters than are contained
in an equal weight of the Perennial Red Clover. This species likewise contains much less super-
fluous moisture than the former, and is in consequence more quickly and safely converted
into hay ; for it is evident the difficulty of making good hay, is in direct proportion to the quan-
tity of superfluous moisture any herbage may contain, lie comparative fitness of the diflferent
grasses for making into hay, which have already come under observation, with those tliat
follow, may therefore he ascertained hy the statements which are given of the loss of weight
which each species sustains in drying at the different stages of growth .

The value of the Red Perennial Clover has been disputed ; but it seems probable that any

•)

'folium

to that species. But for permanent pasture, its value is undoubtedly considerable, and it

II 1

will be found as an essential constituent of eveiy mixture of grasses adopted for that
Tinrnose*.

purp

F m-y

It flowers about the beginning of July, and the general crop of seed is ripe about the

beginning of September. -

Tt

t i

TrifoKum i'epens. White Clover^ White Trefoil^ Dutch Clover.

4 A

Native of Britain. Root perennial. Curt. Lond. 193 ; Flo. Dan. 990 • E. Bot. 1769.
This species of Clover is so familiar to every Agriculturist, that a specific description of it in a
work of this nature, may be unnecessary.

The value of White Clover to the Farmer is well known. It is common in most, or rather it
is present in every kind of pasture land in Britain. From the circumstance of growing sponta-
neously in almost every kind of soil, few plants vary so much in size : in very dry and poor sandy
soils, it is often so sm^all, and grows so flat among the lower leaves of the herbage, that it is not
perceptible unless a turf is cut, and carefully examined by dividing it; hfeiice, oh breakino- up,
and manuring such soils, or simply manuring by top-dressing, a spontaneous crop of White
Clover appears where it w^as never observed before, and without any supply of seed : this has
led to strange conclusions respecting the propagation of plants.

The central root of White Clover penetrates to a considerable depth in the soil, and the
plant is thereby better prepared to resist the bad effects of severe dry weather, particularly on
sandy soils. The branches that trail on the surface, send down fibrous roots from the joints,
which penetrate but a little way into the ground: hence it is, that the White Clover maintains
itself ui soils of opposite natures; for if the surface be too dry to afford nourishment to the
branches, the principal root preserves it; and when the tenacity and retentiveness of the soil
in a wet winter, is great enough to rot the tap-root, the fibres of the runners preserve the plant

■ r

in safety. From this habit of growth, top-dressings and a frequent use qf the roller encou-
rage the groAvth of this plant in an extraordinary degree. White clover, when cultivated by
Itself, is far from forming so good a pasture as when combined with |;he natural grasses, and t
have witnessed the dangerous effects of pure Clover pasture, on sheep, by inducing disease;
and at the same time, the superior value of it in pastures containing a due admixture of the
natural grasses: among many instances of this sort, oiie Is selected and mentioned in the intro-
duction to these details of experiments.

On a comparison of the nutritive matter afforded from equal weigl^ts qf the White and Red
Clovers, it appears that the White Clover is inferior. - ,

* Hares and rabbits are very fond of this clover when cultivated on a rich soil. Some plants of it were brought from a tena-
cioiis cold clajej soil, on the borders of a wood, and planted in the grass-garden on a rich loam, for the purpose of comparing
It with the same species collected in a rich ancient pasture. I observed at the time I took up the plants near the wood, that
none of them seemed to have been touched by these animals, which were the only animals tliat bad access to thfe herbage. But
they preferred it throughout the whole season in the grass-garden, to almost every Other grasS Pf clover, apd completely broke
through a temporary fence, made specially for its prqtecjipn, ^nd disappointed my expectation in the results of some parti-
cular experiments. "

112

Thebiennialredcloverrrn/oZJMOTjjraifeMe;, affords of nutritive matter - 33

The perennial red clover (Trifolium medium) , affords of ditto

2 1

The' white, or Dutch clover (Trifolium repens) , affords of ditto - . ^

The Brown five-leaved variety of White Clover, affords of ditto - - - 2 2

The Wh

and

Whii

ipect

■er» in the pro,

10 to 9. The

ntity of nutri-

inferior to tk

White

Humphry

Clovers contain a greater

^ ^^^

proportion of bitter extractive and saline matters, than the proper grasses; and that when pure
clover hay is to be mixed as fodder, it should be with summer hay, rather than after-math hay*.

Agrostis stolonifera fvar. 1, latifolia). Larger-leaved Creeping Bent^ Florin.

Specifii

at the time of flowering, contracted afterwards; florets

large, numerous; calyx husks acuminate, outer serulated from the keel upwards, inner
only slightly towards the top,
Obs, — ^This variety of Creeping Bent-grass, being confined to the richest natural pastures, at
least as far as my observations have extended, I have introduced it in this place; the spe-

+ ' ' '

cimens and details of experiments made on the other varieties, which are now to be men-
tioned, will be found in another part of this Work,
Var, 2, Smaller-leaved Creeping Bent (see Agrostis stolonifera, var. angustifoUa), Is dis-
tinguished from the above, by its panicle, which is densely crowded with florets. Smaller, of
a whitish colour, which distinguishes it at first sight from the large spreading dingy purple pani-
cle of the above ; the leaves are longer and broader, pointing more direct from the stem : the
joints are more distant in this variety, and distinguished from those of every other variety of
Fiorin, by the dull purple or brownish colour, which seems to unite them with the stem: in

tifolia, the colour is white or sjrey. Th

g Bent-grass (;

?2£/em of the English Botany, 1532. — Var. 3, Awned Creeph
Qiifera, var. aristata) is distinguished from the first variety by its larger valve of the
blossom having an awn twice its length, while the same valve in the true Florin
(var. 1.), has only the rudiment of an awn fixed below the apex, and which can only be
distinctly seen by the aid of a glass ; the panicle is also smaller; the colour of that
part of the stem nearest to the joint, is reddish • the joints much less swoln.— Var. 4, Wood
Creeping Bent-grass, (see Agrostis stolonifera, var. nemoralis), is more like the first
variety than any of the others; but the panicle is more wide-spreading, the branches rougher,
the florets more pointed, smoother, the leaves narrpwer, and lying more flat on the ground ;
the creeping stems, or runners, are more slender, and lie quite flat on the ground, joints sm
and nearly colourless. The Marsh Creeping Bpnt-a.ra«« rv.o.

aller,

. 5, (see

*-

Agricultural Chemis^rj.

113

V

114

Agrostis pahstris): it approaches nearest to var. % (angustifohaj , but the panicle is spea,.
shaped, loose when in flower, and contracted so much when in seed, as to resemble a spike
and is If a whitish grey colour : it is essentially distinguished from the others by the W-ger
valve of the blossom being furnished with a minute awn, which rises a little above its middle,
and reaches to the top of the valve : the awn is straight, and pressed close to the back of tbe

valve.

The above characters of distinction, and the specimens which are afterwards given to lUus-

trate them, were taken from plants raised from seed on the same, and on different soils, that the
plants were found naturally growing on ; the characters of the wild plants were compared with
those of the cultivated ones, and what remained constant after these changes of circumstances,
are the above. It is easy to conceive the change that takes place in the general appearance of a
plant when brought out of a wet ditch, and cultivated on a dry exposed soil, or from under the
shade of trees on a poor sand, and planted out on a rich loam with full exposure to sun and air.
Characters, therefore, that change with these changes of circumstances, tend more to perplex
tlian enlighten, and may therefore be better omitted.

Experiments. — At the time of flowering, the produce from an active peat soil, is,

dr. qi"

3 2

22 3

Grass, 26 oz. The produce per acre ■»

80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry

The produce of the space, ditto

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying

6'4 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter

The produce of the space, ditto

At the time the seed is ripe, the produce is,
Grass, 28 oz, The produce per acre
80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry
'J'he produce of the space, ditto

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying
64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter
The produce of the space, ditto

55 )
182 S

oz.

lbs.

283140 =

= 17696 4

123873 12=

= 7742 1 12

15484 3

9954 2 4
967 12 3

304920

19057 8

3Q

201 2f

- 137214

8575 14

10481 10

3 2

24 2

16675 5

1042 3 5

The weight of nutritive matter which is lost by taking the crop at the time of flowering, ex-)

ceeds one-fourteenth part of its value, and is
The produce of latter-math, is.
Grass, 4 oz. The produce per acre
6'4 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter

S

74^ 7 ^

50 gr.

43560
1134 6

2722 8

70 14 6

The space, when left uncut till the month of December,' afforded of

r

dr. qr.
4 2

33 3

Eu

Grass, 30 oz. 1'he produce per acre

64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matte
The produce of the space, ditto
The weight of nutritive matter in which the crop taken in December, exceed,

the time of flowering, in the proportion of 16 to 11 is

'he Rev. Dr. William Richardson hna iti+t.^.i ,i .i •

326700

20418 12

- 22971 1

1435 11 1

467 14 14

life

de-

the agricultural world, under the name of^Fiorin, and has shewn its merits and properties,
duced from his own experiments, in a variety of publications on the subject, to which the reader
IS referred. It is greatly superior, in poiut of produce and nutritive powers, to the other varie-

115

mg
to

ties of the ^^ro^te stolonifera, which have been enumerated; this will be mnnlf...

, 1 ., p . ' ^^"^''^ '-'*^ mamrest, on referri

to the details of experiments made upon them, as given under the head of grasses natural
moist soils. ,

On comparing the specimens of these difFerent varieties, their reseinblance to each other is so
great, that they may be easily mistaken for each other, without a close inspection, and some know
ledge of botany to assist it. It was before observed, that this variety, (larger creeping Bent or
Fiorin), appears to be confined to rich ancient pasture land, as its natural place of o-rowlh" ill
ihe other varieties to various soils and situations ; and that when taken from these different soi^s
and cultivated together under the same circumstances, they retain tlie discriminatin<>- chj

IP., - - — -H ^^aracters

betore mentioned.

On damp clayey soils the second variety is the most common grass. To moors and bog soils
the third variety is chiefly, or (at least according to my observations), altogether confined! To
light sandy soils, particularly when more or less shaded, the fourth variety is peculiar • and
the fifth variety is seldom found but in the bottom of ditches, or by the sides of rivulets. ' Th
first variety being therefore scarce, and the others very common, there is little room for ......

prise at the contradictory results of experiments that have been made on one or other of these
inferior varieties, by Gentlemen equally eminent for agricultural knowledge, under bhe convic

sur-

e name-

scovery

tion of their being one and the same grass as recommended by Dr. Richardson under th. „„.._
of Fiorin ; whereas, though they agree in the general habit of Dr. Richardson's variety," and
mdeed in every respect, except in the characters before described, their inferiority in every' agri-
cultural merit is so great, as to justify the opprobrious epithets that have been bestowed upon
them by those who, from the above causes, have differed from Dr. Richardson's statements of
the merits of the first variety, or Fiorin, and prevented that justice being done to the di
which it may have deserved.

The above details will assist the Farmer in deciding on the comparative merits of this grass,
as a constituent of a mixture of grasses for permanent pasture; from which it will doubtlesl
appear worthy of attention, but its value not so great as has been supposed, if its habits or man-
ner of gT0^vth be Impartially taken into the account, when compared with the produce and
nutritive powers of other grasses.

This grass, when cultivated by Itself, cannot be profitably depastured, on account, principally,
of Its peculiar manner of growth, which has been compared to that of strawberries. It sends
out runners or stolones, which strike root at the joints; the feet of cattle mixing part of the
soil with these, render the most valuable part of the plant unfit for food. In its combined
state in ancient pastures, this objection is lost, as the root-leaves and consolidated turf of the
various grasses, prevent completely such an effect from the feet of the cattle, which will be evi-
dent on a few moments' examination of a close-eaten turf of sucli pastures as now described. In
this state it is much less productive than when cultivated singly, as the fibrous roots of the

stolones derive their only nourishment from the moisture secreted among the root-leaves of the
uther grasses.

L

The chlefadvantage of this grass in permanent pasture, is its late growth. It remains in a
degree inactive, till other grasses have attained to perfection, and wh en their productive powers
become exhausted, those of Fiorin and its varieties begin; and it will be found, on inspection.

%

116

thatthe latest mouthful ofherbage, and sometimes the earliest in those pastures, is principally ^

afforded by this grass.

There has been much prejudice existing against the different species of Agrostis in general-
but let the proprietor of a rich ancient pasture, divest a part of it of this grass entirely, and the
value of the plant will be demonstrated in the comparative loss of late and early herbage. In these
pastures, late in the autumn, I have observed the stolones extend to a considerable length, and
left untouched by cattle : in the spring, however, they were generally eaten, and the protection
they had afforded to the under grasses, was evident In the superior early growth of the herhage
where the stolones had most extended; after this, the Creeping Bent was hardly to he
nized, till the other grasses had again exhausted themselves towards the end of the autumn. Tl
plant, in this state of combination, takes but little from the soil.

w

In comparing the produce and nutritive powers of dilFerent grasses, to arrive at a knowledoe
of their relative value, it is absolutely necessary, for the truth of comparison, that the pro.
duce of one whole season be taken, and not one crop singly, except in instances where the pro-
duce consists but of one crop only. Accordingly, the produce of Fiorin may be compared with
that of the cock's-foot grass, CDactyhs glomerata), meadow fescue, (Festuca pratensis), diTA\}[i^
meadow-foxtail, fAiopeczirus prafensisj, when it will appear inferior to the two former species,
and superior to the latter. On referring to former details it appears, that

^

J

K

The Agrostis stolo7iifera, var, latifolia, larger creeping bent,

recop'-

le

lbs. per Acre in one Year,

From the produce of one season, taken in December, affords of nutritive matter

f '

The Dactylis glomerata, cock's-foot grass,

rrom the produce of early herbage in the spnng, affords of nutritive matter '

From the produce at the time of flowering, affords of nutritive matter

From the produce of latter-math, affords of nutritive matter , - -

The Festitca prateiisis, meadow fescue,

From the produce of early herbage in the spring, affords of nutritive matter

From the produce at the time of flowering, affords of nutritive matter

From the produce of latter-math, affords of nutritive matter ^ » *

The Alopeciirus pratensis, meadow-foxtail,

\

I

From the produce of early herbage, affords of nutritive matter
From the produce at the time of flowering, affords of nutritive matter
From the produce of latter-math, affords of nutritive matter

1435

358

10895- 1728
281

382

957 V 1719
380

483

- 478 V 121$
255

The Cock's-foot grass, under the circumstances described, is therefore superior to the larger
variety of the Creeping Bent, in the proportion, nearly, of 11 to 9.

The meadow fescue, (Festuca pratemis), is also superior to Fiorin, in nearly the like pro-
portion as Cock's-foot.

The meadow foxtail-grass, (Alopemrus pratensis), is inferior to Fiorin, in the proportion,
nearly, of 7 to 6.

J

Though the quantity of nutritive matter afForded by a grass in one whole season, is the chief
property by which its comparative value can be determined, yet the particular season or seasons
in which it is produced, the nature of the soil on which it can be cultivated to most advantage,
and the superior facilities its pecuhar habits of growth afford for its propagation, as also for reap-
ing its produce, are points which must necessarily be taken into the account by the Agriculturist.

117

r

according as they are influenced by local circumstances ; snch as the nature of tl.o . ^^ . ■
oh;^.n r.fhi^ f...w. * ^ ^^^^ ^^1^' and situ-

ation of his farm.

When cultivated separately for the purpose of green food or hay*, Fiorin requires to 1

perfectly clear of weeds, its couchant habit of growth afFording m-Jat enmn. " T '"^^'^

l,„.Ul,.f,,^.^„i,. :„_.,_! '' _ "ggieat encouragement for the

ous roots

health ot upright-growing plants— under this circumstance weeds The n„m«v r-i

^1 . • f. 1 . . „ , • -i-iie numerous nbrous n

that issue from the joints of the trailing shoots or stolones, exhaust the surface of tho o'l "

considerable degree ; top-dressings with manure are, therefore, absolutely necessnrv tT' "' ''
.1 . T . *^^v "^'^^-fssary to Keen un

the superior productive powers of Fiorin. Without these points being sufficiently attended to
m the cultivation of this grass, disappointment will be the result.

The merits of this variety of the Creeping Bent for the purposes of permanent pasture have
already been mentioned, and that its productive powers, when in combination ivith other o-^^sses^
are much less than are shewn in the above details; from which it wdl appear to be a'' nee '
sary constituent of a mixture of grasses, to form, in all particulars, the most valuable^pelT
nent pasture, though in a less proportion than most other species admitted to form such .

mixture.

It perfects a sufficiency of seed which readily vegetates ; and the plants, when properlv
encouraged by top-dressings, I have found invariably to arrive soon at perfection When
the runners or stolones are used instead of seed, the ground is much sooner clothed with the
grass : when meant as a crop by itself, the planting of the shoots or stolones appears to be the best
mode ; but when intended as part of a mixture of other grasses, the seed will be found by expe
rience to be the most proper. , ^

It flowers about the second and third weeks of July, and the seed is ripe about the second
and third weeks of August.

The grasses, and other plants, that have now been submitted to the better iudo-ment of the
reader comprehend all the grasses and plants which the Author could ever fmd in the I^od, of
the richest natural pastures, examined every month of the year, and oftener ; some other species
U IS true, were sometimes found on particular spots, but could not, from their local situation'
be considered as naturally befonging to such : they will be mentioned hereafter.
_ To those who may have perused and bestowed some consideration on the foregoino- details
It may be unnecessary to observe, that the facts and observations there brought forward, offer suf"
licient proofs, that it is not from one or two, but from a variety of different species of grasses
that the Agriculturist can hope to form in the shortest space of time, a sward equal if not
superior to that of the richest natural pastures.

Hastiness in generalizing from a few facts only, in things pertaining to the properties
and cultivation of plants, has often led to error; it seldom benefits the cause it meant to advance:
every one is told this plant, or that mode of cultivation, will best suit his purpose; most make
tnal and from the want of that caution which generalization in the outset destroys, the majo-

nty tails; this leads to a difference of nn;..;^., • i i i i

, . ^^uueience or opinion on one side; and on the other, to a contempt of

tnat which, when taken in its limited «Pr.co 1 1 i i -, i i i •

muuca sense, would have produced every advanta^-e the object

was capable of affording. ^ J ^ J

r

Fior ^'7,^'."' '™'"""^ ^'""" '"'" '"^■' ^"""^ "" ^'•'"=' "■»'"h«^ - amply detailed in Dr. Richardson's publications on
g^as, • ;" ;°f"™'''""> -'" ">-<= be likewise found, on the productive powers, uses, modes of cultivation, &c. &c. of this
-. aettuced from the Doctor's own experiments.

118

The hope of discovering, and the discovery of a single grass, or mode of cultivation superior
to every other for all the purposes of the Agriculturist, under every circumstance, would surely
he as rational, and when effected, as great, as those of the Philosopher's stone, and the universal

r

specific.

r

great

From a careful perusal of the foregoing series of facts and observations, the following con-
clusion will appear just: that the failures in attempts to renew the original valuable sward on
rich ancient pasture lands, rise not from the length of time that the plants require to arrive at
perfection from seed, nor frojnthe injury the land sustains from a course of grain crops; ]jut
evidently from the neglect of employing the seeds of those grasses which are natural to the soil,
and that constituted the produce of the valuable pasture. What those grasses are, and their
comparative merits and value, the specimens, and the details of experiments, will in a
measure have shewn.

It appears most unaccountable, that, at this day, when the different branches of practical
agriculture seem to be so well understood, it should be asserted, and without contradiction too,
that it is of no importance what kinds of grasses are sown upon lands for the purposes of perma-
nent pasture, as Nature itself, in the course of time, will produce those kinds of grasses best
adapted to the soil, and which only reiuain permanent. Now, as the whole art of cultivating
plants is nothing more than assisting Nature in the process of the growth of vegetables, surely
the above doctrine can amount to nothing more than the confession of an utter deficiency in tlie
knowledge of the art of assisting Nature in the process of clothing the soil with its natural pe-

^ - r J.

rennial grasses; or, that instead of three or four years, in the course of which, ]>y the kind assist-
ance of art, the valuable sward may be renewed, it is better to leave it to the slow unassisted
efforts of Nature, to be renewed in eight, ten, or twenty years.

The superiority of ancient natural pastures, over those formed artificially with Rye-grass
and Clover, was before alluded to. It will be found principally to arise from the variety of dif-
ferent habits and properties which exist in a numerous combination of different species of grass.
From the l^eginning of spring, till winter, there is not a month that is not thp peculiar season in

whicl

1 one

es

or more grasses attain to the greatest degree of perfection. Some grasses there arc,
that withstand the injurious effects of long-continued dry wxathcr better than others, wAvice
versa. Hence, the comparatively never-failing supply of nutritive herbage obtained from na-
tural pastures, which it is vain to look for in those artificially for^ned with one or two grass
pnly.

J

The chief properties which give value to a grass, are nutritive powers, produce, early
growth, reproductive powers, or the property of growing rapidly alter being cropped, and tl

facilities if; offfirs fnrits v>yr>i-.o^^+;«,, 1,,, :i

le

ties it offers for its propagation by seed.

If one species of grass could be discovered, that possessed all these properties in a superior
degree to every other, the knowledge of distinguishing the different species of grass A.illi cer-
tanity, that of the soils and sub-soil best adapted to their growth, and the natural habits, compa-
nvtive value, and merits of the different plants, would then be naore for curiosity than utility.
i?ut thp reswlts of these experiments have proved, that a combination of all the merits aud pro-

119

perties which give value to a grass, are no I Lo be fouud in a superior degree in any sin-^le -^ras-
Indeed, if such was the case, it would seem singular that Nature, for the same purpose,''finds '
it necessary to employ so many.

If a selection of grasses were made, with a view to early flowering only (presuming that this
property constituted the chief value of a grass), it will be found, that a combination of equal
proportions of sweet vernal-grass, ( AntlioxantMm odoratmn); sweet soft-o-rass CHolc I ■
tus); soft brome-grass, (Bromus mollis); annual meadow-grass, (Poa annua); and mldow
fox-tail grass, (Alopecurus pratcnsis) ; will produce a crop ripe to mow in the second week of
May, on a soil of the best quality, these grasses being. then in flower ; but the produce will be
found very inferior: the nutritive matter from the whole crop beino- only 367 lbs

A combination of the smooth-stalked meadow-grass, (Poapratensis); rough-stalked meadow-
grass, (Pou trivkdis); hard fescue, (Festuca duriuscula); common quakins'-oTass rR,-;
media); darnel-hke fescue-grass, (Festuca loliacea); long-aM-ned sheep's-fescue, (Festuca ovina
hordiformis); and the Welsh-fescue, (Festuca Cambrica); will affbrd a crop reldy for mowino-
in the first week of June. The value of a crop, consisting of equal parts of these grasses is

superior to the preceding, in the proportion nearly of 4 to 3; the nutritive matter afforded'by
the whole crop, being 4861bs.

A combination of equal parts of the cock's-foot grass, (Dactylis glomerata); meadow-foscue
(Festuca pratensis) ; tall oat-like soft-grass, (Holcus avenaceus); perennial rye-grass (Lolium
percnne); upright brome, (Bromus erectm); and field brome, (Bromus m-vensis) ; will produce
a crop fit to mow for hay in the third week of June. The value of this crop is superior to
that ripe in the first week of June, in the proportion neariy of 13 to 7 ; the weight of nutritive
matter from the produce of one acre being 844 lbs.

A combination of cat's-tail, (PUeum prepense); yellow oat, (Avenajia^esccns); crested
dogs-tail, (CynosuTus cristatus); woolly soft-grass, (Holcus lanatus); wood meadow-ora.s
(Poanemorahs); meadow barley-grass, (Hordeum pratense) ; yellow vetchling, (Latl^rus prL
/.«mj; many-flowered brome-grass, r-Bro»^«,,,^„/^/^o;-„,J; and the lesser variety of the mea-
dow cat's-tail, (Phleum pratense, var. mhius); will aff-ord a crop ready for reaping in the second
or third week of July. The weight of nutritive , matter afforded by this crop, exceeds that of
the preceding in the proportion nearly of 7 to 6; the quantity contained ' in the produce of one
acre being about 1008 lbs. -

The first of these selections, though producing the eariiest crop, is, nevertheless, much less
valuable than any of the others; for, with the addition of the after-grass that would be pro-
duced m the extra length of time which the others require to come to maturity, the produce
would still be very inferior. . i

A grass which produces an abundance of eariy foliage, and that does not put fortli its i\ow-
t^raig culm^ till the beginning of June, can be fod off till a late period of the spring without
^njmy to the crop of hay, which, with a grass that pushes up its flowering culms eariy in the

spring, cannot be practised without dninn- ^^ • j 1 1 • • i i ti •

, ° r " wiuioui doing considerable injury to the hay crop. This property,

UFetore, of producing early foliage, and flowering late, must be more particulariy valuable

under circumstances where a breeding flock of sheep is kept The grasses which are more dis-

-nguished iQ this respect, are the ^o^H^-ioot, (Daety Us glomerata); meadow cat's-tail, rP/.fe./.

ense); nerved meadow-grass, (Poa nervata); and the wood meadow-grass, (Poa nemoralis).

120

& _

A

^

As tlie leaves of grasses are the most valuable part of the plant for the purposes of

a view of the quantity of nutritive matter afforded by the different species in the
assist in deciding on their comparative value.

grazing^
'P^i^g, will

About the beginning, and middle of April, 1920 grains of the leaves of the following gra^^g^

and other plants, afford of nutritive matter ;

Meadow foxtail-grass, (Alopeciiriis pratcjisis)

Tall oat-like soft-grass, (Holcus auenaceits)

Sweet-seented vernal, ( Antlioxanthum odoratmn)

Kound-panicled cock's-foot, (Dactylis glomerata)

Perennial rye-grass, (Lolium pereiine)

Tall fescue, (Festuca elatm-J _ - ^

Meadow fescue, (Festuca pratensis)

Crested dog's-tail, (Cynosurus cristatus)

Woolly soft-grass, (Holcus lanatiis)

CreepiDg soft-grass, (Holcus mollis) r

^ledidiO\Y c^t'?>~Vd\\, (Fldeum pratense) - - -

Fertile meadow-grass, ( Poa fertilis) - - -

Nerved meadow-grass, (Foa nervaia) _ - -

r

Smooth awnless brome-grass, (Bromus inermis)

Wood meadow-grass, (Foa nemoralis) - - -

Smooth fescue, (Festuca glabra) - - . - - -

Long-awned sheep's fescue, (Festuca ovina hordiformis )

Darnel-hke fescue, (Festuca laUacea)

Creeping bent or fiorin, (Agrostis stolonifera Richardso7.iia)

AVood fiorin, (Agrostis stolonifera, var. sylvatica)

96 gr- ,

- 120

- 52

- 80

- 70

- 94

- 96

- 88

- 80

- 90

- ,80

- 70

- 76

- 84

- 68

- 70

- 102

- 110

- 42
. 62

Yellow vetchling, (Lathyrus pratensls) -_ - . _ _ -'_40

Rough-stalked meadow-grass, (Foa trivialis) - - - .

Broad-leaved red clover, (Trifolium pratense) - - ^ - ,

White or Dutch clover, (Trifolium repens) ,- - - , . .

Common quaking-grass, (Briza media) - ^ - - .

Greater bird's-foot trefoil, (Lotus major) - - - _ ^ .

Long-rooted clover, (Trifolium macrorlnzum) - - - ^ _

Lucern, (Medicago sativa) ■ - .

Bunias, (Bunias orientalis) , - . ^

Burnet, (Poterium sanguisorha) - - - ^ _ »

Cow parsnip, (Herackum angustifolium)

- 80

- 80
- 64

- 54

^- 6.0

' 76

- 00

- 100

- 100

- 90

Those of the indigenous grasses that afford the least nutritive matter from their spring leaves,
, the Creepmg Bents, Common QualdnP:-OTass. pnd tl... Sw..t..n«.,to^ V.,..o1 TI.p leaves

that contam the most nutritive matte, are those of the Cock's-foot, Tall Oat-like Soft-grass,
Meadow-fescue, Tall Feseue, Crested Dog's-tail, Meadow Cat's-tail, Darnel-like Fescue, and
Rough-stalked Meadow-grass. The Perennial Rye-grass ranks with those that contain the

r\ ! *^7™^^^^ '^''-' ^'- --^ indigenous, the Long-awned or Barley-like Sheep's Fescue,
the Fertile and Nerved Meadow-grasses, stand the highest

The composition of the nutritive matter of th
proportions of starch or mucilage, and the bitter extractive

e leaves of these grasses, differs chiefly

m

the

and saline matters; of which they are

rr::: 1: rf rr " "'^" '""" '=" ^ -»" ?- °f ^^^ -po.uo.. compared »

in the culms pr hay crop.

that

121

■ ■ ^ '

By boiling equal weights of the nutritive matter of the leaves of the following grasses "

klinl till tnp r>n!miT»ir»rv wio+r^^ ,,, i •. i* i i » « o o

afterwards

^ J o ^ "-^•"^x >¥a,j uo aujjiuicxmp^ tile in.

soluble parts to the action of cold, and of boiling water, and collecting and weighing the sohd
matters after evaporation, the results were as follows :
100 grains of nutritive matter consisted of,

4,

Mucilage, or Starch. Sacchariae Matter, Gluten. Bitter Extractive and

or Sugar. ay ^^

Alopecurus pratensis, (meadow-foxtail) - 64 - 8 - __ aaune Matters.

Festuca pralensis, (meadow-fescue) ^ ^ S9 - 20

Foa trlvialis, (rough-stalked meadow-grass) - 82-8

Lolium pcreiine, (rye-grass) - - 65 - 7

Foa nervata, (nerved meadow-grass) - 83 - 8

^

Fhleum prate7ise, (meadow cat*s-tail) - 74 - 10

Dactylis glomerata, (cock*s-foot) - -69 - 11

Avena praieiisis, (meadow-oat) - - - so - 10

Hordeum pratense, (meadow-barley) - - 08 - 8

Holcus mollis, (creeping soft-grass) - 70 - 6
^Agrostis stolonifera, var. latifolia, (broad-leaved,
or florin) - - _ _

55 - 5

28
20
10

28

9

16

30
10

34

24 insoluble.

40

White Clover, when in flower, according to Sir

H. Davy - - - , ^ '^^ " ^ - 7 - 14

Red Clover, ditto " " - 79

Vicia, var. satka^ (tares) - ' - - 68 - . 25

Trifolium officinalis, (melilot clover) - 53 - 4

r ■

Trifolium macrorhizuin, (long-rooted clover) - 64 - 14

8 - 5 - 8

7

42

22

The bitter extractive and saline matters are considered as assisting or modifying the func-
tions of digestion, rather than being truly nutritive parts of the compound. The experiments
detailed in the Introduction, shewed that the mucilage, starch, gluten, and sugar, were retained
in the body of the animal for the purposes of life, and that the bitter extractive and saline mat-
ters were voided with the woody fibre, which, combined, constituted the excrements, or those
parts of the vegetable not retained in the body of the animal for the purposes of life.

Tares, and White Clover, are very succulent plants, and their fattening powers are well
known ; but when cultivated singly, or without admixture of any other plants, there are several
instances that have come under my own observation, where they have been, in cold moist wea-
ther m the early part of the spring, productive of the diseases termed red-water, and diarrhoea or
looseness; the former in sheep fed on White Clover, and the latter in cattle fed on Tares. In
estimatmg, therefore, the comparative nutritive powers of these different proportions of vege-
table principles in different grasses, or other plants, proved by experience, it appears likewise
necessary to ascertain their degree of succulency, or the different proportions of water and woody
fibre combined in them, as it will prove the proportion which the saline matters bear to the
truly nutritive, as well as to the woody or indigestible portion of the vegetable. The statements
of the loss of weight which the different grasses sustain in drying, given in the foregoing details
of experiments, will assist to determine the above point in most instances. I may be permitted
tp illustrate this by an example :

Tares are said to be more fattening than White Clover, Cock's-foot grass, or Meadow Fescue.

I 1

122

3000 trains of the green herbage of . .

^^^^ 8 C5 O Woody or indigestible Water. Nutritive Matter.

Siibs^Eibce.

grains

Commonxetclh or tares, (Vicia,yzr,satka)r co^^^^^ 557 grains. - 2250 grains. . 193

r

MVbhe dover (TrifoUum repensj - - " ^70 - - 2430 - - ]00

Cock's'foot grass (DactyUs glomerata) - - - ^^^ - " 1740 - - 125
Me-ddow fescue (Festucapratensis) - - - 12oO - - 1590 - - 150

Hence, 1135 grains of the woocly fibre of Tares, are combined with 427 grains of saUne matter*

White

1014 ditto

supe-

of Cock's-foot grass, is combined with - 900 ditto

and of Meadow-fescue, is combined with - 600 ditto

m

The Tares and White Clover contain, therefore, nearly one-third more of water tha

r

natural grasses, Cock's-foot and Meadow-fescue. The White Clover is remarkable for the
rior quantity of extractive and saline matters it affords, in proportion to the woody or indiges-
tible matter. The excess of water, or superfluous moisture, in Tares, and the small proportion
of extractive and saline matters they contain, must render thein a less valuable food in the early
pail of spring, when the weather is cold and iiioist, than in the latter part of that season, or ia
summer. If some of the natural grasses were cdmbined with the Tares, it would correct this
over-succulency of their nature. The annual species of grass appear to be the most proper for
this purpose, merely because they soonest afford a supply of herbage from the time of sowing.
The Field Brome-grass, (Bromus arvensisj, atld Common Barley, have their nutritive matters,
and the proportions of water to that of woody fibre in their substance, more opposite to those

in the composition of Tares than most other grasses, and therefore promise to be the most
useful.

The different species of the natural grasses differ less from each other, in the composition of
their nutritive matters, than they do in general from the different species of Clover or Vetch.
But in all the numerous trials I have made on the nutritive matters of the proper grasses, I
could never find two species perfectly agree in the proportions of mucilage, sugar, gluten, bitter
extractive, and saline matters, of which their nutritive matters consisted. To detail the results
of all these processes, would probably be more tedious for tlie Agriculturist to read, than they
were to the conductor of the experiments in the performance. , What has just now been stated
may be sufficient to shew, in some measure, the degree of importance that is to be attached
the properties in question, when making a selection of the most valuable grasses for permanent

to

pasture, or indeed for any other purpose for which they are useful. The following grasses ar
selected, from those of which specimens have been given in the foregoing pages, as being supe-
rior to all others, in one or more of the valuable properties before mentioned : in nutritive qua-
lities, early growth, produce, reproductive powers, permanency in the soil, and the facilities they
oiFer for their propagation by seed.

*

CockVfoot grass, (BacttjUs ghmerata) > ' . ^ _ . _ o bushels.

Meadow fescue, (Festuca pratensis)

_ . " r • - . 2 ditto.

Meadow £Qx-\.m\ gr-dss, (Alopecurus prat ensis) ^ . 1.2 ditto.

Rough-stalked meadow-grass, (Foa trivialis) ^ ^ . . 2 ditto.

Tall oat-like soft-grass, (Holciis avenaceus) . ^ ^ - 0^ ditto.

' - -■ . - ]o lbs.

Hard, or smooth fescue, r-f'«rf«cac/Mm«c«/a,ce;g/aJr«; - -' 2 bushels.

Meadow cat's-tail, (Phkum pratensej

123

Crested dogVtai], (Cynosurus cristatus) -. r, ' » ^ 1 bushel

Nerved meadow-grass, (Poa nervata) -, - - - - .. 0^ ditto

Wood meadow-grass, (Poa nemoralis) - - - ^ - .. ^^ ^^^^^

Narrow-leaved Meadow-grass, (Poa angustifoUa) - - - - 0^ ditto
Broad-leaved creeping bent, or fiorin, (Agrostis stolonifera, var. latifolia) - O-^ ditto

Eje-grass, (Lolium perenne) . - - -, . - 1 ditto

'White or Butch clover, (Trifolium prate7ise) - . , ^ 2^ 11^^

Bush vetch, (vicia sepiumj - -- - _ -O-bhl

Sweet-scented vernal-grass, ( AnthomntJmm odoratum) - - . Qi ji^.^^

Perennial red clover, (TrifoUim medium) ^ - - _ - 12 lbs.

The larger seeds should be mixed by themselves ; and, in the same manner, the smaller
seeds should be mixed together, and sown after the mixture of larger seeds, as they require
much less covering.

I have sown the seeds of the same grasses in every month of the year, January excepted,
j| and though much depends on the weather and the state of the ground, the results were alwayl
in favour of the month of August; and, next to that, the middle or latter end of May, accord-
ing as the weather was dry. The seeds vegetated, and grew with most vigour under the fol-
lowing circumstances : when the ground had been deeply stirred, broken very fine, and made
perfectly smooth and compact on the surface with a heavy roller, previous to sowing the seeds;
and, at the time of sowing, the ground in a dry state, the seeds sown on this fine, dry, com-
pact surface ; the larger seeds not more than just covered, by drawing a fine rake on the level
surface, and afterwards sowing the small seeds, and covering them no farther than what was
effected by a repetition of the roller. The results further shewed, that, next to a coarse, inconso-
lidated or loose surface, the practice of deep sowing was, in the second degree, more injurious to
the vegetation of the seeds, and the first progress of the plants, than any other error that could
be made in the manual part of the process of sowing the natural grasses on a soil of good quality.
When land is to be sown down for permanent pasture, no admixture of any annual or grain
crop, or Broad-leaved Clover, should be admitted with the grass-seeds. Experience will
prove that they are highly injurious to the intention of speedily forming a solid productive
sward; and that the profit that may accrue from a grain crop thus obtained, will be much over-
balanced by the loss of grass in the two following seasons. Every plant of these annual crops
occupies a place to the detriment of the expected sward; besides rendering the surface porous
by the decay of their roots in the end of autumn, much mischief, likewise, is done to the sward
by portions of the crops being beat down with heavy rains. The above mixture should be
sown in the autumn or spring, at the rate of four and a half bushels to the acre. If sown in
spnug, it will be found highly useful in the following autumn, to give the surface a slight
top-dressing with rotten dung or compost, in which the seeds, or roots of weeds, are not sus-
pected, and to sow immediately after half a bushel, more or less, of the mixture of seeds, accord-
ing as the sward appears to be deficient of plants ; after which, (the top-dressing being previ-
ously well reduced by a slight bush-harrow), the roller should be liberally used; and rollmg
for the first two years, should never be neglected at any favourable opportunity. If the seeds
are sown in autumn, the top-dressing, re-sowing, and rolling, will be found equally requisite
and beneficial in the following month of May, and even if repeated in the following autumn,
they will greatly forward the intention. This is imitating the process of Nature in forming pas-

P K

WL

an

124

1

tures with this advantage, that for one seed of a valuable species of grass supplied to the ,oil
by the slow and gradual process of Nature, in one season, a thousand are supplied in the same
space of time; and thus take possession of their natural soil, without the danger and inconveni,

ence of expelling its usurpers.

There has been some difference of opinion respecting the manner of reaping the produce of
seedling grasses; whether by depasturing with sheep, or by mowing after the plants have per-
fected their seed. The manure supplied by sheep to the young grasses, is of great advantage;
but the animals are apt to bite too close to the root, and sometimes tear up the young plants
altogether. I have found on repeated trials, that cropping seedling grasses before they had
produced flowers, had the eflFect of retarding and weakening the after-growth of the plants
for that season very much. But after the period of flowering, cropping was found to
strenathen, and rather encourage the growth of plants. In the same way I found, tliat
old plants of grass, when cut very close after the first shoots of the spring made their
appearance, afforded about one-third less weight of produce in the whole season, tli
those plants of the same species which were left uncut till the flowering culms began to
appear. As the advantages of the manure of the sheep may be supplied by top-dressing,
and the disadvantages resulting to the tender seedling plants from early and close cropping
cannot SO speedily be removed, the practice of suffering the grasses to produce flowers before
they are cut, with the application of top-dressings, and the use of the roller, till the summer of

V f T ♦ - r

the second year, appears to be far more profitable than the former practice of depasturing the
seedlin"" o-rasses at an earlier period than the summer of the second year. But iuthis, no doubt,
as well as in other particular modes of management recommended for general practice in tbe ciil-
ture of plants, local circumstances may interfere SO much as often to render some modification

of them necessary.

But though the pasture be formed in the best manner, with a combination of the most valu-
able grasses, nevertheless, a judicious mode of treatment afterwards is as essentially necessary to
continue its value. By proper stocking, top-dressing, and weeding, very indifferent pastures
(where the soil was adapted to the gro
most valuable; and, on the contrary, the richest natural pastures, by neglect of proper stocking,
top-dressing, and weeding, or the too frecpient repetition of hay crops, have become so unprofit-
able, as to require many years to bring them again to their original value. The neglect of foul
hedges and road-sides, is the best possible encouragement for the propagation of those perennial
weeds which infest permanent pasture land. In Warwickshire, I have seen valuable pasture land
rendered nearly equal to the worst under proper management, by the intermixture of these
weeds, supplied liberally from foul hedge-rows and road-sides; besides, the weeds in these

■

nurseries afford shelter, and at particular periods/ nourishment, to insects, which annoy and
distress cattle in summer.

The comparative value of permanent pasture, and tillage land, is a subject out of the reach ot
the humble narrator of facts. All that has been here brought forward, goes no farther than to
prove, that where such lands have already been converted to tillage, they may, by the means
recommended, be brought to as valuable, if not to a superior state of pasture, as before, and that
in the space of four years. The means for effecting this, however, are not yet sufficiently withm
the power of the Agriculturist, A more general knowledge of the diflerent grasses (and the

r

now

c

126

importance, or rather absolute necessity, of a combination of man^ different grasses " t i

nf two or tbrf^e fliffi^vAT^t cr^-:*^.;^., *„ r ^ x . . 6 ' > instead

pasture^

1 u ..r 1 1 ^1 /. '" - o,,uit space or time, ecnial

tothebestformed by Nature, is required before sufficient encouragement can be ^iven to
those who collect their seeds, by an extensive and regular demand, to supply them at the lowe ^
price*.

By the ordinary practice of returning such soils to permanent pasture, disappoiutment is
sure to follow; and to attempt to form a valuable permanent sward on soils not adapted to the
growth of these grasses, were equally unwise; though if the subsoil be favourable, the Imd
may be so much improved, at a moderate expense, by the means recommended in 'the Intro- '
auction (p. Ixiv-v), as to fit it for the growth of the best grasses.

Mr. Greg, to whom the agricultural world is much indebted, and particularly for his new
and excellent system of managing heavy soils, observesf, that " the soil of a great proportion of
the old pastures of the united kingdom is favourable to the growth of grass; and mio-ht be
broken up and returned to its former state ; but there appears to be no advantao-e in so^doino-
as good grazing grounds are more productive than they could l^e under the best temporary
arable system. In regard to those pasture lands, the soil of which is not naturally cono-cnial to
grass, it has been found the height of imprudence to break them up ; for experience shews tint
all the art and industry of man, when unassisted by Nature, can do very little to return thim to
as good a quality of pasture as before they were broken up. Loams are the most cono-enial to
grass; and every description of tenacious soil is unsuitable to the growth of those grassl which
are best adapted to grazing grounds. The grass grounds about London, and in general tho^e
close to a farm-house in arable districts, are artificial; they are reversed from three to five inches
below the surface, but the subsoil is a tenacious clay. I am against general principles," conti-
nues Mr. Greg, " when exceptions can be pointed out, as in the present instance: with a spade
the quality of the subsoil may be ascertained, and the possibility of reconverting the land into
pasture may be determined. The only inducement to break up old pastures, even on a soil con-
genial to grass, would be to change the kind of grass. Nothing could prevail on me to do it on
a tenacious soil, unless I intended to keep the land arable."

I have witnessed the results of several experiments on different grasses, on a large scale,
conducted by Mr. Wilson on the farms of His Grace the Duke of Bedford, at Woburn. In
one instance, a field containing 25 acres of old pasture land, where it was desirable to change
the quality of the grass, was converted into tillage for eight years; the crops of grain during
that time were most luxuriant; the following grass-seeds were then sown : meadow fox-tail,
r^lopecuruspratenm); rough-stalked meadow-grass, (Poa trivialis); meadow fescue, (Festuca
pmtemts); tall oat-like soft-grass, (Holcus avenaceus); cock's-foot, (DactijUs glomerata)- mea-

ovf ca\.&-t^i\, (Phleum pratense); rye-grass, ( LoUum perenne) ; perennial red doyer, (Trifolimn

medium); and white or Dutch elnvpr rT.,:f i- \ t • i i- . i ,

"^^^ C'ovei, { Injolium repens). It is now the third year, and the

sward is much improved, and superior in the quantity of produce to that of the original pasture.

of all ?' '."''''""'^"'''' """^ successful labours of Messrs. Gibbs, seedsmen to the Board of Agriculture, in collecting the seeds
«^ a the different grasses of the best quality, cannot be exceeded. At the same lime it is clear, that unless an extensive and
re^gular demand be had for these seeds, the same as for those of Rje-grass and Clover, the seeds of those grasses must be kept on
'a e rather as articles of curiosity, than of utility and absolute necessity, and consequently their price uncertain,
m one of the many valuable communications for which I am indebted to his kindness.

Kk

126

This, and several other experiments on rather a smaller scale, conducted with much

Wilson

•^are and

asth

^y g'o,

the truth of the conclusions that had been drawn from the results of the experiments detailed i '

the foregoing pages.

k H

t ,

11.

Of the

Grasses, and other Plants, which

Sandy, and Elevated Soils.

natural to J)

m

The former class of grasses was distinguished by their superior size, the greater succulency
of every part of their structure, and hy their broad green leaves — all indicating the fertile nature
and sheltered situation of the soil that produces them ; and the following grasses are distin-
guished from these, by their dwarfish size, and the wiry appearance of every part of their struc-
ture, which sufficiently denote the poverty of their natural soil,

Sheep's-fescue, (Festiica ovinaj; viviparus-fescue, (Festuca vivipara); purple-fescue, (Festim
rubra); pubescent-fescue, (Festuca dumetoriim); glaucous-fescue, (Festuca glaiica); wall-fescue
(Festuca myurus); wall-barley, (Hordeum murinum); fine-bent, (Agrostis vulgaris); brown-
bent, (Agrostis canina); lobed-bent, (Agrostis lohata); rock-bent, (Trichodium rupestre); snowy-
bent, (Trichodium nivium); purple-bent, (Trichodium caninum, var. muticum, which see under the
head of grasses natural to wet soils); tufted-leaved bent, (Agrostis fascicularis); waved hair-
grass, (Aira Jexuosa); feather-grass, (Stipa pennata); slender foxtail, (Alopecurus agrestis);
hairy oat-grass, (Avena pubescens); blue melic-grass, (Melica ccerulea); upright mat-grass,
(Nardus stricta); blood-coloured panic-grass, (Panicum sangidnde) ; green panic-grass, (Pan-
cum viride); barren brome-grass, (Bromus sterilis); crested brome-grass, (Bromus crislatus);
upright annual brome-grass, (Bromus dicmdrus); nodding brome-grass, (Bromus tectomm);
alpine meadow-grass, (Poa alpina); alpine foxtail, (Alopecurus cdpinus); blu

e moor-^rass, ffo

such

leria ccBruka); crested hair-grass, (Aira crestata); panicled cat's-tail grass, (Phleumpanicidatmi);
reflexed meadow-grass, (Poa retrofexa); flat-stalked meadow-grass, (Poa compressa); upriglit
flat-stalked meadow-grass, (Poa compressa, var. erectaj; meadow-barley, (Hordeum pratense);
bird's-foot clover, (Lotus corniculatus); larger bird's-foot clover, (Lotus major); trefoil, or Non-
' , (Medicago Lupulina); to which may be added, Hedysarum onobrychis, (sainfoin). The
following, belonging to this class of grasses, have already been brought under observation:

Soft brome-grass,- (Bromus mollis); creeping soft-grass, (Holcus mollis); and white or Dutch
clover, (Trifolium repens).

Dry, elevated situations, sandy heaths, and chalk lands, where the above grasses constitute
the prmcipal natural herbage, are less capable of being rendered fit for the production of supe-
rior grasses than peat-bogs, or waste lands that lie under circumstances favourable to irrigation.
Ihe latter only recpiire propCr draining, paring and burning, and the application of hot ma-
nure, as lime and sand, to fit them for the production of the best grasses, the staple or consti-
tution ot such soils being so. rich and good. But dry sandy soils require more labour and ex-

127

pense to bring them near, in some degree, to an equivalent state of productiveness V i
ul, be eff^ted b, tbe application of large quantities of cla,, .„a b ::~;:^Z
the sod. (See remarks on th.s subject in the Introduction). But though plr hungr/s ,
sods cannot, economically, be improved in that degree as to fit them for the producdi of t
supenor grasses, hke peat-soils, which in their natural or unimproved state are even less v^
able than the poor sandy sods ; nevertheless, there is sufficient evidence from practice t
that such soils may be converted to tillage for so.ne years, and returned again to ;ass''ri
h,ghly improved state, yielding a produce of double the value of that they originali; afforded
I have witnessed improvements to this degree, on such soils, in the farms of His Grace the Duke
of Bedford, at Woburn. In the fourth volume of Communications to the Board of Ao-riculture
there .s a vanety of evidence to the same effect. • If it should appear, however, from ^he resuU:
of the experiments here made on the grasses natural to these soils, of which an account will
be found m the following pages, that the kinds of grasses employed in the improvements now
alluded to, were not the best fitted for the soils in cpestion, it will follow that such improve
ments may be greatly extended, by adopting those grasses best fitted for the sod, and that with"
out any additional trouble or expense.

I

128

Festuca ovina. Sheep's Fescue.

Specific character: Panicle pointing one way, crowded ; spikets roundish at the base,

straws

slightly four-cornered ; leaves bristle-shaped, roughish.

smooth; ■

0^5.— The awns appear to be an nncertam character in this grass, as it is frequently awnles
and there are varieties of it having awns : in the Festuca ovina hordiformis , before

s

men^

at

tioned, the awns are of a considerable length ; but all the varieties may be distinguished
first sight from the F. durimciita, glabra, rubra, &c. to which it is nearest alUed, by th
compact though simple appearance of the panicle, which more distinctly faces one wav
Besides the present variety, (which is by far the most common), there is another, which is
also awnless, but distinguished by its superior height, reddish-coloured culms, brown pa-
nicle, and brown-coloured anthers- The Festuca tenuifolia much resembles this, but the
panicle is less crowded, the leaves are as long, or longer than the culms, and bent down-
wards, while those of the present species are shorter, and grow upright, E. Bot. 58

r

Host t. 84 var. awned ; Wither. Arr. ii. p. 152,

J

Native of Britain. Root fibrous, perennial.

Experiments. — At the time of flowering, the produce from a light sandy soil, is.

.\

Grass, 8oz. The produce per acre
64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter
The produce of the space, ditto

The produce of latter-math is,
Grass, 5 oz. The produce per acre
64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter

*

r

OZ.

87120

lbs.

5445

75 gr.
150

3403 2

213 11

\

1 dr. 1 qr.

54450
1063 7

3403 2

m 7

At the time the seed is ripe, the produce is^
Grass, 8 oz. The produce per^ acre -

64 dr. of herbage afford of nutritive matter
The produce of the space, ditto

87130

5445

45 gr.

90

2041 14

127 9

t

When cultivated on a heath soil, the produce was somewhat less than the ahove, but from
a rich sandy loam, the produce afforded Avas greater than from the light sandy soil; but, astlie
superior pasture grasses thrive well on this last-mentioned soil, and afford a produce superior to
that of the Sheep's-fescue on the same soil, as 3 to 1, its comparative value may be considered
only with regard to its natural soil and the grasses it produces. The smallness of the produce
renders it entirely unfit for hay, and the dry weight was in consequence not ascertained.

Linnaeus affirms, that sheep have no relish for hills and heaths that are destitute of this
Gemelin, in his Flora Siberica, informs us likewise, that the Tartars choose to fix during
the summer where this grass is in greatest plenty, because it affords a most wholesome food for
all sorts of cattle, but chiefly sheep. Dr. Anderson', in his Agricultural Essays, aflinBS that it
IS capable of affordmg an immense quantity of hay. Mr. Curtis, in his Practical Observatior.s
on Bntish Grasses, has justly combated this opinion of Dr. Anderson, and records that Sheep's
Fescue IS more fitted for the formation of grass plats; but for this purpose it will not be found
to succeed, unless the soil is nearly as dry and light as that on which it is spontaneously pr

grass.

>"

129

»

- J

1'

•

»^

M*

ft

f

>

*'

. *

>.*

'»

\

Sheep's Fescue

LI

,¥

130

When its produce, and nutritive powers are comparea with
(Festuca rubra), on the same soil, its inferiority is great.

Festuca ovina, as above, affords of nutritive matter from three crops, per acre
Festuca rubra, purple fescue, affords of nutritive matter :

dr. qr.

From the grass at the time of flowering 2 per acre

From the grass at the time the seed is ripe 1 2 ditto - - -

From the grass of the latter-math - 12 ditto

those of the purple fescui

lbs.

405

340
239

79 12

659 5

Ft

time of ripening the seed, and the latter-math, exceeds that of the Festuca ovina at the same
stages of growth, in the proportion of nearly 14 to 11; and exceeds the F. ovina, in regard to
the total produce of the season, in the proportion nearly of 11 to 7.

From the trial that has here been detailed, the Sheep's Fescue does not prove to possess the

F

nutritive powers generally ascribed to it. It has the advantage of a fine foliage, which is suc-
culent, and may therefore, very probably, be better adapted to the masticating organs of sheep
than the larger grasses, whose nutritive powers are shewn to be greater. Hence, on situations
where it naturally grows, and as pasture for sheep, it may possibly be inferior to none on the
same soil, in the like state of nature. It flowers in the third week of June^ and the seed is ripe

+ -J-

about the last of July.

^J

Festuca vivipara. Viviparous Fescue-grass.

Specific character: Panicle flowering on one side; flowers keel-compressed, awnless, with the

calyx somewhat pubescent. E. Bot. 1355.
Obs. — I have cultivated this grass on a variety of soils, and it has always continued viviparous

t

on them all. I never could obtain a floret with either stamen or pistil. The germen,
in its first stage, appears like a minute globule of water, visible only with the micros-
cope; after the spike is developed, it gradually assumes an oblong figure, becomes pointed,
and at last puts forth a single leaf, after the manner of the perfect seed of grasses; other
leaves succeed to this, till the weight of these, now a perfect plant of grass, except the
root, forces it to fall from the spike on the ground, where it soon strikes root. This is a
curious exception to the general law of Nature, in the propagation of plants by their seed.
Here is a plant, which has every part of a flower except the two essential parts, stamens and
pistils, for its propagation, and for its admission into this class of the system of Linn^us. Yet
from this imperfect flower it produces perfect plants. A great number of other grasses are vi-
viparous, as Alopecurus pratensis, Cynosurus cristatus, Poa alpina, Phleum pratense, Anthox-
anthum odoratum, Sfc. S^c, but in these the seed is first perfected, and merely vegetates in
the husk from accidental circumstances, as growing in shaded places, and from long conti-
nuance of moist warm weather.

Ea^periments.- At the time of flowering, or when the spike is perfectly developed, the produce

\

from a light sandy soil, is.

Grass, 10 oz. The produce per acre
64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter
The produce of the space, ditto

80

200

gr

oz.

lbs.

108900 =

= 6806 4

^537 8 =

H
1

= 283 9

I

J

r

/"

« •

1

\)

1

Festuca vivipara

9

\

tV

s

I ^

'it^

Vivijparous Fescue-

\

grass

^

132

The

viviparous heads form the chief part of the above weight of produce, the fohage being very in-
considerable, and the culms small. The quantity of nutritive mafter it contains is greater than
that afforded by an equal weight of the grass of the Festuca ovina, which appears to be entirely
OAving to the number and rudiments of young plants contained in the spikes of the Festuca vivi-
para. The nutritive matter contains less sugar, and more bitter extractive, than the nutritive
matters of the Festuca ovina, Festuca duriuscula, and Festuca Camhrica.

This grass can only be propagated by parting the roots, or by planting the young plants
formed in the ear. This might easily be effected by either means, were the grass of sufficient
value to be cultivated ; but from the trials that have been made of it here, it appears to have no
excellence that can recommend it to the notice of the Agriculturist. It is natural to alpine situ-

ations.

* «

Festuca rubra. Creeping Fescue^ Purple Fescue.

Specific character : Panicle spreading ; florets w^ith long aw^ns; root creeping. Flo. Ger. 329.
' Obs. — There are tvv^o varieties of this species ; one with narrow bristle-shaped root-leaves, and
the other with broader leaves. It has much affinity to the Festuca duriuscula^ from which
it is distinguished by the leaves, which are broader and longer ; the branches of the panicle
are also longer ; the sheaths of the leaves are always more or less pubescent ; but the essen-
tial and unerring distinction is the creeping root, which, in the broader-leaved variety, is
nearly as strong as that of common Couch-grass; in the smaller-leaved variety the root is less
powerfully creeping. The resemblance which exists between the Festuca duriuscula, Fes-

r

tuca glabra^ Festuca Cambrica, and Festuca rubra, is very great ; but the difference, with
regard to agricultural merits or value, is not great, except what arises from the creeping root
of the latter; the distinction here, in this instance, of most concern to the Agriculturist. The

I n

name, purple, (rubra), as applied to denote such a property of this grass, is certainly very
erroneous, the other species having this colour at the time the seed is ripe, in common and
in a much greater degree than this one. The awned variety of the Festuca ovina is most de-
serving of the name rubra.

Native of Britain. Perennial.

Ewperiments. — At the time of flowering, the produce from a light sandy soil, is.

34
102

Grass, 15 oz. The produce per acre

,80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry

The produce of the space, ditto

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying

64 dr. of grass aiford of nutritive matter

The produce of the space, ditto r -

At the time the seed is ripe, the produce is,
Grass, \6 oz. The produce per acre

dr. '■qr.

or,

163350

lbs.

10209 6

69423 12

4338 15

5860 7

1 2
5 U

3828 8

9.S9 4

80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry
The produce of the space, ditto

- SQ
-115 OA

174240
78408

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying

ff

10890
4900 8

5989 8

\

133

^

' ■

I

\'

Festtica rubra.

\ I

% ^

( t '

\

^

f
^

Creeping Fescue.

' 1

\

/

134

5445

64 dr. of grass afFord of nutritive matter

The produce of the space, ditto

The weight of nutritive matter, in which the crop, at the time the seed is ripe, exceeds that)

dr. qr.

2
8

lbs.

340 5

at the time of flowering, is

- ^

101

The proportional value in which the grass, at the time the seed is ripe, exceeds that at the time of flow-

ering, is as 4 to 3.
The produce of latter-math is.
Grass, 5 oz. The produce per acre
64 dr. of grass aflbrd of nutritive matter

1 2

54450
1276 2

3403 2
79 12

The above details may be suflScient to shew that the Creeping Fescue has no superior merit
over those species it resembles in habits, to compensate for the impoverishing effects of its creep-
ix^g roots to the soil. The first and second years of its growth from seed, the produce is greater
than is shewn in the above statements of its three year old produce. After the second year the
produce declines till the seventh or eighth, when it becomes so thin and diminutive, as hardlv
to amount to one-sixth of the above : this is the case with creeping roots in general ; but though
they impoverish thus the soil for their own maintenance, nevertheless the fibrous-rooted species
succeed well when planted on the ground so impoverished by the creeping roots of the Festuca
nihra: the nutritive matter of the creeping roots consists almost entirely of mucilage, while the

glabraj

CF.

Flowers in the third week of June, and ripens the seed in the second week of July.

Festuca dumetorum. Pubescent Wood-fescue.

Specific character: Panicle branches pointing in many directions; spikets pubescent; leaves

thread-shaped. Wither. Arr. ii. p. 154; Flo. Dan. 700.?
0^*.— Spikets straddling, some pointing upwards, some slanting, some nearly horizontal.

(Wither.)— The whole plant is of a light glaucous colour, the spikets nearly white with the

numerous fine hairs that clothe them. Culms slanting ; leaves long, slender, and point-

The peculiar pubescence of the spikets, and the distorted figure of the

panicle, which remains unaltered from seed, particularly distinguishes this species from th

ing downwards.

Welsh

Native of Britain.

Root perennial, slightly creeping.

E.j,en.nenis.-At the time of flowering, the produce from a rich black sandy soil, incumbent

on clay, is,

Grass, 16 oz. The produce per acre

80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry

The produce of the space, ditto

64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter

The produce of the space, ditto

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying

At the time the seed is ripe, the produce is,
. Grass, H oz. The produce per acre

qr,

oz.

174240

40

128

1

- 4

lbs.

10890

87120

5445

2722 8

170 2 8

5445

152460

9528 12

^+.

13S

^

^

^'

/

\

Festuca dumetonm.

t '

Wood Fescue:

F'^

H-

136

dr. qr. ^^' lbs.

80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry - - ^4 0^ ^ ^ 45/38 = 2858 10 Q

The produce of the space, ditto - - 67

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying . . - - 6670 2

64 dr. of grass afFord of nutritive matter - 1 2 ^ _ ^ ^^^^ ^_ ^^^ ^ ^

The produce of the space, ditto

5 1

The weight of nutritive matter, in which the crop at the time the seed is ripe exceeds that at J ^^ ^ ^^

the time of flowering, is

The grass, at the time the seed is ripe, contains more nutritive matter than that at the time of flower-

ing, in the proportion of 3 to 2.
The produce of latter-math is,
Grass, 6oz. The produce per acre

65340 = 4083 12
64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter - 1 - - -1020 12= 63 1212

The grass of the latter-math, and that at the time of flowering, contain equal proportions of
nutritive matter ; and the grass, at the time the seed is ripe, is superior to these, in the propor-

tion of 3 to 2.

This grass is a native of woods where the soil is dry and sandy. I found it first in Aspley

Wood in 1810, whence the annexed specimen. From the above details, a single crop of this

species is superior to that of the Festuca ovina; hut it is much later in the production of foliage

in the spring, and the latter-math, or reproductive power of this grass, is much inferior to that

r

of the Festuca ovina. It ripens a sufficiency of seed, which vegetates freely. Its nutritive powers
are inferior to those of the Festuca ovma, in the proportion of 3 to 2. From all which, it at pre-

r

sent appears to he one of the most inferior kinds of grass.

i

Flowers about the second week of June, and the seed is ripe about the second and thirrl
weeks of July.

Festuca glauca. Glaucous Fescue-grass.

Specific character: Panicle rather spreading; spikets spear-shaped, awned; culms and leaves
smooth. Whole plant glaucous.

r

Obs. — This plant diifers from the Festuca glauca of Host. (t. 88) in the stem, which is round,
smooth, and straight. The leaves are longer and smooth. The spikets less spear-shaped;
the panicle is contracted before and after flowering: spikets 5-7 flowered; awns short
and rigid. Mr. Curtis, in his enumeration of British grasses, mentions this as indigenous,
and on this authority it is here entered, as I never could find it in its natural state.
There is another Glaucous Fescue in the Wohurn collection, which differs from this one
in being in every respect smaller, and of a much deeper glaucous colour; the root-leaves
are vejry short, and bent inwards.

Native of Britain. Root perennial, fibrous.

:Ea^perimenfs.-At the time of flowering, the produce from a brown loam, is,

■

Grass, 14 oz. The produce per acre - ^^\ ^ r^^nn ia n

' . ^ ^ - r - 152460 = 9528 12

80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry - - 3^ n

The produce of the space, ditto" - . 89 9* C ■" " 60984 = 3811 8

TJie weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying

5717 4

V

\.

L-'

*v

! ^N\ V

\

^O :a

\

I

^-.

Fesiucaglauca

*' *

fc

'\

A/^/

J.

■ ' I

Glaucous Fescue.

138

64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter
The produce of the space, ditto

At the time the seed is ripe, the produce is
Grass, 14 oz. The produce per acre
80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry
The produce of the space, ditto

dr. qr.

3

10 2

OZ.

7146 9

lbs.

446 10

;

32
89

152460
60984

9528 12

3811 8

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying
64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter

5717 4

1 2
5 1

3573 4

223 5 4

The produce of the space, ditto

The proportional value, in which the grass at the time of flowering is inferior to that at the time the seed

F

is ripe, is as 2 to 1.
The produce of latter-math, is.
Grass, 7 oz. The produce per acre
64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter ^ 12

76250
1786-10

4764 6
111 10 10

as

The proportional difference between the flowering and seed crops of this grass, is directly
the reverse of that of the Poa trivialis; and it affords one out of many proofs that might be
brought forward, of the value of the cuhns in grasses intended for hay. The culms at the time
of flowering are of a very succulent nature j but from that period till the seed be perfected,
they gradually become dry and wiry ; nor do the root-leaves sensibly increase in number or in
size, but a total suspension of increase appears in every part of the plant, the roots and seeds

J

excepted. The straws or culms of the Poa trivialis are, on the contrary, at the time of flower-
ing, weak and tender; but as they approach the period of ripening the seed they become firm,
though still succulent. This economy in the growth of the Poa trivialisy is nearly the same
in all the early flowering grasses, as they contain more nutritive matter after the time of flower-
ing than before, or at that period of growth: the latter flowering grasses, with few exceptions,
afford more nutritive matter just after flowerings than when the seed is perfected. Whatever
the cause may be, it seems probable that the weak influence which the sun at that early season
of the year has upon these grasses, compared to that at Midsummer, must have a share in the
cause of this difference of nutritive powers in grasses at the same stage of groAvth.

The Festiica glauca is a native of alpine situations, but thrives better when cultivated on
lower ground, than most other species having the same origin. Its merits, however, though
they do not appear sufiiciently great to entitle it to the first place among the superior grasses
for light soils, yet on account of its hardy nature, and jproperty of forming a thick turf, as well
as being nutritive, prevent it from being rejected altogether as of no value.

Flowers in the second week of June, and the seed is ripe about the first week of July.

Festiica myiirus. Wall-fescue^ Capon's-tall Grass.

i£

r valve very minute; awns long

)

rough; sheaths of the leaves very long, hiding the lower portion of the culm. With

Flo. Ger.; E. Bot. 1412; Host. t. 93.

Obs. — Root annual.

The flowers have only one stamen, which distinguishes it from all other

139

1

ri

'i

■

I

. 1

HP

I

Festuca

myurus

J

'\

^

^

c

--,

■*

-.

^

I.

\

140

species of Fescue. It has great affinity to the Testuea hromoides. The inner valve of th
blossom is fringed towards the top ; the awns are longer than those of the Festuca hromoides.

Native of Britain.

Experiments.-— Ax the time of flowering, the produce from a siliceous sandy soil, is.

dr. qr>

Grass, 14 oz. The produce per acre
80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry
The produce of the space, ditto

OK.

15Si460

lbs.

9528 12

24

67 0?

45738

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying •
64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter
The produce of the space, ditto

2858 10
6670 2

)

1 2

I-"

o

1

3573 4

223 5 4

^1 I '

This grass is found on walls and dry barren places. As soon as tlie seeds are ripe, they fall
out of the husks, and vegetate quickly after, without any covering of earth ; the plants are of
the finest green colour, which they retain during the winter. This circumstance seems to have
led some to suppose it a biennial, or two-year lived plant. The seeds being numerous, the
young plants form a turf of the most beautiful dark green colour, in this respect surpassing every
other grass. As soon as the weather is sufficiently warm in the spring for the growth of grasses
in general, this property declines, and before the period of coming into flower, it is invariably
attacked with the rust disease, which renders its produce of little value, were it even afforded
in sufficient quantity to induce its propagation.

The above details shew the whole produce of one year, which is very inconsiderable. The
chief effi^rt of annual plants is to perfect their seed ; when cut before the time of flowering,
and at any time before the seed be perfected, the roots push up fresh shoots, which flower and
perfect seed in a much less space of time than the primary culms that are previously taken away.
If the first shoots are sufiered to remain, the secondary or dwarf shoots seldom appear, unless
when a continuance of dry weather is succeeded by much rain during the time of inflorescence,
which gives a new inxpulse to the vegetative powers. Hence, in attempts to eradicate these un-
profitable annual grasses from pastures, by mowing them before they perfect their seed, (to
which only they owe their conti«uance of existence), it is absolutely necessary that the mowing
should be often repeated during the season, otherwise the intention will be completely frustrated.

It flowers in the first week of July, and the seed is ripe about the last of the same month.
Bii^ds appear to be very fond of the seed,.

Hordeiim murimim. Wall Barley-grass^ Way-bennet.

Specific

intermediate florets fringed. Curtis, 325 ; E. Bot. 1971 ; Host. t. 53 ; Wither. Hh Bye-
ffrass, &c.

grass,

Obs.

-Root fibrous, annual, supporting a number of culms ; culm from half a foot to a foot
and a half high, procumbent at the base, afterwards erect; spike-stalk brittle, flexuose,
compressed, rough on the margin ; flowers placed in two rows, imbricated, roundish, in-

jermedjate flower nearly sitting, bisexual; lateral florets tinisexual, or neuter. Flo. Ger.
404; Wither. Arr. 171, , ,

^

141

X

*h

ih

^' I

■^

1/ /

^

7

i?

Hord

eum murinum

i

i:

/

/

ey-grass

J I

/

V

142

Experiments.— At the time of flowering, the produce from a clayey loam, is.

dr. qr.

Grass, 18 oz. The produce per acre

80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry

The produce of the space, ditto

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in (

64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter

The produce of the space, ditto

At the time the seed is ripe, the produce is,
Grass, 12 oz. The produce per acre
80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry
The produce of the space, ditto

oz. ' lbs.

196020 = 12251 4

28
100 3

68607

4287 15

7963 5

"-^

3 OtV

13 2

9188 7

574 4 7

130680

816*7 8

28
67 0^

45738

2858 10

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying
64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter - 2
The produce of the space, ditto - - 6

5308 14

4083 12

255 3 12

The produce of this annual, at the time the seed is ripe, contains more nutritive matter than
at the time of flowering: this is a contrary result to all others of the annual grasses, but it is, I
believe, chiefly ovs^ing to apart of the seed having been left on the spikes, w^hile in all other
instances, it was separated from the grass previous to its being submitted to experiment.

The above details prove this to be one of the most inferior grasses, with respect to nutritive

powers

The long awns with which it is armed, must make it dangerous to the mouths of

horses when it enters into the composition of their hay. Fortunately, it is uncommon in pas-
tures, but chiefly confined to road-sides, and other beaten or barren places, I never could ob-
serve this grass eaten by cattle of any description, not even by the half-starved animals which
feed by road-sides, where this is often the most prevalent grass. The nutritive matter consists
chiefly of mucilage and insoluble extractive matter:

it afforded me no sugar. However,

Witherin

gramlla, and the barley-fly, Muscafrit, Professor Martyn observes, that it is an old notion,
that this grass is Barley degenerated; and that Haller seriously combats this error, but it is surely
too common a one to merit contradiction.

It flowers about the first week of July, and the seed is ripe about the end of the same month.

rass.

With

Agrostis vulgaris. Common Bent, Fine Bent-

Agrostis arenaria, Agrostis capillaris, Hudson. Agrostis vi
Specific character: Panicle spreading, branches bare at t1i

inner valve smooth, outer serulated upwards; blossom inner valve but half the size of
the outer, deciduous. Wither. Arr. 132.

Ofe.-=This species has four varieties, according to Dr. Sclirader. The first is distinguished

hy being awned, (see our Agrostis canina, and Trichodium canimmj. The second by awn-

less and diseased flowers, (see Agrostis pumila, of Willd. Spec Plant i. p. 371). The

third by its diseased awned flowers; the awn in this, is jointed and bent' before it reaches

the apex of the blossom valve. The fourth, by having the flowers viviparous. Agrostis
sylvatica.

* .

143

/

1

-*

4

144

^

Experiments.— Al the time of flowering, the produce from a siliceous sandy soil, is.

dr. qr.

Grass, 15 oz. The produce per acre
80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry

The produce of the space, ditto

oz.

163350

lbs.

10209 6

SQ

- 108

73507 8

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying

4594 3 8
5615 2 8

64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter

The produce of the space, ditto - - -

At the time the seed is ripe, the produce is,
Grass, 14 oz. The produce per acre

dr. gr.

3 10

n 15

- 8507 13

531 11 J3

152460

9528 12

dr. qr.

40
112

1 2

80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry

The produce of the space, ditto

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying

64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter

The produce of the space, ditto - -

The produce of latter-math is.
Grass, 4 oz. The produce per acre
64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter

76230 =^ 4764 6

4764 6

IS

5 II

4019 15

251 3 15

1 2

- 43560
1020 15

2722 8
63 12 15

r

A given space of the above sandy soil, and another of a clayey loam, were sown with tlie
seeds of this grass on the 20th of Maj^ 1813. The seeds vegetated, and the produce was cut in
the month of August following. The seeds of the creeping-rooted bent, (Agrostis alba), and
of the larger creeping-bent or florin, C Agrostis stolonif era, \Z!C. latifolia), were likewise soAvn
at the same time, and treated under the same circumstances. The results were as follows:

r*

The Agrostis vulgaris, on the siliceous sandy soil, from the time of sowing, till the produce was
cut, being eleven weeks and five days, afforded of grass -. - _ -

From the clayey loam, it afforded of grass, in the same time - - - -

The Agrostis alba, on the siliceous sandy soil, from the time of sowing till the produce was
cut, being eleven weeks and five days, afforded of grass - _ - -

From a clayey loam, it afforded of grass in the same time - - - ■ ..

The Agrostis stolonifera, var. latifolia, on the siliceous sandy soil, from the time of sowing
till the produce was taken, being eleven weeks and five days, afforded of grass

From a clayey loam, it afforded, in the same time, of grass - - -

oz. dr. qr.

1 12

18

5

5 8

5 4

1 12

The Fiorin, in this experiment, is less productive on a clayey soil than the Creeping-rooted
Bent, and even ^nuch less on the clayey than on the sandy soil ; however, though its progress
be at first slower on the clayey loam, yet, in the second year, the produce from the clayey loam
was exactly triple the weight of that from the sandy soil. The Fiorin afforded the greatest pro-
duce on the second and third years ; after this, unless top-dressings are applied, the produce de-
clines. On peat soils, this effect of the fibrous surface roots, is much less. The Common Bent
is one of the earliest of the Bent grasses; in this respect it is superior to every other of this family,
but inferior to several of them in the quantity of produce it affords and the nutritive matter it
contains. It is the most common grass on natural sandy pastures ; and even on more tenacious
soils that are elevated and exposed, it is frequent.

It flowers from the third week of June till the second week of July, and the seed is ripe the
beginning of August.

•6

US

I

pp

■-' I

146

r

Agrostis canina. Brown Bent.

Agrostis vulgaris, var. 1, (Dr. Smith); Agrostis canina, (Withering s Arr.)

t-

Specific character: Calyx valves nearly equal, blossom valves very unequal ; awn, joiated
twice the length of the corolla, fixed just below its middle.

Obs. — The Agrostis canina of Dr. Smith having only one valve to the corolla, has been by
Schrader referred to the genus trichodium. As it is a much less common plant than the
vulgaris before described, and as it differs so much from the vulgaris, in the properties
which constitute the Farmers distinguishing characters of grasses, the name cawma is here
retained. It is distinguished from the Agrostis vulgaris by its panicle, which is larger, and
less crowded with florets: the culms are ascending, not so upright as those of the vulgaris^

F "

indeed, by this last distinction it is known at first sight from the other. The awns, which
are knee-bent also, leave no room for doubt. The vulgaris is more common to sandy soils;
the canina to clayey soils; and is therefore introduced here for the convenience of com-
parison. There is another variety of this grass without awns, distinguished from the
A. vulgaris by its ascending straws, and meagre wide-spreading panicle.

Native of Britain. Root fibrous, perennial.

Experiments. — At the time the seed is ripe, the produce from a sandy loam, is.

dr. qr,

Grass, 9 oz. The produce per acre

80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry

The produce of the space, ditto

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying

64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter

oz.

98010

lbs.

6125 10

34
61

41654 4

2603 6 4

3522 3 12

2 2
5 2

3828 8

The produce of the space, ditto

Of the awnless variety, (Agrostis canina^ var. uiutica), at the time the seed is ripe, the produce is.

239 4 8

Grass, 21 oz. The produce per acre
80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry
The produce of the space, ditto

24

100

228690
68607 '

14293 2

4287 15

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying - - - _ - _ 10005

64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter

3

The produce of the space, ditto

1 3

9 Of

6253 3

390 13 3

awnless

Agrostis canina exceeds that of the awned variety, is 151.8.

Those results go to prove that the comparative merits of the Agrostis vulgaris exceed those
of the Agrostis canina nearly as 2 to 1. The crop of the awnless variety is greater than that of
the awned, but is much less nutritive,* being as 10 to 7 : the spring and autumn produce is like-
wise superior. Neither of these varieties appears to be of much value to the Farmer. The rust
attacks the culms and leaves of both varieties, which gives the plants a dirty brown appearance;
the Agrostis vulgaris is always free from this disease. As this family of grasses has been held
in little esteem by Farmers, principally on account of their lateness of flowering, it may be

of use to bring them into one view, in the order of their parly produce of herbage in the
sprmg.

\

J

1 4 1

->:-^'>y.

%

\

*

<.

148

Agrostis vulgaris, (common bent) - "

Agrostis palustris, (marsh bent) - - " . "
Agrostis stolonifera, var. latifolia, (florin)
Agrostis stolonifera, var. angustifolia, (smaller leaved)
Agrostis stolonifera, var, aristata, (awned var. of creeping bent)
Agrostis stolonifera, var. syhatica, (wood creeping bent)

J

Agrostis alba, (creeping-rooted bent) - _ - -

Agrostis stricta, (upright bent, Trichodium rupestre)
Agrostis canina, (brown bent) - _ - -

Agrostis nivea, (snowy bent, Trichodium caninum, var. nivea)
Agrostis lohata, (lobed bent-grass) _ « - -

Agrostis repens, (black couch bent-grass) , - -

Agrostis Mexicana, (Mexican bent-grass)
Agrostis fascicularis, (bundled-leaved bent)
Agrostis lateriflora, (branching bent-grass) - » -

The apparent difference of Time.

middle of April

one week later
ditto

ditto

ditto

ditto
ditto

three weeks later
ditto

ditto

Nutritive Powers,

dr. qr.

1 ^

2 3

3 2
3
2 6
2

dr. gr.

2 6

dr.

qr.

1 2

1 3

2

3
3

2

2

2

r

The Brown Bent flowers in the second and third weeks of July, and ripens the seed in the

end of August.

Agrostis lohatn, Lobed Bent, Sea-side Bent.

Specific character: Panicle spike-like, densely crowded with florets; calyx-valves equal, acu-
minate, outer serrulated from the keel upwards, inner valve only towards the top, very
unecj[ual, egg-shaped,

03*.— Stems from four inches to a foot in height, according to the nature of the soil it grows
in ; inner valve of the blossom one half the size of the outer ; leaves flat, those of the culm
very rough ; culms smooth, ascending ; sheath-scale broad, divided at top : the whole
plant of a light green colour. I can find no other account of this grass but the following :
" Finding this maritime species (arenaria) noticed originally by us on the Devonshire coast,
not confined to sandy soils, we have changed the name to that of lohata; the panicle being
more obviously divided into lobes than any of the other species, it comes near to alha!'
Curtis, Obser.-l^ the form of the panicle it approaches the nearest to the lesser^leaved
variety of Creeping Bent, but the plant is not in the least stoloniferous.

Native of Britain. Root perennial, fibrous.

Bxperiments.-M the time of flowering, the produce from a siliceous sandy soil, is.

dr.

40
80

Grass, 10 oz. The produce per acre

80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry -

The produce of the space, ditto

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying

64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter - 3

The produce of the space, ditto

qr.

oz.

108900

lbs.

6806 4

54450

3403 2

3403 2

7 2

5104 11

319 11

y-

149

i

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ir

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- N.

'. ^ ./

J

^ v

t^fUfc^/

- . J.'

^

\

Q q

f

. t

150

dr- qr,

oz.

At the time the seed is ripe, the produce is.
Grass, 9 oz. The produce per acre
80 dr. of grass weigh when dry
The produce of the space, ditto
The weight lost by the produce of one acre In drying
64 dr. of grass aiFord of nutritive matter

lbs.

35

63

98010

42879 6

6125 10
2679 15 6

3445 10 10

3
-65

4594 3

The produce of the space, ditto

The weight of nutritive matter, which is lost by leaving the crop till the seed be ripe, is

287 2 3

31 14 8

The general appearance of this phxnt indicates the inferior comparative value manifested in the
above details. It appears, according to the information quoted above, from Mr. Curtis, to be chiefly
confined to the sea-coasts. I have never met with it in a wild state. It does not appear to be of much
value to the Agriculturist. Probably, however, in such places as are expensed to the spray of
the ocean, it may succeed better, and afford a greater produce ; its nutritive powers are far from
being very inconsiderable. It ripens an abundance of seed, which vegetates freely. In the fio-ure
and disposition of the florets and panicle, it seems to connect the Agrostis verticillata, Agrostis
stolonifera, var. angustifolia, and Agrostis alba, in a series.

It flowers in the first week of August, and the seed is ripe about the end of the same
month.

Ag

Rock Bent, Upright Bent

Trichoduim rupestre. (Schrader.)

Specific character: Panicle branches subdivided, roughish; calyx valves acuminate; blossom
one valve, awned; awn fixed a little above the base.

0^*.— This species of Bent is distinguished from the Agrostis vulgaris, and Agrostis canim,

to which in habit it approaches, by the corolla or blossom being but of one valve ; from

the Agrostis nivea, vel Trichodium niveum, by the erect disposition of the stem, and the awn

which is fixed but a little above the base of the valve: the valve has likewise two short

awn-like points, which are a continuation of the nerves of the valve. The panicle is also

less divided, more spear-shaped, and the calyx is acuminated. Whole plant of a fine deep

green colour, by which it is distinguished at first sight from every other species of Beat-
grass.

Native of Britain. Root fibrous, perennial,

Ewperiments.—Ax the time of flowering, the produce from a bo- soil, is/

Grass, 14 oz. The produce per acre

80 dr. of grass weigh when dry

The produce of the space, ditto

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying

64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter - ^

The produce of the space, ditto - - 5

qr.

oz.

152460

- 40
112

lbs.

9528 12

76230

4019 15

4764 6
4764 6

251 3 15

Of

■l ■

J

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151

*■

♦ ^

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vt. 'I

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J

Agrostis stricta.

b

i

/

«

^och Bejif.

^

\

162

y

dr. qr.

■ r

oz.

lbs.

At the time the seed is ripe, the produce is.
Grass, 11 oz. The produce per acre
80 dr. of grass weigh when dry
The produce of the space, ditto

119790

7486 14

29
63 3f

- 43425 14

2713 15 14

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying
64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter
The produce of the space, ditto
The produce of latter-math is,
Grass, 4 oz. The produce per acre

4772 14 2

1 2
4 OA

2807 9

175 7 9

1 2

43560
1020 15

64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter

The weight of nutritive matter, which is lost by leaving the crop till the seed be ripe, is

2722 8
63 12 15
75 8 6

As it will be found a vain attempt to cultivate or maintain grasses on soils of a nature op.
posite to those which naturally produce them; it is therefore necessary, in ascertaining the com-
parative value of a grass, that its merits and properties be compared with those of such others
only, as affect a similar soil. If we compare the Agrostis vulgaris with this species, it will be
found superior in the proportion nearly of 5 to 3.

The Agrostis vulgaris, (common bent), affords in one season, per acre

Grass, at the time of flowering

Or, hav - - _ -

Latter-math grass - - ^ -

The Rock Bent-grass, as above, affords in one season, a produce of

lbs.

10209
4594/- which affords of nutritive matter

2m

lbs.

501

Grass, at the time of flowering
Or, hay - _ _ .

Latter-math grass

9528

4764 V which affords of nutritive matter

2722

314

This species heing therefore inferior to the Common Bent in most points, its value to the
Agriculturist can be hut little. The only property that renders it worthy of notice, is the small
degree in which it impoverishes the soil: when cultivated on a poor siliceous sandy soil, the pro-
duce, though inferior to the above, continued for six years without diminishing in the yearly
quantity, and without any manure whatever being applied: a circumstance which was not
manifested in any other species of grass.

;

Agr

Bent

ed Bent

4

Trichodium caninitm, var. strammeis arista calicem vix exceclente, (Schrader.)

Specific character : Panicle branches subdivided, diverging, flexuose; calyx acute; corolla

l^valved, valve awned, awn longer than the valve, protruding from the back, fixed a little

below the middle.

OZ»s.— This grass is evidently nearly allied to the Agrostis canhia of Dr. Smith ; the awn is
shorter, branches of the panicle almost smooth, culm more ascending. The whole plant,
except the panicle when in flower and seed, of a light straw colour. The branches are
numerous, and when in flower, the panicle assumes that appearance which it would have
after a shower of snow, being then almost white. The above characters have remained
constant after the third time raised from seed on dilFerent soils (i. e.) on a light siliceous

i

V

1^3

1

I, I

■^

r

rM

/

■

Af^rostis nwea.

Snowy Bent.

V

154

soil in Aspley Wood, where the trees had heen thinned; on a heath soil, and on a clayey

loam.

Experiments,— Kl the time of flowering, the produce from a sandy soil, incumhent on clay, is,

Grass, 9 oz. The produce per acre

80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry - - - 34

dr. qr, oz, lbs.

98010 = 6135 10

The

61

4

41654 4 = 2603 6 4

3522 3 12

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying

64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter - ^ ^ f ^ _ 3g28 8 = 23Q 4 8

The produce of the space, ditto - - - 5 22

At the time the seed is ripe, the produce is.
Grass, 7 oz. The produce per acre
80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry

^2

76230 = 4764 6
20963 4 = 1310 3 4

3454 3

The produce of the space, ditto - - 30 3r

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying

64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter - 2 0) . ^ ^^ _

The produce of the space, ditto - - 3 0|

32670 = 2041 14

The produce of latter-math is,
Grass, 3 oz. The produce per acre - » ^ - ^

64 dr. ofgrass afford of nutritive matter - 12 - -765 11= 47 13

The weight of nutritive matter which is lost by leaving the crop till the seed be ripe, is, - 90 6 5

The seeds of this grass^, when sown on a heath soil, and on a clayey loam of equal space,
afforded of grass, from the time they were sown. May 10, till the time the produce was col-
lected, on the 20th of August following :

Heath soil, produce of grass ^ - - ^

Clayey loam, produce of grass

2 oz.
1

(A

garis), it will be found inferior in the proportion nearly of 5 to 3. It appears to he a very

scarce grass : I have only seen it twice in a w ild state, and then hut in very small quautities.

It grows on the east side of Aspley Wood, and by the side of a field near Wavendon.

From these facts and observations, the Snowy Bent will appear to be unfit for the purposes

of the Agriculturist. It is apparently too scarce a plant, to be at all formidable as a weed.

It flowers about the second week of August, and ripens the seed about the beginning of
September.

Agrostis fascieularis. Buodle-leaved Bent Tufted Bent.

Specific character; Calyx valves unequal, coloured ; corolla valves very unequal ; inner valve
very minute, awnless ; sheath-scale acuminate ; leaves in dense bundles.

0Z>5.— This grass is mentioned in Mr. Curtis's enumeration of British grasses, but without any
specific description. It seems nearly allied to the A. capiUaris of Hudson. The leaves are
more obviously collected into bundles than in any other species of Bent. It seldom rises
to more than five inches in height : the leaves of a smaller variety are finer than those of
most other species of Bent, and it has received the name of tennifoUa. The shoots strike

ift

V

166

J

■^

J^

I

... '

■^

Agrostis fascicuhris

Bu?idle-leaved Be?it.

7

<'

'^

156

Experiments.- At the time of flowering, the produce from a sandy soil, is.

dr. qr.

oz.

Grass, 4 oz. The produce per acre

80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry

The produce of the space, ditto

The weight lost by the produce of one acre In drying

64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter

43560

20
16

10890

lbs.

2722 8
680 10

2041 14

The

2
2

1361 4

85 1 4

At the time the seed is ripe, the produce is.

Grass, 6 oz. The produce per acre
80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry

The produce of the space, ditto

28
33 21

65340
22869

4083 12

1429

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying
64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter

2654 7

3

3

3828 8

5 n

239 4

Its

The produce of the space, ditto

The produce of latter-math is only 2 oz. ; a quantity so trifling, as to preclude the necessity

of any farther notice.

In old pastures, on light soils, this Bent may he readily distinguished in the autumn by i
shoots, which are furnished with leaves in tufts or bundles, that generally run along on the sur-
face of the rest of the herbage, and is occasioned, apparently, by the cattle, which eat the other
herbage, and leave the scattered shoots of the tufted-leaved Bent untouched. It is a very com-
mon grass on poor, light, but moist soils, incumbent on clay, that have long been under pasture.
This and the Woolly Soft-grass, in some parts of the country, are termed winter-fog.

From the above details, it will appear to be the least valuable of the Bent-grasses that have
been mentioned. The cultivation of a grass of this value is out of the question; the poiutof
most importance to be ascertained respecting it is, how to remove it from the soil, and to substi-
tute more valuable grasses in its place, I have witnessed the beneficial eiFects of coal-ashes as a

\

top-dressing, when spread on the pasture in sufficient quantity; they appear to act in the manner
of a surface-drain, by preventing the water from stagnating or remaining too long on the surface
of the soil during wet weather in the end of autumn, during winter, and in the early part of
the spring, which the retentive subsoil causes ; a circumstance most favourable to the gro^vth of
this grass, but highly injurious to the superior grasses. The ashes thus favouring the growth of
the superior grasses, and being closely ci'opped by the cattle, which now find the pasture more
palatable, the tufted Bent disappears; it will, however, be found by no means destroyed, but
only checked in its growth. A few turfs being taken from a sward thus treated, where the Bent
had disappeared in the manner now described, were placed under circumstances similar to their
former state, and left uncropped till autumn, at which time the tufted Bent re-appeared in all its
former vigour and abundance.

Flowers in the first and second weeks of August, and ripens the seed in the end of the same
month,

Aira flexuosup

Zig-zag Hair-grass, Waved Hair-orass.

Specific character : Leaves like bristles, panicle spreading; florets scarcely longer than the
calyx ; awn jointed, longer than the calyx.

■■ *

167

L •

. •
I

'I
I*.

\

1

i Air a fiexuosa.

e

'^

158

Obs.— The culms and leaves grow in dense tufts ; the panicle, before tlie time of flowering, is
of a fine glossy purple colour ; the blossom is woolly at the base, awn knee-bent, half as
long as the blossom; calyx generally 2-flowered, rarely three; the inferior floret sitting.
Flo. Ger. 257; Wither. Arr.; E. Bot. 1453; Host. t. 42; Flo. Dan. 240.

Native of Britain. Root fibrous, perennial.

Kvperimenfs.— At the time of flowering, the produce from a heath soil incumbent on clay, is,

dr. qr.

Grass, 15 oz. The produce per acre
80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry
The produce of the space, ditto

oz.

163350

lbs.

10209

6

26
78

53088 12

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying

64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter

The produce of the space, ditto

At the time the seed is ripe, the produce is.

Grass, 14 oz. The produce per acre
80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry
The produce of the space, ditto - -

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying
64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter
The produce of the space, ditto
The produce of latter-math is,
Grass, 4oz. The produce per acre ••

64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter

3318 12
6891 5 4

2
7 2

5104 11

319 11

'i

152460

9528 12

30
84

57172 8

3573 4 8

5955 8

2

7

4764 6

297 12 6

1 3

43560

1191

The weight of nutritive matter which is lost by leaving the crop till the seed be ripe, is

2722 8

74 7

21 4 5

The proportional value in which grass, at the time of flowering, exceeds that of the latter-

math, is as 8 to

/

Two spaces of a heath soil and a clayey loam were sown with the seeds of this grass on the
20th of May, 1812; the seed vegetated well, and the produce was collected in the month of
August following. It consisted of,

From the heath soil, grass 4 oz. which afforded of nutritive matter

- 60 grains.

From the clayey loam, grass 2 oz. which^ in proportion, afforded of nutritive matter 56 grains.

From which it appears, that the produce of this grass, on a heath soil, is superior to that on
a clayey loam, in the proportion of 2 to 1. An instance was brought forward under the subject
of Agrostis canina, where the Agrostis stolomfera produced, the first year of sowing, one-third
less of grass on a clayey soil than on a sandy soil ; but in the succeeding years, the produce
from the clayey loam tripled that from the sandy soil. With the Zig-zag Hair-grass the case is
directly the reverse, for the produce of the clayey soil diminishes yearly, till the grass at length
disappears altogether. I mention this, merely to shew the danger of drawing hasty conclusions
from the experience of one or two seasons only.

The Aira Jlexuosa is much more productive on its natural soil than the Fesiuca ovina; but it
requires a deeper soil, though not a richer. The Festuca ovina is more common among heath,
(Erica vulgaris); l\e Aira Jlexuosa among furze, (Ukx eiiropceus); though both grasses fre-
quently grpw iutermixed on the same soil. To those wbp attempt the improvement of such

J

159

soils in a secondaiy manner only, this species of Hair-grass appears to be the best of those
grasses natural to the soils in question, and may form a principal part of a mixture of seeds for
that purpose of improvement.

Flowers in the first week of July. Seed ripens in August,

1 «

^ ^ , ^

* A

^

^-

160

Pi

Cenisia. Soft Meadow-g

Specific character: Panicle diffuse, nodding; spikets oblong 5-7 flowered;
at the base by a villus; sheath-scale short; root fibrous. . Flo. Ger. 422.

Obs.

between

the Poa laxa and Foa alpina. It differs from the
first, to which it is nearest aUied, in the culms being twice the height, and roundish towards
the top; sheath-scale short; panicle diffuse, but always contracted before and after flower-

I ^^^^

ing; spikets larger, oblong 5-7 flowered. From the Poa alpina it differs also as above, but
chiefly in the panicle, which is nodding, spikets oblong, and florets free.

Native of Germany. Root perennial. Flo, Ger.; Host. 3, p. 11, t. 16.

Experiments. — At the time of flowering, the produce from a sandy loam, is,

dr. qr.

oz.

22
44

Grass, 10 oz. The produce per acre

80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry

The produce of the space, ditto -

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying

64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter

The produce of the space, ditto

108900

lbs.

r

6806 4

29947 8

1871 11 8

4934 8 8.

2
6

3828 8

^59 4 8

This is an alpine species of grass, and attains to a greater size than most others of the same
class J but it is a native of the Alps of the fertile duchy of Carinthia, in Germany. It is rather
late in the produce of foliage in the spring, and does not afford much after-grass. Its nutritive
powers, as indicated by the quantity of nutritive matter it contains, is not superior to several
other grasses that afford a greater abundance of herbage throughout the season. It produces
flowers about the first and second weeks of July, and seeds in the second week of Auo;ust.

%

i

\

%

J

161

/

' ■

\

t!

9

Soft Meadow-grass

f

T t

163

^ +

h I

Stipa pennata. Long-awned Feather-grass,

Generic character : Calyx 2- valve d, 1-flowered; corolla outer valve ending in au awn;

awn

/

joined at the base.

Specific character: Awns woolly.

0^5.— Awns from six to twelve inches long or more, set with very fine, soft, white, pellucid
hairs. In Ray s Synopsis, p. 393, this elegant grass is said to have been found by
Dr. Richardson and Thomas Lawson, on the limestone rocks hanging over a little valley
called Longsdale, about six miles north of Kendal, in Westmoi'eland. Hudson gives no

■ ^

Other place of growth; but in the second edition of Withering's Botanical Arrangement of
British Plants, Mr. Alderson is said to have found it near Kendal. Mr. Gough, who lives

near Kendal, informs Dr. Withering, that he never could find, nor hear of its being found
by any person except the two first-mentioned Gentlemen; there is therefore reason to fear
that it may be exterminated, (Wither. Arr.)
Experiments. — ^At the time of flowering, the produce from a heath soil, is.

Grass, 14 oz. The produce per acre

80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry

The produce of the space, ditto

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying

64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter

The produce of the space, ditto

dr. qr,

oz.

152460

lbs,

9528 12

29
81 01

55'2.m 12

3454 2 12

6074 9 4

2 3

9 2i

6551

409 7

This produce was taken from a heath soil that had heen planted with the grass ; for I never
could obtain plants from the seed of this grass when sown in the ordinary w^ay on soils in open
situations. In pots and favourable situations, the seeds vegetated very well; it may probably
be owing to some pecubarity of this kind in the seed, that it is not now to be found in a wild state
in this country. Schrader, in his Flora Germanica, and Host, in his Gramina Anstriacorum,
inform us, that the 8tipa pennata grows wild in many parts of Germany, on alpine, or dry
sandy places that are much exposed to the warmth of the sun.

Though, as far as the above experiments prove, it cannot be propagated by the seed on a
large scale, yet by parting the roots it may soon be propagated to any extent ; but its agricultu-
ral merits appear to be so inconsiderable, as to rank it with the inferior grasses. The beautiful
feather-like awns which terminate the larger valves of the blossom, and which adhere to the
seed, serving as a sail to waft it from rock to rock, have procured it a place in the flower-gar-
dens of the curious, and serve to distinguish it at once from all other grasses. Johnson, the edi-
tor of Gerarde's Herbal, says it was nourished for its beauty in sundry of our English gardens ;

and that it was worn by sundry ladies and gentlewomen instead of a feather, which it exqni-
sitely resembles, &c.

tember.

Augu

^

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V

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Stipa pennata

T

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Long-awned Feather-grass.

J

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164

Alopecurus agrestis

Slender Foxtail-g

ng

F

. Alopecurus myosuroides. Curt. Lond.

Specif c character: Culm erect, roughish upwards; panicle like a spike, cylindric, buteodi
in an acute point ; husks of the calyx united to above the middle, acute, naked.

0Z,5._this annual species of Foxtail-grass is distinguished from the perennial meadow fox-
tail, C^lopecurus prafensisj, by the total want of woolly hairs on the spike, so conspicu-
ous in that of the ^.praifew*?*. The husks of the calyx are united at the bottom,

and
half-way up, which is a strong character of distinction.- The culms are ascending at the

base, afterwards erect. Spike-like panicle, round, acute pointed, from two to four inches
long, according to the nature of the soil; of a leadish colour. Curt. Lond.; E. Bot. 848;
Host. 3, p. 9, t. 12; Wither. Arr.

Native of Britain. Root annual, fibrous.

Experiments, — At the time of flowering, the produce from a sandy loam, is.

dr. qr,

oz.

lbs.

31

74

Grass, 12 oz. The produce per acre

80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry

The produce of the space, ditto

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying

64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter

The produce of the space, ditto

130680

8167 8

50638 8

3164 14 8

5002 9 8

^

1 3)
5 1 S

3573 4

223 5 4

The above details shew this grass to be one of the most inferior species. The herbage it pro-

* ■

duces is comparatively of no value vs^hatever. It appears to Lc left untouched hy every descrip-
tion of cattle. The seed is produced in considerable abundance, and is eaten by the smaller
birds, as w^ell as by pheasants and partridges. The Rev. G. Swayne observes, that it is a very

r

troublesome weed in many places among wheat, and execrated by Farmers, under the name of
Black Bent. I have always found it prevalent in poor soils, particularly such as had been ex-
hausted by avaricious cropping. It is most difficult to extirpate it when once in possession of
the soil, for it sends forth flowering culms during the whole summer and autumn, till frost
arrests it; so that it can bear to be repeatedly cut down in one season, without suffering essen-
tially by the process. Indeed it will be found a vain and, unprofitable labour to attempt the
removal of this grass by any other means than the opposite of that which gave it possession of
the soil; which is judicious cropping.

To return land, in this state, to grass, in the hope of overcoming this unprofitable plant, will
be found of little avail : I have witnessed this practice; and the slender Fox-tail, instead of disap-

th

pearmg m tnese mstances, re-appeared with the scazrty herbage, and in greater health and abun-
dance. The soil must first be got into good heart, by very moderate and judicious cropping,
which mcludes the proper application of jnanure; a sldlful rotation of crops, and the most pointed
attention to the destruction of weeds, which last can ouly be efFected, in this sense, by adopting
the drill or row culture for the crops. After this, the land may be retiirned to grass for several
years with every prospect of success.

It flowers in the first week of July, and successively till October.

"■

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ecurus agrestis

-r

Slender Fox-tail grass*

U IT

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166

^

Avena pubescens. Downy Oat-grass. .

^

Specific character : Panicle spreading equally on every side ; calyx 3-flowered, shorter than
the florets; leaves flat, dovi^ny. .

OA*.— Root fibrous, inclining to stoloniferous ; culms numerous, erect, roundish, striated,
smooth, from six inches to a foot, and two feet high, according to the nature of the soil and
shelter; leaves flat, and rough on the margin, the other parts soft, with downy hairs; florets
purplish, and silvery white ; corolla bearded at the base, larger valve with an awn fixed
the middle, at first straight, afterwards jointed and bent back, longer than the valve.
E. Bot. 1640; Flo. Ger. 382; Host. 2, t. 40; Flo. Dan. t. 1203'; Wither. Arr.

Native of Britain. Perennial,

Experiments. — Attlie time of flowering, the produce from a sandy soil, is,

at

,dr. qr,

oz.

30
138

Grass, 23 oz. The produce per acre

80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry

The produce of the space, ditto

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying

64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter

The produce of the space, ditto

At the time the seed is ripe, the produce is,
Grass, 10 oz. The produce per acre
80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry

h

The produce of the space, ditto

250470

lbs.

J 5654 6

93926 4

5870 6 4

9783 15 12

1 2

8 21

\ -

.5870 6

366 14 6

108900

6806 4

16

32

21780

1361 4

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying
64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter ' ^ 2
The produce of the space, ditto ... 5

5445

3403 2

212 11 2

The crop, at the time of flowering, is therefore superior to that at the time the seed is ripe, in the pro-

portion nearly of 5 to 3.
The produce of latter^math is,
Grass, 10 oz. The produce per acre
64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter

2

108900
3403 2

6806 4
212 11 2

The proportional value in which the grass of the latter-math is inferior to that at the time of
flowering, is as 4 to 3. The grass of the latter^math, and that at the time the seed is ripe, are
of equal proportional value,

r
1

The downy hairs which cover the surface of the leaves of this grass when growing on poor,
dry, or chalky soils, almost disappear when cultivated on richer soils. It has properties whicli
recommend it to the notice of the Agriculturist, heing hardy, and a small impoverislier of the
soil ; the reproductive power is also considerable, though the foliage does not attain to a great
length if left growing. Like the Poa pratensis, it seldom or never sends forth any flowering

^

nent pasture on dry soils, that are sooner impoverished by the growth of plants than those that
are moist. Among the secondary grasses, therefore, I hardly know one whose habits promise
better for the purpose now spoken of. The nutritive matter it affords, contains a greater pro-
portion of the bitter extractive principle than the nutritive matter of those grasses that affect a
similar soil, which Jessens its perits in those respects, and must prevent its being employed in

^ ^

167

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Avena puhescens

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Downy

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168

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any considerable quantity, as a constituent of a mixture of grasses for laying down such soils to

grass

^^^ r

It flowers in the second week of June, and the seed is ripe about the beginning or in th
middle of July.

Melica C€&rulea. Purple Melic-g

Specific

Panicle compact, equal; spikets erect, oblong-cylindrical; culms with

r

one joint, very rarely two.

Obs.-^^oot fibrous, tough, often twisted. Culm from six inches to two feet high, accordino-
to the depth of the soil it grows in; bulbous at the base, with one joint. Leaves linear,
' acuminated, channeled. Spikets 3, seldom 4-£lowcred, of a green and purple, or of a
green, violet, and purple colour, varying. A pedicle knobbed at the end rises from be-
twixt the florets. Anthers of a beautiful purplish blue colour, pistil purple. E. Bot. 750;
Flo. Ger. 269; Host. t. 8; Flo. Dan. t. 239; Wither. Arr.

Native of Britain. Perennial.

Experiments. — At the time of flowering, the produce from a light sandy soil, is,

dr.

Grass, 11 oz. The produce per acre
80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry
The produce of the space, ditto

qr-

oz.

119790

lbs.

7486 14

30
66

44921 4

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying
64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter

2807 9 4
467P 4 12

1 2

4 01

2807 9

108900

54450

The produce of the space, ditto

At the time the seed is ripe, the produce is,
Grass, 10 oz. The produce per acre
80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry
The produce of the space, ditto
64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter
The produce of the space, ditto

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying - _

The weight of nutritive matter which is lost by leaving the crop till the seed be ripe, is

175 9

6806 4

40

80

1 2

3403 2

, 3

3

2552 5

159 8 5

3403 2
15 8 4

For the purposes of pasture, or hay, the above details shew this grass to he comparatively
of no value. It is said that goats, horses, and sheep eat it: I have laid it before cows and
sheep, but they turned from it : I have observed hares to crop the foliage in the spring. The
Rev. G. Swayne, in Withering's Arrangements, informs us, that in the turf moors below Glas-
tonsbury, Somersetshire, it grows in great abundance. The country people make of the straws
a neat kind of besoms, which they sell to the neighbouring inhabitants, as a cheap and no despi-
cable substitute for hair brooms. In Anglesea, it flourishes in the neighbourhood of the copper
works of Pary's mountain, while almost every other vegetable, even lichens, are injured or
destroyed*. In deep sands, on the confines of peat-bogs, this grass is frequent ; also from sand
banks, under hedges enclosing heath soils, it is seldom absent. It grows to the greatest height

/

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* Withering's Arrangements.

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dry

This grass

Willow

le year.

produc-

of the

will

It flowers about the beginning and middle of August, and the seed is ripe towards the mid-

dle and latter end of September.

Nardus

Upright Matt

ifi

E. Bot. 290.

Qls, — Culm with a single joint near its base, and one bristle-like leaf. Root-leaves long,
thread-shaped. Florets all pointing one way; before flowering, pressed close to the spike-
stalk, which has small excavations to receive the florets, afterwards spreading out. The
culm is twice the length, at the time the seed is ripe, of what it is at the time of flower-
ing. "Root fixed firmly in the ground, on account of its tenacious fibres, which take a
flexuose direction. On precipices, therefore, its dense tufts of leaves, though dangerous to
the footing, afibrd to the hand of the Botanist or Naturalist, the best security from the dan-
ger of falling. " Gramen invisum naturae alpestris scrutatoribus, quod vias lubricas
reddat; sed quod densis cespitibus crescat, firmiterque terr^ inhaereat, saepe etiam gratissi-
mum in praecipitiis, quod profundissime ad radicem manu prehensum impediat lapsum."
Schrank, in Prim, FL Salisb, p. 37.

Native of Britain. Root fibi'ous. Perennial.

Experiments, — At the time of flowering, the produce from a heath soil, is.

dr. qr.

GrasSj 10 oz. The produce per acre

80 dr. of grass weigh when dry - - 30

f

The produce of the space, ditto - - 60

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying

64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter

The produce of the space, ditto

At the time the seed is ripe, the produce is,

Gmss, 9 oz. The produce per acre

80 dr. of grass weigh when dry

The produce of the space, ditto

2

32

57 ^r

64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter

The produce of the space, ditto

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in dryin

2

/.

OZ.

108900

40S37 8

3403 2

98010

39204

3445 10

lbs.

6806 4

2b52 5 8

4253 14 8

212 11 2

6125 10

2450 4

215 5 10

3675 6

The latter-math produce of this grass is very small. It is common to heaths, and by the
margin of bogs, but is never found in the bogs themselves, as it affects a dry soil. Its produce
and nutritive qualities, as shewn in the above details, rank it with the most inferior grasses,
especially as the foliage is extremely harsh or wiry. I never could observe that any part of the
plant was eaten by cattle, or hares, though this circumstance proves little or nothing in gene-
ral regarding the merits of a gra^sj neverthel

ess^ in such instances as the present, where there

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grass

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172

are few grasses besides for animals to select, the rejection or neglect of a grass, must proce 1
more from some radical defect in the plant for the purpose of food, than from caprice or satiet
in the animal. The nutritive matter offers no reason for this dislike manifested by^animals fo
the grass, as its composition is much the same as that of the Aira Jlexuosa, which is eaten witl

relish by sheep ; the only difference is in the proportion of sugar : the Aha Jlexuosa havin
of this constituent, and less of mucilage, than the Nardiis stricta. But the extreme bard
wiry nature of the foliage explains the cause. That property is so strong in this grass, th

g more

and

at,

ngle

s of

in the ordinary way, a scythe is passed amongst it without having the effect of dividing a si
leaf; and from this it may easily be conceived how ungrateful it must prove to the mouth
cattle. Were it not for this circumstance, and its continuing to send up flowering culms all the
summer, it would be the most ornamental grass for forming grass plats, as its colour is of the
finest dark green, being superior in this respect to all the perennial grasses. Linnoeus obser
that goats and horses eat it; and that sheep are not fond of it. Crows stock it up, for the sake of
the larvae of some species of tipulae which they find at the root.

It flowers in the first and second weeks of July, and the seed is ripe about the first week of
August.

ves,

Panicum viride. Green Panic-grass.

Specific character: Spike round, involucrets

nerved.
Obs.

(Panicum verticillatum)

resembles this one. Mr. Curtis remarks, that this species, to correspond with its trivial
name, should ])e always green, but that its foliage is always red, and its spikes a reddish
brown, and that the verticillatum is the contrary; but the spike will always distinguish
them.

* «

Culms from four to sixteen inches in height, oblique, leafy, having tln-ee joints

striated at top, rugged ; leaves rather broad, the upper surface rugged. The sheath-
scale consists of a row of hairs pointing downwards : in the verticillatum this is wanting- or
very minute. Sheaths somewhat compressed, even. Spike ovate, cylindrical, unequal in
thickness, green before flowering, afterwards red dish brown and purple on one side. Leers.

Martyn; E. Bot. 875 ; Flo. Dan. t. 852, Panicum crusgalU; Host. t. 14; Curt. Lond.
fasc. 44.

Native of Britain. Root annual.

Experiments -At the time the seed is ripe, the produce from a rich siliceous soil, incumbent
on clay, is,

r

Grass, 8 oz. The produce per acre
80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry
The produce of the space, ditto

87120

lbs.

5445

32

51

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying
64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter

J

The produce of the space, ditto r

Oi

34848

2178
3267

1 2
- 3

2041 14

127 9 14

This species of Panic-grass is therefore of little value to the Agriculturist, and as it is far
from being a common grass, it is not much to be feared as a weed. The seed seems to be a

/-

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174

favourite food of birds, particularly of the smaller species ; unless care is taken before the seed
is perfected and collected, little will be saved from these depredators. The seeds vegetate better
when sown in June, or as soon as they are ripe In the autumn, than in any other season. It is
natural to sandy soils, but maintains itself likewise on damp clayey soils without any culture,
except that of preventing it from being overpowered by other plants. The annual grasses that
afford but small quantities of nutritive matter, and an inferior weight of herbage, impoverish the
soil very little, as the Panicum viride, Pankum sanguinak, Festuca myurus, Bromus mollis, &c.
for this reason they are raised naturally on the same spot for a series of years, without much
diminution in the yearly produce, There are three spots of ground in the Grass-garden at
Woburn, of which the three first mentioned species have kept possession in this manner for five
years : no manure had been applied, the ground was merely pointed over in the spring, and
kept free of weeds during the season ; the seed which was naturally shed by the plants was suf-
ficient. But with respect to the annual grasses that afforded a much greater proportion of nu-
tritive matter, tlie case proved very difFerent, as the Bromus mi^ensis, Phalaris canariensis, Lolkm

^

temulentum, and others, hardly afforded half the usual produce the second year of cultiva-
tion, on the same spot, though manure was applied.

It flowers in the second and third weeks of July, when sown in the preceding autumn, and
the seed is ripe about the middle of August ; hut it continues to flow^er till the cold prevents it.

Panicum smiguinale. Slender-spiked

Syntherisma vulgare, (Schrader.)

Specific c

av^^ns ;

Obs.—D

sheaths of the leaves dotted.
. Witherinir observes, that t

the sheaths of the leaves, do not appear on the figure of the Flora Lond. ; but the former is
mentioned, and the latter expressed in the figure of Leers; so that a doubt still remains,

Jlifi

In the Flora Germanica these two

species are referred to the genus syntherisma, under the following characters: " Leaves and
sheaths somewhat hairy, florets oblong, somewhat pubescent on the margin. P. sangid-
nale, E. Bot." — " Leaves and sheaths smooth, florets ovate. Syntherisma glahrum!' — P«'
cum sanguinale of Leers, above referred to; and the Digitaria jiliformis, in Koel. Gram.
These appear to be excellent specific distinctions.

Native of Britain. Root annual.

Experiments. — At the time of flowering, the produce from a sandy soil, is.

dr.

1

Grass, 10 oz. The produce per acre
80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry
The produce of the space, ditto

r

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying
64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter

qr.

oz.

108900

lbs.

6806 4

30
60

40837 8

1 0^

The

- 2 2

1014 4

2552 5 8

4253 14 8

119 10 4

TS

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Vanicum sans^uin

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Slender

Panic-grass

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This and the foregoing species are strictly annual plants. From the ahove detail
nutritive powers of the herbage they produce is very inconsiderable. The Panicum sanguinaL
produces much seed, of which birds are very fond, and requires to be protected by nets, or other-

wise, during the time of ripening. The smaller birds pick out the ripe seed, even when only a
small quantity is formed among the blossoms. Schreber informs us, the seeds are not only col-
lected from this grass, which is cultivated in some parts of Germany for the purpose, ])ut like-

flote fescue. The common method of collecting and prepari

^

ng

them is this: At sun-rise they are gathered or beaten into a hair sieve from the dewy grass;

a sheet, and dried for a fortnight in the sun ; they are then gently beaten with i

are s

pread

wooden pestle in a wooden trough or mortar, with straw laid between the Seeds and the pestle,
till the chaff comes off; they are then winnowed. After this they are again put into the trough
or mortar, in rows, with dried marigold flowers, apple, and hazel leaves, and pounded till they
appear bright ; they are then winnowed again, and being made perfectly clean by this last pro-
cess, are fit for use. The marigold leaves are added to give the seed a finer colour. A bushel

with

Wh

wme

of sago, to which it is in general preferred"^. Miss Jennings observes, that all the stems that lie
nearest the ground strike root, and by this means, though an annual and short-lived plant, it
increases and spreads very wide in one seasonl*. It should be sown as soon as the seed is ripe
in the autumn, that the young plants may have sufficient strength before the winter begins; by
this mode of culture, it will flower and ripen the seed much earlier than the time specified he-
low ; in that instance the seeds were sown in May.

It delights most in a rich light siliceous soil. It is said to have received the name sanguinale,
not from its colour, but from a mischievous trick of boys in Germany, thrusting the spiketsup

w

the noses of their companions, thereby making them bleed.

It flowers about the first week of August, and the seed is rfpe in the middle of September,

Sromus sterilis.

Barren Brome-grass

Specific

I

spear

After flower

Obs.

ing, the florets stand somewhat remote; the spikets compressed, broad upwards, awned.

Culms from one to two feet high, according to the nature of the soil; upright, roundish
and smooth, at the bottom crooked, the joints swelled. Leaves flat, both they and the
culms covered with short soft hairs; sheath scale short, obtuse. Panicle large, nodding,
half a foot long. Spikets naked, rough, varying from a green to a purple colour, larger
valve with an awn twice its length; straight, of a purple colour towards the top. E. Bot.

Native of Britain. Root annual.

With

V

* As quoted J)y Professor Martjn.

f Withering.

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Barren Brome-grass

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Experiments.-— At the time of flowering, tlie produce from a sandy soil, is.

dr. qr.

oz.

Grass, 44 oz. The produce per acre
80 dr. of grass weigli when dry
The produce of the space, ditto

45
396

- 479160

-■ 269527 8

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying
64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter
The produce of the space, ditto

5

55

37434 6

lbs.

29947 8

16845 7 8

13102 8

2339 10 6

It has been asserted, that the seeds of this grass seldom arrive at maturity, hut there is
hardly a grass, either in a natural or cultivated state, that ripens more seed than the Barreii
Brome-grass. Mr. Curtis affirms, that it acquired the name sterilis, or barren, from its inutility
with respect to cattle, which appears most probable. Ray calls it Great Wild Oat-grass, or
Drank.

The produce, as stated above, will appear great when compared to the appearance of tbe
grass when growing; it is owing, however, to the large size of the panicle and spikets, wJiich
constitute the greater proportion of the weight of produce. This circumstance induced me to

f

submit the given weight of the flowering panicles to experiment; the result was, that 64 dr. of

F M

the flowering panicles afforded 2 dr. 2 qr. of nutritive matter. The nutritive powers of the
ciilms and leaves, conjunctly, are therefore twice as great as those of the flowering panicles.
When the seed is perfected, the nutritive matter contained iu the culms and leaves is compara-
tively nothing. The long sharp awns with which the spikets are armed, must prevent cattle
from eating it. It grows chiefly under hedges, and on banks by the road-sides, where it is very
common; but it is seldom found beyond the reach of the shade.* I never could observe that
any of it had been touched by cattle. When mown before the time of flowering, it is less dis-
posed to send up secondary shoots from the roots than most other of the annual grasses, and
may therefore be overcome by one or two mowings in the season ; but its local place of growth
prevents it from being troublesome, as a weed, in the field.

It flowers in the first and second weeks of July, and the seed is ripe about the beginning and
middle of August.

JBromiis diandrits. Upright Annual Brome-grass.

L

L

Sj)ecific character: Panicle erect; spikets rough, linear-spear sliaped, somewhat compressed,

and becoming broader at top; the intermediate ones in pairs; awn straight, longer than the
husk; leaves almost naked.

Obs.

-Culms from half afoot to a foot in height, erect, but somewhat procumbent at the
base, round, scored or striated, smooth. Panicle always erect; at first compact, afterwards
spreading. Spikets straight; outer valve of the corolla spear- acuminate, a little compressed,
margin membraneous, seven nerved, apex divided. E. Bot. 1006; Curt. Lond. fasc. 70)
Host. t. 17 ; Flo. Ger. 366 ; B. Madritensis.

uca avenacea sterilis pediculis breviorihm r,f ^^- • .- -mt • Q+7fi«{

^ "^"'"^^ et spicis erectis. Moris, s. o, t. /, t. J J.

Native of Britain. Root annual. _

Festi

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■

»

Bromm diand.

Uprigh t

Brome.

\

■^

\

180

^

Experiments.— Al the time of flowering, the produce from a rich brown loam, is,

dr. q,r,

oz.

- 34

204

Grass, 30 oz. The produce per acre

80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry

The produce of the space, ditto

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying

64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter

The produce of the space, ditto . -

326700

138847 8

3

22

15314 1

lbs.

20418 12

8677 15 8

11740 12 8

957 2 1

This, like the preceding species of Bromus, is strictly annual. It is much less common tha
the Bromus steriUs : Hudson informs us that it grows on old walls in tlie neighbourhood of Lon
don and Oxford. Birds seldom touch the seeds ; but this appears to be more owin^ to the
season in which it is presented to them, than to any defect in the quality of the seed; as there is'
then a profusion of food of a more welcome nature. The above details shew the produce ofthi^
grass, in one year, which, when compared to that of the least valuable of Lhe perennial o^rasses
proves inferior, and ranks it with the grasses of little use to the Agriculturist. The panicle
when in flower, constitutes the principal weight of the produce: the nuLridve matter it contains
bears a similar proportion to that afforded by the culms and leaves conjunctly, as was shewn to
exist between those of the Bromus sterilis.

It flowers in the third week of June, and the seed is ripe about the middle and latter end of
July.

\

-^f

B

Nodding Panicled Brome

ifit

Obs,

awned, awn as long as the glume ; leaves ptdjescent.

pubescent; florets distant

:T]iis species is readily distinguished' at fa^st sight from several of the annual species of

membraneous

husks, which are more obvious when the plant is in a growing state, than in a dried speci-

Schradcr describes it in its natural place of growth, as attaining the height of twelve

men.

inches; culm erect, but always decumbent at the base, round, striated, smooth, often

pu.....ut tuwaras me top, jomts two or three; sheath-scale sliort, obtuse, always lace-
rated; panicle branches numerous, intermixed with simple branches, thread-shaped, always
more or less pubescent; outer husk of the blossom seven nerved, the intermediate nerve

termmatmg in an awn, which rises a little below the apex. Flo. Ger. SQ5; Host. i.
p. 13, t. 15.

Native of most parts of Europe, but not of Britain. Root annual . Martyn.

Experiments. — At the time of flowerin

o*

the pioduce from a light sandy soil, is.

dr.

Grass, 11 oz. The produce per acre
80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry
The produce of the space, ditto
The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying
. 64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter
The produce of the space, ditto -

'1

qr.

oz.

119790

lbs.

7486 14

42
92 1

62889 12

3930 9 12
5556 4 4

3
8 1

5615 2

550 15 2

!

^

^ .

#

f

I

9

\

Bromus

m

.»<

l^odding panicled Brome

I

182

This is anotlier of tlie Annual Bromes, which is comparatively of no value. Damhourney,
indeed, says, that at the time it approaches to a state of maturity, it may be useful in dying*'
when it can be collected in sufficient quantity. Birds are fond of the seed, and the plants
require protection before the seed be perfected, in order to secure a sufficient supply for the

next year's sowing.

It maybe remarked from the facts that have been brought forward respecting the Annual
Bromes, that most of them, comparatively, affi)rd more nutritive matter at the time they are in
flower, than some of the best perennial grasses at the same stage of growth. The reason of this
appears, on considering that the whole of the nutritive matter which is accumulated in one year
by these annuals, is present in the plant at this period or shortly after, for when tlie seed is ripe,
the straws contain but a small proportion of nutritive matter ; and the seed itself contains litlle

F

more than the plants afforded at the time of flowering, the diffcience Leing as 7 to 5, which seems
to prove that the cuhns and leaves, a little after the time of flowering, contain nearly all the nii-

r

tritive matter which passes into or constitutes the substance of the seed. It must be observed
that the produce of two square feet of soil was submitted to experiment at the time of flowennp*
and the seed produced on the same space of ground, was the quantity made use of in the same
experiments, and which gave the above proportion. Most of the perennial grasses have very
small seed, and the culms in general are succulent at the time the seed is perfected, which is not
the case with the annual species. If the seeds, however, of the perennial grasses are suffered to
remain a little while after they are ripe, the culms very soon become dry. The different deo-rees
of this property in grasses, may be ascertained in some measure, by a comparison of the quanti-
ties of nutritive matter which they severally afford at the time the seed is ripe, as already stated
in the foregoing details.

It flowers in the third week of June, and the seed is ripe about the end of July.

Agrostis capillar is. Fine-panicle d Bent.

+

Specific character: Panicle hair-like, spreading, flexi
loured. Wither. 74? Huds. Anol .^^9.^

Obs,

Culm ascending, from six to twelve inches high, round, very smooth, with three or
four joints; leaves very narrow, sheathing the straw for some length ; sheatb-scale mem-
branaceous, acuminate ; panicle upright, branches hair-like, somcwbat flexuose ; valves of

bluntish

Native of Britain. Root perennial, '

Ea^periments.- At the time of flowering, the produce fi-om a sandy loam, is.

dr.

Grass, 7 oz. The produce per acre

80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry

The produce of the space, ditto

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying

64 dr. of grass aiFord of nutritive matter

The produce of the space, ditto

qr,

oz.

lbs.

n

30 3.

76230
20963 4

4764 6

1310 3

3454 3

2

3 2

2382 3

148 14

* Rccueil de procedes e,t d'experiences sur les teinturcs soHdi.= ^ ,, , . xt • . ^ « P«r

fi Q ^ sondes, &c. par M. L. A. Dambourney, Negociant a Rouen. Par.

1786-8.

i

y

A^^

V

184

The above details afford no proofs of the value of this for agricultural purposes. It is found

age. It

pro-

in a wild state on heaths chiefly. I never observed that even hares cropped its herb
manner of growth is similar to that of the Agrostis ft

duced in bundles or tufts, which is so distinguishing a feature of that grass. It is seldom com-
bined with any other species of grass, but grows in detached patches on moors and heaths.
It flowers in the beginning of August, and the seed is ripe about the end of that month.

Alopecurus hulbosus geniculatus. Bulbous-rooted knee-jointed Foxtail-
grass.

Specific character: Flowei's in a spike, culm kiiee-joiuted.

Obs, — Root of this variety bulbous ; awns longer than the blossom ; sheaths wider than the
thickness of the straw ; anthers purple, and changing to a brown yellow. Wither. Arr.

n. p. 120.
Native of Britain. Perennial.

t

Experiments. — At the time of flowering, the produce from a sandy loam, is.

dr. qr.

Grass, 8 oz. The produce per acre
80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry - - l6

The produce of the space, ditto - -'25

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying

oz.

87120

17424.

64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter
The produce of the space, ditto

1

2

1361 4

lbs.

5445 5

1089
4356

85 1

The produce and nutritive powers of this grass are evidently so inconsiderable, as to justify
a conclusion that it is comparatively of no use to the Agriculturist. I have found it but seldom

in a wild state.

^ty:

retains

the length to prove, that if it is not a distinct species, it is at least a permanent vaneti/.

%.

h4
4

^

%

%

N

* ^

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s.

vf

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Alopecurus bulbosus genictdatus

1 .

y

I

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I

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186

Poa alp

Alpine Meadow-g

difFused, 4-11 flowered, cordate; florets, acute, free; slieath-

scale oblong, acute; leaves short, obtuse, pointed; root fibrous.
0^5.— Root-leaves numerous, flat, widish, nerved, smooth, especially underneath, bluntish
at the end, with a little dagger point ; rugged at the edges, with short erect compressed
sheaths, and a short blunt stipula. Culms from three to twelve inches high, ascending, a
little compressed. Panicle short, roundish. Spikets ovate compressed, shining with pur-
ple. Florets silky at the edges, but not, as in the Poa pratensis, connected by compli-
cated hairs, or by a web. E. Bot. t. 1003; Host. ii. p. 49, t. 67, left hand figure; Curtis;

Flo. Dan. t. 807.
Native of Britain, Root perennial.
Experiments.— Al the time of flowering, the produce from a light sandy loam, is,

dr. qr.

oz.

25
40

Grass, 8 oz. The produce per acre

80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry

The produce of the space, ditto

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying

64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter

The produce of the space, ditto

87120

lbs.

5445

27225

1701 9

3743 7

12)
3 0)

2041 14

127 9 14

The produce of this grass appears, from these experiments, to be equal to that of the Alope-
cmms alpinus, and its nutritive powers greater; but not sufficiently great to render it au ohject
for the Farmer s particular consideration. It is chiefly confined to alpine regions. It grows
wild in Scotland and Wales, afso in Lapland, Switzerland, and Silesia.

r

Botanists inform us, that mountainous countries are furnished with a much greater variety
of plants than flat countries; and that in primitive mountains, the number of different species of
plants exceeds that of the floetz mountains. If we compare the alpine grasses with those that
inhabit the valleys, the shades of dissimilarity will be found very slight in every point, except
what arises from size ; and the discriminating characters are therefore, in such instances, often
minute.

L

I

Let the Poa alpina be compared with the Poa aquatica and Poa pratensis, and it will afford
an example of this. The Alopecurus alp'mus, and the Alopecunis pratensis, are less dissimilar in
structure than the Alopecurus geniculatus and Alopecurm pratensis, though the two last inhabit
the plain. The Aira montana, and the Aira aquatica, may serve as another instance for com-
parison. The numerous evidences of this kind, which plants of every class have offered, have
led to the opi^nion, that the primitive mountains were the sources from which the plains, formed
at a later period, were furnished with plants.

The Alpine Meadow-grass flowers about the third week of May, and during the rest of the
summer, and the seed ripens about the latter end of June, and successively, according as the
grass produces flowers. Hares and rabbits are remarkably fond of this grass, and snails devour
the flowering spikets of the panicle ; it requires therefore much care and attention to obtain
either seed or perfect specimens of the flowers.

I

.\

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I

Alpine Meadow-grass

o-

I

I
t

^

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%

188

E. Bot. 1613.

Sesleria cmrulea. Blue Moor-grass.

Cynosurus cceruleus. Linn.; Mart. Flo. Rust. t. 20 j Ja

Specific character : Spike egg-oblong, leafy; spikets 2-3
with 3, seldom 5 awns; awns shorter than the husk.

0Z»5.— The roots take a slanting direction in the earth ; the leaves grow in dense tufts.
Culms from four to twelve inches high, roundish, or compressed, striated, smooth. Leaves
linear, somewhat obtuse, keeled, rough on the edges and upper part of the keel, between
sea-green and bluish. Spike of a lead colour, or sometimes inclining to a purple. Spikets
short, pedicelled, mostly in pairs, oblong oval, compressed, 2-3 flowered, shining.

Native of Britain. Root perennial.
. Experiments. — At the time of flowering, the produce from a light sandy soil incumbent ou

clay, is.

Grass, 11 oz. The produce per acre
64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter
The produce of the space, ditto

At the time the seed is ripe, the produce is.

Grass, 10 oz. The produce per acre
64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter
The produce of the space, ditto
The produce of latter-math is.
Grass, 5 oz. The produce per acre
64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter
The produce of the space, ditto

dr. qr.

oz.

119790

lbs.

7486 14

3 3

10 11

7018 13

438 10 13

108900

6806 4

3 3^

9 1

^S

5130 iS

320 10 13

54450

3403 2 ■

2 2! >

3 01)

2126 15

132 14 15

The produce of this grass is greater than its appearance when growing would indicate ; the

leaves seldom attain to more than four or five inches in len^^th.

O

grovv^

being cropped, nor does it seem to withstand the effects of frost, which, if it happen to come
severe, or early in the spring, prevents it from flowering in that season ; otherwise the compa-
ratively great quantity of nutritive matter the foliage affords, (for the culms are very inconside-
rable), might rank it with the grasses valuable for permanent pasture.

If the weight of produce, and the nutritive matter it contains, be compared with those of the

/Alpine grasses that are included in this series of experiments, the Blue Moor-grass will be found

greatly superior. It is said to grow wild in mountainous pastures in the North of England,

and sometimes in marshes, in crevices of the limestone rocks at the foot of Ingleborough, lime

rocks near Kendal, Malham Cone, and on most of the lime rocks in Craven, Yorkshire*.

Though, as already observed, it is the best of the Alpine grasses, yet the above details of
its properties do not warrant any recommendation of its cultivation to the Farmer.

first and second weeks of June,

M

*

r

Withering's Arrangements, ii. p. HO

89

^

/

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^ H^

f^

«

•

\

Tiliie Moor-grass

*rf

—
I

190

Aira cristata. Crested Hair-grass.

r

Poa cristata. Crested Meadow-grass. Host. ii. p. 54, t. 75.

Specific character: Panicle, spike-like; husks acuminate; flowers longer than the calyx; leav

ciliated. •

Obs. — This grass was formerly ranked by Botanists under the genus Poa, but has since li

referred to that of Aira, to which it is more closely allied by its two-flowered calyx a rl

acuminate glumes ; culms from a foot to a foot and a half high, round, striated a llttl

e

pu-

bescent towards the top, erect from the lower jomt upwards, under that decumbent'
leaves linear, acute, flat, roughish at the margin, and ciliated ; sheath-scale very short
more or less ciliate ; panicle erect, cylindrical, but tapering on each side ; spike-stalk
bescent, smooth towards the top, and furnished with a few hairs; calyx acuminated

pu-

com-

pressed, keeled, terminated by an awn-like point.
Native of Britain. Root perennial. E. Bot. t. 648.
Experiments. — At the time of flowering, the produce from a sandy loam, is,

dr. qr.

Grass, 16 oz. The produce per acre

80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry

The produce of the space, ditto

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in dryino-

64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter

The produce of the space, ditto

At the time the seed is ripe, the produce is.
Grass, 10 oz. The produce per acre
80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry*
The produce of the space, ditto

oz.

174240

36 ?
115 OtV S

7S40S

lbs.

10890

4900 8

-5989 8

2
8

5445

340

40 ^
80 5

108900
54450

6806 4

3403 2

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying

The weight of nutritive matter vvhich is lost by leaving the crop till the seed be ripe, is

3403 2
127 10

The produce of this species, and the nutritive matter it affords, are ecjiial to tliose of the
Festuca ovina at the time the seed is ripe ; they equally delight in dry soils, tliougli the Aira
crutata will thrive m ell, and remain permanent in soils of a moist and clayey nature, which is
different with the Festuca ovina. The greater hulk of the produce of the Aira cristata, in pro-
portion to Its weight, makes it of inferior value to the Festuca ovina. In some parts of the coun-
try it grows on dry pastures plentifully, where it appears to be hut sparingly eaten by cattle,
particularly if the pasture be not over-stocked.

•T^^v _ • \ Tl 1

f Festuca ovinaj

(^Lolium percnnej

'<

(Avena flavescens); crested dog's-tail, (Cijnosums cristatiis)

(Hordeum pratense); flexuo.e hair-grass, aira flexuoscO

cattle to the Crested Hair-grass. The nutritive ninttn f .1 • ^-^ i ri • •

. . ^ , ^ ^ ^iULiuive matter of this p-rass differs but little in its com-

nosition troTn thn«f^ nf ^rUc. ol^^,.^ . :•- , ^

/'

onlym iiavmg less bitter extractive matter nnrl ^ . i : ^^ i i c r. • ,

f ,.> r 1 ^ "^^'^^ tasteless miicilao-e; but the soft hairy

toliage of the grass appears at once the cause of tt,:. ^- ri •

T^ ^ , ^/ *^ ^^ this dislike in cattle to eat it.

It flowers about the first week in July nnd tl.. j- • i i i • • ta

•'"'J, ana the seed is ripe about the beginning of August.

v\

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Air a

istata

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Crested

cfrass

\

192

Poa compressa

Specifi

Flat-Stalked Meadow-grass

ered:

flowers connected at the base by a complicated web of hairs; culm compressed; root

r

creeping

0^5.— Culms from a foot to a foot and a half high, compressed, decumhent at the base
oblique afterwards, and erect towards the top ; striated, smooth, sometimes sending forth
culms at the joints; leaves short, linear, acute, flat, somewhat glaucous; panicle erect, short
directed one way, glaucous, bluntish, condensed; florets from three to nine, according to

the

age and strength of the plant, closely imbricated, oval, angular, three-nerved, purpl
w the tip, which is silvery and scariose at the base, connected by very fine complicatei

short villous hairs.

Witherin

E. Bot.

W

Native of Britain. Root perennial, creeping.

Experiments, — At the time of flowering, the produce from a gravelly soil with manure, is

dr.

34

34

Grass, 5 oz. The produce per acre

80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry

The produce of the space, ditto

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying

64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter

The produce of the space, ditto *- " - 6

At the time the seed is ripe, the produce is.
Grass, 6 oz. The produce per acre

qr.

oz.

lbs.

54450

=

= 3403 2

23141

4 =

-^ 1446 5 4

-

n

1956 12 12

4253

14 =

= 265 13 14

65340

4083 12

40
48

32670

2041 14

J

80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry

The produce of the space, ditto f - -

The weightiest by the produce of one acre in drying - « - - - . 2041 14

64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter

1

5

- 7 2

5104 11

The produce of the space, ditto

The weight of nutritive matter which is lost by taking the crop at the time of flowering, is

319 11

!

53 2 13

ewn

flower, will not make up for the valne of the latter-malh which would otherwise he lost hy tak-
ing the crop at the time the see^is ripe. If the produce of this grass was of greater magnitude,
it would rank as one of the most valuable grasses, as it produces foliage early in the spring, of
stronger nutritive powers than most other grasses. It has been recommended as a grass to cul-
tivate on poor soils; but the produce is so very deficient, that there are other grasses that might

Meadow

m

tail Grass,

The roots, in some situations, penetrate to a considerable depth, as in stony dry
soils. It grows in abundance on the walls which embank the ponds in Woburn-park.

Dr. Smith, m the English Botany, observes, that this grass can scarcely be put to any agri-
cultural use : thetrials that have been made of it hpvo ^ c 4^1. 4- • • t. • .. ^i.n^fh(^

^^ ^^ ^^ nei'e, confirm that opinion. It is true, thattne

produce is augmented by cultivating it on a richpr c^;i i . . - ^^ . r i." i ^ctlip

.... *^ a Mil d iicner soil, but not in that proporLion which is tne

result of a similar treatment in other s:rasses Tt.r. i i i • x i ti. ^n i

. , ., - 6^"^^^^^* I lie culms and leaves attain a greater length on a

rich soil, but never form a close turf, beintr undpr. • i,- i ... ;i .r.^fhe

^ ^^^GJ unaer every circumstance, thinly scattered over tne

/

y

4

\.

^

^

Flat-stalked Meadow-grass

J

t

194

surface. Though it cannot therefore be recommended for ciiUivatlon, nevertheless it i

of further trials, on account of its superior nutritive povs^ers

IS Worthy

It flowers in the second week of July, and the seed is ripe about the middle of August.

Poa compressa, var. erecta. Upright Flat-stalked Meadow-grass.

Ql^s^ — ^This differs from the fonuer variety of Poa compressa, in having culms more uprioht

some-

less compressed, and produced in greater quantities. Tlic colour of the leaves is
v^hat glaucous; they grow more upright than those of the other variety. Root creepinp-
like that of the former, hut furnished with numerous fibres, which supply culms and

*

leaves in abundance, the plant soon forms a close covering to the ground, while the other
remains in a scattered state.
Experiments, — ^At the time of flowering, the produce from a light sandy loam, is.

i

dr. qr.

Grass, 23 oz. The produce per acre
80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry
The produce of the space, ditto

34
156

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying
64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter - 3
The produce of the space, ditto - 17

The produce at the time the seed is ripe, is,

OZ.

lbs.

250470 =

= \5654^ 6

- 106449 12 =

= 6653 1 12

-

9001 4 4

11740 12 =

= 743 12 12

Grass, 22 oz. The produce per acre

80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry - 44

The produce of the space, ditto , - - 193

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying

64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter

The produce of the space, ditto

2395S0
131769

14973 12

8235 9
6738 3

5

27 2

18717 3

1169 13 3

.vcrlncr is inferior to that at the time the seed

The weight of nutritive matter, in which the crop at the time the seed i^ ripe, exceeds that
at the time of flowering, is - -

The proportional value in which the grass at the time of flov
is ripe, is as 5 to 3.

The produce of latter-math is.
Grass, 7 oz. The produce per acre
64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter

426 7

1 2

76230
1786 10

4764 6
111 10 10

4

This variety of the Flat-stalked Meadow-grass affects a soil of a moister, and more rich
nature, than the first-mentioned variety. It grows more close, forming a pretty good sward;

the roots are less inclined to crecpinp-. It senrl^Sn^ o . .-^ c n • i \.\A^

v.^111^. XL fc>enas np a great quantity of flowering culms, wlncu

constitute the principal weip-ht of the produce onrl ^^ • j i ^ i a-.+Iip

^ ^ ^ r''^*^^^^^^ ^lia remain green and succulent long after tne

seed is ripe; on this aceount the seed crop contains so much more nutritive matter than the
flowenng crop, as above stated. It is a week or ten days later In flowering, than the former
variety, and the produce of foliage in the spring is likewise inferior. The produce of latter-
math IS greater than might he expected of a grass with short slo^v-growing foliage, but the
plant has the property of sending up flowering c^ms till a late period of the season, and the
latter-math produce consists chiefly of these. What w.« «.;,! .^..^..'no- the merits of the first

\

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compressa erecta

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Upright flat-stalked Meadow-grass

I

/

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I

196

variety, may also he said of this one ; for though its produce Le greater, and form a better turf,
yet it is inferior in early growth, and in the produce of foliage.

It flowers in the end of July, and the seed is ripe about the beginning of September.

1

Lotus cornimlatus. Bird's-foot Trefoil, Bird's-foot Clover

Generic character: Legume cylindrical, straight; wings of the corolla cohe
edge ; calyx tubular ; filaments dilated upwards.

upper

Mi

Heads depressed, of few flowers; stems decumbent, solid; legumes

spreading, nearly cylindrical ; claw of the Iceelohovate; filaments all dilated. E. Bot. 2090.
bs, — Some Botanists have considered the next following plant f Loins major) a variety of
this " var. larger, stem more upright." Linn, and Withering. But the difference hetween

manent

raised from seed and cultivated on diff'erent soils. What renders a specific distinction
here of most importance to the Farmer, is the difTcrence which exists between them in au
agricultural point of view. The stems are prostrate, smooth, apparently free from hairs;
leaves slightly veined underneath, smooth. Curtis, 107; Flo. Dan. 991; Wither. Arr.

Native of Britain, and all parts of Europe; also of Japan. Root perennial.

Experiments, — At the time of flowering, the produce fi'oma clayey loam, is,

Grass, 15 02. The produce per acre
80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry
The produce of the space, ditto

dr. qr,

oz.

lbs.

163350

10209 6

I

25
75

51046

3190 6

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying
64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter

The produce of the space, ditto ^ - -

7019

2 1

8

-"4

- 5742 9

358 14 9

This plant has been recommended for cultivation by Dr. Anderson, Mr. Curtis, and

Woodwa

W

common with the herbage with which it is usually comLIucd; tlie flowers, it is true, appeared
always untouched, and, in dry pastures, little of the plant is seen or presented to cattle, except
the flowers, on account of its diminutive growth iu such situations. This, however, is nearly

Whit

found.

Mr. Woodwa

grows to a greater height than the Trefoils, and seems to be of a quah-ty equal, if not superior
to most of them. Professor Martyn observes, that in common with several other leguminous
plants, it gives a substance to hay, and perhaps renders it more palatable and wholesome to
cattle, It has been already observed, that the Clovers contain more bitter extractive and saline
matters than the proper natural grasses, and the Bivd's-foot Trefoils contain more of these vege-
table principles than the Clovers ; in pastures and meadows, therefore, where the Clovers hap-

(L

of advantage ; but it appears to contain too much of the bitter extractive and saline matters to
be cultivated by itself, or without a large intermixture of other plants.

>

/

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Lotus corniculatits.

■ - 1

♦

/

Bird's-foot Trefoil.

;

J

198

It does not spring eariy in the season, but continues to vegetate late in the autumn. I^
irrigated meadows, where the produce is generally more succulent than in dry pastures, this
plant cannot with safety be recommended, at least in any considerahle quantity. It is y^^^^
partial to dry soils than the next species, io/M* major; it attains to a considerable height when
growing among shrubs, and seems to lose' its prostrate or trailing habit of growth entirely, ^vhen

in such situations.

It comes into flower about the second Week of June, and the seed is ripe about the end of
July, and successively till the end of autumn. ;

up

Lotus major. Greater Bird's-foot Trefoil.

b

Specific character: Heads depressed, many-flowered; stems erect, liollow; legumes spread-
ing, cylindrical; claw of the keel linear, shorter, filaments not dilated.
Dr. Smith, in E. Bot.

r

Obs. — Stems from one to two and a half feet high, according as it is more or less drawn
by bushes, or exposed without shade, more or less fringed with long loosely-spreading
hairs; leaves also more or less fringed with similar hairs; flowcr-hcads when young very
hairy, flowers from 6 to 12 in each head, of a duller orange than the precediug species;
pod slender, and exactly cylindrical. E. Bot. 2091. — I have raised this plant from seed on
two difierent soils, a siliceous sandy soil and a clayey loam, and the above characters re-

r

main permanent in both instances : it is surprising that two plants so distinct in habits,

should have so long been considered varieties only.
Native of Britain. Root perennial, creeping.
Experiments. — At the time of flowering, the produce from a clayey loam, is.

dr.

30

im

Herbage, 32 oz. The produce per acre

80 dr. of herbage weigh, when dry

The produce of the space, ditto

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying

64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter

The produce of the space, ditto - «■

qr.

oz.

S4S4S0

lbs.

21780

130G8

8142 8

13637 8

2
16

10890

680 10

The welglit of green food, or hay, is triple that of the foregoing species, and its nutri-
tive powers are very little inferior, being only as 9 to 8. Tliese two species of Bird's-foot Tre-
foil may be compared to each other with respect to habits, in the same manner as the White
Clover and Perennial Red Clover ; and were the latter unknown, there appear to be no plants
of tbe leguminous order, that, in point of habits, would so well supply their place as the Com-
mon and Greater Bird's-foot Trefoil. They are, however, greatly inferior to the Clovers.
White Clover is superior to the Common Bird's-foot Trefoil in the quantity of nutritive matter it
aifords, in the proportion of 5 to 4. ' It is much less productive of herbage, and is much more
difficult of cultivation, the seed being afforded in much smaller quantities. The produce of the
Greater Bird's-foot Trefoil is superior to that of the Perennial Red Clover, on tenacious or moist
soils, and on drier, ai,d on richer soils of the first quality; but the produce is inferior, in the

The

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G reater Bi rd's-foot Trefoil

t

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200

proportion of nutritive matter it contams, as 5 to 4. The nutritive matter of tliis species contains
more bitter extractive and saline matters than that of the former/which was before shewn to be
in excess when compared to the Clovers, and these to the proper natural grasses. The nutritive
matter is extremely bitter to the taste. It does not appear to be eaten by any cattle when in a
green state, but when made into hay with the common grasses, I have offered it to sheep,
oxen, deer, and the Llama, or South American sheep; and they all ate it without reluctance,

and rather with desire.

It does not seem to perfect so much seed as the former species ; but this is abundantly re-
medied in its propagation by the creeping or stoloniferous roots, which it spreads out in all di-
rections, and thus it soon covers a large space of ground. But the culms rise not in conside-

^

rable number ; they are thinly scattered over the surface. In moist clayey soils it would doubt-
less be a most profitable substitute for Red Clover; but the excess of bitter extractive and saline
matters it contains, seems to forbid its adoption without a considerable admixture of other plants:
It flowers about the third week of June, and the seed is ripe about the end of the following

L
\

month. u

I

•i

1

Anena pratensis* Meadow Oat-grass.

Specific character: Panicle spike-like; spike generally 5-flowered; flowers longer tlian tlie
calyx; leaves ronghish, narrow, doubled together.

0-&5,-- ^Culms perfectly smooth, erect, straight, round, upper half naked, and scored. Panicle
equal, erect. Florets 4-5, somewhat compressed, terminating one imperfect. Husks of
the calyx acuminate, compressed, rough on the keel, three-nerved, inner husk the smallest.
Outer husk of the corolla acuminate, five-nerved, with an awn from below the middle
longer than the husk, knee-bent, inner valve smaller. E. Bot. 1204; Host. t. 51; Flo.
Ger. 385 ; Wither. Arr.

Native of Britain. Root fibrous. ■ Perennial.

*

Experiments, — At the time of flowering, the produce from a sandy loam, is.

1

dr.

qr,

oz.

44

Grass, 10 oz. The produce per acre

80 dr. of grass weigh when dry

The produce of the space, ditto

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying

64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter - 2

i

The produce of the space, ditto - - 5

At the time the seed is ripe, the produce is,
Grass, 14 oz. The produce per acre \ -
80 dr. of grass weigh when dry
The produce of the space, ditto

108900

lbs.

6806 4

29947 8

3828 8

1871 11 8
4934 8 8

9.m 4. 8

152460

24
67

45738

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying
64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter
The produce of the space, ditto
The weight of nutritive matter which is lost by
one-third part of its value -. •

1

- 3 2

2382 3

9528 12

2858 10

6610 2

148 14 3

-

90 6 5

r *:

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Meadow Oat-grass

I

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202

The proportional value which the crop, at the time of flowering, hears to that at the time the
seed is ripe, is as 9 to 4.

This species of Oat-grass is much less common than the Avena pubescens or Avenajavescens
It is found more frequent on chalky, than on any other kind of soils : I have also found it in
moist meadows as well as on dry heaths. This property of thriving on soils of such opposite
natures, is not common to the different species of grass. When this grass was planted in an ini,
gated meadow, the produce did not appear to exceed that which it afforded on a dry elevated
soil, though it appeared more healthy, by the superior green colour of the foliage ; and it thus
appears to thrive under irrigation. The produce and nutritive powers, however, seem to be
inferior to many other species of the secondary grasses : on referring to former details, we find
that

The yellow oat-grass (Avena Jlavescens J, affords of nutritive matter from the crop
at the time of flowering _ _ _ _ -

lbs.

From the crop at the time the seed is ripe

The meadow oat-grass (Avena pratensis), as above

430 11

909

388

The produce, or value of the Yellow Oat, is therefore superior to that of the Meadow Oat, in the pro-
portion nearly of 7 to 3.

r

The downy oat-grass ( Avena pubescens ) , affords of nutritive matter from the grass at the

time of flowering -' -- --■-.-.. -_ j y ^n-o

From the crop at the time the seed is ripe - - - ^ , ^ . -212

p

The Downy Oat-grass is therefor^ superior to the Meadow Oat-grass in the quantity of
nuti'itive matter it affords from the crops of one season, in the proportion nearly of 3 to 2. From
these facts and observations, it cannot justly be recommended for cultivation in preference to
either of the two species with which it has now been compared. Its nutritive matter contains a
less proportion of bitter extractive and saline matters, than any other of the Oat grasses that
have here been submitted to experiment.

It flowers in July, and the seed is ripe in August.

Hordeimn pratense. Meadow Barley-grass,

Specific character: Husks of the calyx bristle-shaped, all the florets awned, the lateral ones
unisexual. Mart t. 108; Flo. Dan. 630; Moris, s. 8 t. 2 f 6.

OZ-*.- This species has affinity to the Hordeum murinum, wall barley-grass, in appearance;
but this is strictly perennial, while the Bordeum murinum is annual. The culms of the
Hordeum pratense are more slender, taller, and erect, sheaths roundish, spike slender in
comparison to that of the H. murinum; of a purple or greenish hue; that of the H. muri-
num is of a dirty yellow. Husks of the calyx bristle-shaped, rough, but not ciliate. Awns
much shorter. E. Bot, 409; Host. t. 33.

Native of Britain. Root fibrous. Perennial.

Experimenfs.^At the time pf flowering, the produce from a sandy loam with manure, is,

Grass, 12 oz. The produce per acre

^^' <jr. oz. lbs. ,

130680 = 8167 8

80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry - " - 32 "i

The produce of the space, ditto - . 76 3f > ' ' ^^^^^ 0=3267

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying ^ ^ , - 4900 8

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Meadow Barley -grass

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^04

<Jr. qr. 02. lbs,

3 3

64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter - ^ ^ f ^ ^ ^^^^ = 478 Q

The produce of the space, ditto . - - 11 1

At the time the seed is ripe, the produce is,
Grass, 13 oz. The produce per acre

141570 = 8848 2

80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry - - 32 J ■ ^ ^ ^^^^^ = 3539 4

The produce of the space, ditto - - ^^ .

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying - - -^ - 5308 14

64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter - S > ^ _ ^^^^ ^ ^

The produce of the space, ditto - - 9 3

The weight of nutritive matter which is lost by leaving the crop till the seed be ripe, is - 63 14

The grass, at the time of flowering, contains more nutritive matter than at the time the seed

is ripe, in the proportion of 5 to 4.

This grass, though partial to dry, chalky soils, thrives under irrigation ; and there are but
, few pastures in which it is not to be found; dry, sandy heaths, and moist sour soils, are unconge-
nial to it. The Rev. G. Swayne observes, that in moist meadows, it produces a considerable quan-
tity of hay, but is not to be recommended as one of the best grasses for the Farmer. The best
grasses, in my opinion, continues Mr. Swayne, are the Alopecurus pratensis, Poa trivialis, Dae-
tylis glomerata, Cynosurus cristatus, Festuca durmscula, Festuca pratemis, Festucahybrida^ Avena
Jtavescens, and above all, the Lolium perenne. If Gardeners and Farmers are so careful, as we
know they are, in raising the seeds of their turnips and cabbages, surely some of their care is
due to the cultivated grasses*. I have observed this grass to constitute the principal herbage of
one or two pastures that were considered excellent for sheep. I have been informed, likewise,
that in some pastures in Norfolk, this grass forms the principal herbage ; and the proprietors of
the lands in question are famed for their superior breed of sheep. Though this proves nothing
positive with respect to the merit of the grass, nevertheless, it ofFei'S satisfactory reasons to conclude
that the grass is not hurtful in sheep pasture, which is not the case when it is made into hay, the
long sharp awns with which the spikes are armed, rendering it dangerous to the mouths of cattle,
and makes a serious objection to its introduction (at least in large quantities) into irrigated mea-
dows, where the produce is, in part, every year converted into hay. It is tolerably early in the
' spring produce of foliage, and its nutritive powers are considerable. It is very hardy, and
strictly perennial.

Flowers in July, and the seed is ripe in August.

Bromus cristatus. Crested Brome-wass

Specific character: Calyx eliptical, awned, keeled, obtusely ribbed ; florets awned; spinets
closely imbricated, two-ranked, depressed, straight; stem simple. E. Bot.

0^5.— Roots furnished with very long, woolly fibres, adapted to grow in sands; culms ascend-
ing twelve or eighteen inches high, simple, rigid, slender, leafy, hairy at the top; leaves
linear, shortish, with long close sheaths, upper surface in one specimen hairy; but Gme-

* Withering'sArr.ii.p. 172, Ed. 4.

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Bromus

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Crested Brome

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^_ —

f

G

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206

L

lin says the character is variable. The Secale prostrafiim is a-kin to this h t li
root and a branched stem. E. Bot. — ^The Triticum cristatum of Host as-re >Ti l^
and the upper surface of the leaves are hairy. Host. ii. t. 24, Triticum cristatum ""^^^
prostratum? Jacqnin.

Native of Scotland. Root perennial.

Experiments. — ^At the time of flov\^ering, the produce from a clayey loam is

'Secak

dr. qr.

S2
83

Grass, 13 oz. The produce per acre

80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry

The produce of the space, ditto

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying

64 dn of grass afford of nutritive matter

The produce of the space, ditto

02. lbs.

141570 = 8848

56628

3539 4

2 2
- 8 OtV

o308 14

5530 1

345 10 1

At the time the seed is ripe, the produce is,

h «l

Grass, 12 oz. The produce per acre

80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry

The produce of the space, ditto

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying

64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter

34
81 2f

130680
o55S9

2 1
6 3

4594 3

The produce of the space, ditto

The weight of nutritive matter which is lost by leaving the crop till the seed be ripe, is

The produce of latter-math is.
Grass, 4 oz. The produce per acre
64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter

8167 8
3458 11
4708 13

255 11 3

^9 14 14

2

43560
1361 4

2722 8
85 1 4

-fl

4

The grass, at the time of flowering, contains more nutritive matter than the grass at the
time the seed is ripe, in the proportion of 10 to 9 ; and the grass of the latter-math is superior
to that at the time of flowering as 5 to 4; and to the grass, at the time the seed is ripe, in the
proportion of 9 to 8.

Wh

produce of early herbage in the spring

The

^

Festuca ovina, Aira ccespitosa, and indeed to any of the Alpine grasses, or those which afi"ect sandy

Whe

^^ ^ T.^^v^i^ kJV/XAVlO KJLy V^I^XXXJLO^ CiX J U. Lll^ ±ClL t^X -ilia tl-l-

consists chiefly of these; and in point of nutritive powers, the latter-math is in consequence
nearly equal to the grass of the flowering crop. It ripens a sufiiciency of seed, which vegetates
freely when sown on hght soils. Its comparative merits, as a grass for heath soils, are very
considerable, as will appear on a comparison of their habits, produce, and nutritive qualities,
mentioned m the foregoing details. I

It flowers about the second week of July, and the seed is ripe about the end of August.

\

Phalaris phleoides. Cat

Caiiary-g

Phleiim Boehmeriy panicled cat's-tail grass. Fl P

Phleum ghbrum. Bernh. Erford, p. 38 -piJ 77 w ir ^ n kc*

^^ ' F- *:>o. — ±^hieum phakroides. Koel. Gram. p. 52.

bpecz/ic character; Panicle like a snike rxrlir.^ - 1 i 1 r ^ i u a

\ ^puie, cyimclncal; husks of the calyx spear-shaped,

rather mucronate, roughish.

?/

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Thalaris phleoides

1

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Cafs-fail Canary -grass.

■

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' ^

208

es

s

Obs^ — Culms numei'ous, with a bulbous joint at the base, often of a purplish col l

linear, acute, flat, on the back and towards the point roughish, of a liffht ffreen or 1
colour; panicle attenuated, of a green, or varying from a green to a purple colour ■ 1
twice the size of the corolla, valves more or .less rough, with hairs on the keel towa H^ i,
top; corolla, outer valve oval, spear-shaped, obtuse, five-nerved, naked, or with very si
hairs distinguishable by the microscope ; interior valve a little smaller, narrower

4

acute.

Host. ii. p. 26, t. 34 ; Flo. Dan. t. 531.— I have not in this instance been able to refer
the description in the English Botany. I have, however, followed that authority in

to

call.

ing this grass a Phalaris, otherwise I am ready to believe it is more closely allied to tli

Phleum Alpinum than to any other grass.
Native of Britain. Root fibrous, perennial.
Experiments.— At the time of flowering, the produce from a siliceous sandy soil, is

Grass, 10 oz. The produce per acre

80 dr. of grass weigh when dry

The produce of the space, ditto

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying

64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter

dr. qr.

oz.

lbs.

1 08900

6806 4

22
44

S

29947 8

1871 II 8

4934 8 8

2 1
5 2

3828 8

^39 4 8

The produce of the space, ditto

The produce of foliage in the spring from this grass, is comparatively nothing, as is the case '
with the latter-math produce. The root leaves are remarkably short in this species of Canary-
grass, and the culms are numerous. At the time of flovrering, the produce may he said to con-
sist entirely of culms. It grows naturally in diy sandy places ; said to have been first discovered
in Great Britain by Mr. Woodward and Mr. Crow, near Swaffham, Norfolk, in 1780. It is also
a native of Germany, where it grows in pastures, orchards, hills, and dry sandy barren places.
It is evidently unfit for cultivation in the farm, as the above produce constitutes what it yields
in one season, and which, when compared to that of most other grasses affecting a similar'
soil, proves greatly inferior. It ripens plenty of seed for its propagation. It thrives best on a '
sandy loam. The structure of the panicle is useful, to shew the last form of a panicle next to a
spike. In this it appears a spike, until pressed by the fingers ; it then proves to be a panicle.
It flowers in July, and the seed is ripe in the beginning of September.

Pestuca

Foxtail-like Fescue-g

Bromus alopecurus. Bonn's Catalogue.

Specific character: Spike erect, attenuated ; calyx-valves very unequal, outer large, three-
nerved, acuminate, inner very minute, awl-shaped ; corolla, outer valve awned, pubescent
at the edges ; inner, two-nerved, slightly ciliate on the nerves.

Ohs.~l can find no specific description of this grass. I received the seeds from Mr. Donn,
and there is therefore no doubt of its being the Bromus Alopecurus of the Cambridge Ca-
talogue. It proves to be a Festuca. Culms smooth, upright ; leaves linear, channelled, or
doubled together like those of the ^.e«a ^.«,,,,-,^ and like them, slightly glaucous, smooth;
sheath smooth, furrowed, sheath-scale minute lacerated ;_spike mostly facing one way, up-
right;— palvx lO-flowered, terminatina: floret Ko.... . i „„i...f tl,. Wnssom furnished

f.

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210

with long, straight, flat-laying hairs at the edges, which distinguish it from every other
species of Fescue with which I am acquainted. The long, linear, channelled, smooth
glaucous leaves, distinguish it at first sight from the different annual species of Fescue, or

Brome-grass.
Native of Barbary, Root annual.
Experiments,— Kx the time of flowering, the produce from a light sihceous sandy soil, is,

dr. qr,

Grass, 12 oz. The produce per acre

80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry

The produce of the space, ditto

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying

64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter

The produce of the space, ditto - ^

oz.

130680

lbs.

8167 8

32 \
■76 3^)

41983 = 2624 2

5543 6

2 2
7 2

5104 11

310

If the above details of produce and nutritive powders of this Annual Fescue be compared
with those of the Soft Brome-grass, Many-flowered Brome-grass, and others of the annual indi-
genous grasses, it will be found inferior. The leaves attain to a considerable length, and con-
tain more nutritive matter than those of any other annual grass that have been submitted to
experiment here ; the culms, however, contain much less nutritive matter than those of most
other annuals. It ripens the seed in sufficient quantity, affects most a light rich soil^ and is
strictly annual. The best time for sowing the seed is in the beginning of May.

It flowers about the end of July, and the seed is ripe in the beginning of September.

Though it does not, from these experiments, appear capable of being put to any agricultural
use, yet the form and habits of the plant being specifically different from all others of the same
family, offer matter for useful reflection to the lovers of variety in the vegetable kingdom.

.'^

Cy

nosiirus

Rough Dog's-tail Grass.

fe

ifi.

0Z>5.^Culms from half a foot to a foot and a half high, round, smooth, upper part naked,
when in seed, simple, or branching. Leaves broad, lanceolate, at first embracing the stem,
and then as if channelled, afterwards flat, towards the upper end and edges rough, the
rest smoothish. Panicle or bunch pointing one way; floral-leaves only on the outside of the
flowers, alternately winged, the rays ending in awns ; one floret in each ; husks of the
calyx two, containing two florets, membraneous, very fine at the point. Corolla, two valves, 1
with an awn on the outer point. Host, ii, p. 67, t. 95 ; E. Bot. J 333 ; Moris. 1. c. sect. 8,
t. 4, f. 13; Wither. Arr.

Native of Britain. Root annual.

Experiments,— At the time of flowering, the produce from a sandy loam, is.

■^ T.

dr;

Grass, 8 oz. The produce per acre

80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry

The produce of the space, ditto - - ,

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying;

64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter

qr,

oz.

24
38 U

87120
26136

lbs.

5445

1633 8

The

2 1

4 2

3062 13

5811 8
191 6 13

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Ci/nosurus ^chinafus.

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This grass is not comixion ; it is found in a wild state near Sandwich, and in tlie Isle of J
sey, on a sandy soil. It is also a native of Germany, growing in pastures, corn-fields, and
sands by the sea-side. Like the preceding grass, this one is evidently of more use in she^yino.
the diversity of form that gives specific characters to the individuals composing a genera th
to any agricultural purpose to which it can he made subservient; as the above results of exno-"
ments made upon it, put every idea of that nature out of the question.

It is a common observation, that different plants affect peculiar soils; or it may, perhaps h
saidj that every different soil produces plants peculiar to itself. When soils are first for

e

med

from the decomposition of rocks, mosses are generally the first vegetables they produce- afte-

■

wards grasses. Nature appears ever unremitting in her efforts to cover every description f
soil with grass. And the varieties of soils, whether caused by a difference of internal conmos'
tion, or of local situation, from the Alps to the low-lying marsh, are very numerous; and tli
number of species and varieties of grass adapted to clothe them, proportionally great. Tlier
are some species of grass that attain but to one or two inches in height, others many feet
according as the soil has richness sufficient for their maintenance and production. These dimi-
nutive, and, to the Agriculturist, seeming useless plants, by the yearly death and decay of their
leaves and culms, or of the plant itself, if an annual, and by attracting animals to the spot, pre-
pare the soil for the future production of superior grasses. Though a grass therefore may he
comparatively, of no value for the immediate uses of the Farmer, nevertheless, it is not, surely
unworthy of his regard ; for independent of the pleasure which a consideration of its peculiar
structure, design, uses, and connection with others of known value must excite, a knowledo-e of
the plant, will also direct whether to encourage or prevent its growth in^such situations where

Few grasses will thrive or continue in any soil but that which naturally produces
them. The present grass was found by ViUars, on a rock, where it did not exceed three inches
in height; and also in corn-fields, where it attains to a considerable height. This is more gene-
ral with the annual, than the perennial grasses. The C?/?iosums echinatus is strictly annual.
Flowers about the end of June, and the seed is ripe in August

it is found.

Poa distcms. Reflexed Meadow-grass

ofl.

Curtis. Lond.

r-l

Poa salina. Pollich. pal. n. 92.
Aira aquatica. B. Huds. Angl. 34,
Specific character: Panicle equal, divaricated; branclic!
flowered; florets blunt, distant, olDsoletely 5- nerved
Obs.- '

J

Culms from six to eighteen inches high, round, striated, smooth, obliquely ascending
procumbent from the base to the first joint, sending out branches. Leaves with long
sheaths, sharpish, even, glaucous, flat; the root-leaves a little rolled in. Panicle erect,

gged, somewhat flexuose, branches of various
lengths ; finally, much bent back. Spikets linear, from 4 to 7-flowered, variegated with
white or purple. Florets remote, sub-cyli„drical, very blu«t, retuse, 5-nerved, scariose at

with

*

/

V

^

•^, »

$

\ .

\

J

\

\

Foa distans.

'^

^

* t

«:

/

I

f

•-

Refiewed Meadow-grass

■^

the tip, with the inner glumes emarginate. E. Bot. t. 986; Host. ii. p. 46, t. 63- C

Lond. fasc. 61; Wither, t. 25. ' ^

Native of Britain. Root fibrous. Annual when cultivated in exposed situations. P

in its natural place of growth.
Experiments.— At the time of flowering, the produce from a sandy loam, is.

urt.

dr. qr.

30

■

Grass, 7 oz. The produce per acre

80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry

The produce of the space, ditto

Tlie weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying

[

64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter - 2
The produce of the space, ditto - - 3

22

o t

Or

20963 4

2382 3

erennial

oz. lbs.

76230 = 4764 6

1310 3
3454 3

148 14 3

Mr. Curtis ohserves of this grass, that though at first sight it bears a near resemblan

ce to

the Poa annuay and no doubt is often mistaken for it, yet it is considerably taller, its leaves
narrower in proportion, and much more glaucous ; its spikets are also much narrower, as well
as longer, and of course contain many more florets, which are, for the most part, prettily varie-
gated with pale green and purple; but the chief character which distinguishes this from

r

Poa annua, and all other species, is to be drawn from the branches of the panicle; these, as the
plant goes out of bloom, are reflected, or stretched out backwards, so as sometimes to touch the
culm ; this is effected by little tubercles at'the base of the branches on their upper side only,
which increasing in size, as the plant advances in its flowering, forces them backwards"^. Mr.
Curtis further informs ns, that six years culture made no alteration in the appearance of this
grass, and that there did not appear to be sufficient merit in it to recommend it for agricultural
purposes. *

M

Meadow

not exclusively, confined to maritime situations.

It is chiefly, though

Mr

the grassy herbage, on the right hand of the horse-road leading up the hill of Hampstead, in
tolerable plenty, ' ■

- >

It flowers about the end of May, when cultivated in warm situations, and continues to send
np flowering culms till the middle of September. The seed is generally ripe in about six weeks
after the time of flowering.

^ i

Medicago lupuUna. Black Nonsuch, Trefoil Medick

TrifoUum
Trifolium
TrifoUum
Meliotus :

Brunf, 4.

Fuchs. Hist. 819.

Ger. emac. 1186, 5.
im. Park. Theat. ] 105, 6.

Meliotus minima, Rivin. tetr. t. 8.

i

*

Curt. Lond. fasc. 6, t. 1.

• s

9 N

V

\

;

Medicago lupulina,^

1^

fr

k

t

I

\

L

Blach Nonsuch.

^

rf k

216

Specifii

m

Spikes oval ; seed-vessel kidney-shaped, with one cell and

stems trailing.

one seed'

Ohs.

1

4

Stems trailing, unless supported by the plants with which it grows; ahoutafoot Ion
somewhat angular, slightly hairy, branched, f Leaves obovate, or wedge-shaped, tootlief]
towards the top, the mid-rib lengthened out into a short broad point, soft, pubescent Da
ticularly on the under side. Flowers small, yellow, from thirty to forty, and upwards i
a head, which is at first roundish, afterwards oval. Legume striated and wrintled ^
somewhat hispid with rigid hairs, turning black when ripe. Seed ovate, smooth, yellow-

M

ish.

Woodward: Wither

Arr.; E, Bot. 971; i:^- Dan. 992. This plant has such
general resemblance to the proper Trefoils or Clovers, that it is often mistaken for some of
the smaller species. The form and colour of the seed-pods afford a ready mark of dis-

tinction.

Native of Britain. Root annual : in some situations biennial.
Experiments. — At the time of flowering, the produce from a sandy loam, is.

dr. qr.

oz.

lbs.

217800

13612 8

30

no

81675

5104 11

Grass, 20 oz. The produce per acre
80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry

r

The produce of the space, ditto

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying - . . , . , . 8507 13

f

64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter
The produce of the space, ditto

^e are informed, in Mr. Younp-'s A

3
- 15

10209 6

638 1 6

1

sown of late years for sheep food in open fields, where it is a considerable improvement, first,

fo

after it on indifferent soils. Mr

— *' X. kD ^ ^

exposed to the sun ; multiplies very well from the seed, grows chiefly in the spring, flowering
at the beginning of May, and ripening the seed at the beginning of June ; it grows hut little
towards the end of summer and autumn. It is cut with Poa trivialis, fifteen inches high, but
is naturally procumbent. The seed of this plant falls so readily, that great loss ensues from
moving it, and, in thrashing, the least stroke clears it. It is a good way, therefore, to thrash
it in the field on a cloth, which is moved to the seed, and not the seed to the cloth. This account,

Mr

111

1

1,

11

'■'^

EfS;

'f\

A H^

^h

I F I

Jfp

ULi

\y

J:dr,

the sweet food, and then, to help the land by ploughing it in, getting a good crop of wheat p

r^

n

.al, I

i

*

ox mis plant, only that it does not tlower here till the middle or end of May. For light soils J
only it appears to be adapted, and these must be deep, as the root penetrates to a considerable
depth, and is but little fibrous. It does not appear fit for separate cultivation, nor even to be
employed in a large proportion, in a mixture of other seeds. The root is annual, or at most a
two-year lived plant, and its use is therefore confined to the alternate husbandry. To sow the
seeds of this plant with others, on land intended to remain for permanent pasture, would be
subversive of the intention ; as every spot this plant occupied would be naked the second year,
and these spots afford every encouragement to the growth of weeds, as well as the decaying
roots afford nourishment to the life of grubs.

Ulr

ie

f I

s;

*■

\

217

0edpsarum onohrychis, Sainfoin, or Cock's-head.

Genei
Specifi

■ic character: Keel transversely obtuse; legume jointea, with one seed in eacli joint.

calyx; stem elongated.

Oi,,.- Stems round, striated, at first procumbent, in flower ascending. Stipules in pairs,
al-lanceolate, terminated by along point with membranaceous edges, sometimes fringed

OY

Wl

ith afew hairs. Leafets eight or ten pairs, rather distant, and an odd one; lower clip deal,
upper lanceolate or linear-lanceolate, all with projecting points at the end; young ones
with the mid-rib beneath, and the margins fringed with hairs. Legume hemispherical,
compressed with wrinkled prominences. Wood. MSS.; E. Bot. t. 96; F. Rust. t. 47-
Huds, 322; Jacquin. t. 352; Park. Theat. 1082, 1, Caput galUnaceum.

Native of Britain. Root perennial.

Bsperiments. — At the time of flowering, the produce from a poor siliceous sandy soil, is.

dr. qr.

25
50

Grass, 10 oz. The produce per acre
80clr. of grass weigh, when dry -,

The produce of the space, ditto

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying

64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter ' -
The produce of the space, ditto

oz.

lbs.

108900

6806 4

34031 4

2126 15 4

4679 4 12

3

-72

5104 11

319 11

At the time the seed is ripe, the produce from a rich clayey loam, is.

Grass, 13 oz. The produce per acre

80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry

The produce of the space, ditto

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying

64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter

141570

8848 2

32
83 Of

c:

56628

3539 4

5308 14

The produce of the space, ditto

2 2
8 0^

5530

345 10

The produce of Sainfoin on a clayey [oam with a sandy subsoil, is greater than on a silice-
ous sandy soil incumbent on clay; but the nutritive powers of the herbage produced on the
^andy soil is greater.

The nutritive matter afforded by Sainfoin from a given space of a clayey loam, is - -

The nutritive matter afforded by the Broad-leaved Clover from an equal space of the same soil, is
Ine nutritive matter afforded by Sainfoin from a sihceous sandy soil, is - - " "

Tile superior value of Sainfoin for soils on a porous or dry subsoil, is therefore manifest.

Sainfoin grows wild in all the chalky districts in England; but it was first introduced to Eng-
''^^li Farrners as a plant for cultivation from Flanders and France, where it has been
^^^^^1. Parkinson, in the year 1640 says, that it is '' generally known to be a singular food for

dr. qr.

8 0^

45

7 0^

long culti-

f^attle

■Woldrid

Wiltshi
twenty

'^^ed the same, that from a noble per acre, twenty acres together have been certainly worlli
^y shillings per acre, and yet continues in good proof/

tlliv

These extracts shew the high opi-

3 k

11

en-

IS

■^

^^.

■:?

218

xuon wliicli was enterlained of this plant above one hundred years ago; Lut this was 1

in a great measure owing to the small number of plants then known for sowing- in the far

The experiments that have here been made on this plant,, were confined to a clave 1
and alight siliceous soil. Upon these itAvas evidently inferior to the Broad-leaved, and P
nial Red Clover ; but on chalky and gravelly soils there have been abundant proofs of the s
rior value of Sainfoin. After the ample details of the uses and cultivation of Sainfoin o-iv •
Mr. Young's Annals, it will be difficult to add any thing new. It is a perennial plant, and
duces but little herbage the first year, and on that account should not be sown on land tli
intended to remain only two years under grass. In Mr. Young s Annals we are informed fh
Sainfoin is allowed on all hands to be an admirable improvement on limestone rocks and 1 ]i
downs, which, in order to be cultivated to the greatest advantage, should be in this co
with no more arable than is necessary for the change. Thus if Sainfoin last sixteen yeaiN
It certainly will, if properly managed, then sixteen parts of the down should he Sainfoii
as many more parts as there are years necessary for tillage, before the ground should be so ' (\
with it again : suppose this period to be five years, the portions would then he 10 Sainf '
1. Sainfoin pared and burnt, and under Turnips; 1. Barley or Oats; 1. Clover; 1 Wli-'
1. Turnips; 1. Barley or Oats, and with this crop Sainfoin sown again = 16. In another t
Ave are informed, that Sainfoin is also a great improvement in thin, loose, dry, sandy loams, upon
marl or chalk bottoms.

Thin soils that wear out, or tire of Clover, are laid down to great advantage with it, will
last twenty years, and pay the Farmer as well as his best corn crops. If a floct of sheep be an
object of primary importance, this plant will afford them plenty of dry food, for winter in hard
weather. An acre of indiifereirt land will yield two tons of Sainfoin dry, and therefore twenty
acres will serve 1000 sheep for a month, supposing a sheep eats three pounds of hay in a day
which IS a large allowance. Now the expence of an acre of Sainfoin, includhig fourteen sbil-
lings for rent, tithe, and poor, is about one pound; Mdiereas that of an acre of Turnips will he'
two pounds seven shillings. Eight acres and a half of Turnips, then, balance twenty aeres of
Samfom ]Sow 1000 sheep will eat two acres and a half of Turnips in a day, and therefore
seventy-five acres will be required for a month: or at the lowest calculation, twenty-four acres;
the expence of which is £56 : 8.. to be set against £20, the expence of Sainfoin*.

* Besides the grasses and other plants, that have been mentlonprl ;« fT * .1
form . nnrt PH A ,^\ , ^^ntioned in this series, there are a variety of different plants, which

lorra a part or the produce of dry sandy roup*h nastni-pi^- ih^ ^ • • i „ , f '

^ ^ ^ ^ Pastuics, the principal of which ^yiIl now be briefly noticed.

1. Carduus acaulis. Dwarf Thistle. E. Bot 161- FU n m^

f^^. rpt^i 1 ,. , ' ^an- 1U4.— A dwarf plant, but spreading: to the breadth of a \,

foot. The leaves grow close to the ground, are very pricklv n.rl . . IS ^ 'ii

to he onlv « hJpnn:.! r>l nf *. ' . • I r . prevent cattle from browsing near them. Though it appears W

to be only a biennial plant, it 13 certainly one of the most Dern.v; 1 • ^ ,

ind inthprnrnpr<=«f fini^ .^ A' . "*^*^"^ ^^eds in thcse solIs ; being Suffered to grow in licdge-rows, )

ana m tne coiners ot hclds, the ordinary menus nf /l*.cf.-„..'- ■. . . & 6 & . .

i'rtas

■■■'I'l

ind I'n ihi^ Pnrnor. «f fi^i^ .1 J- . ^^ "* ^"^^^ ^^^'^^ ' ^^»"S suttercd to grow m hedge-rows, }

and m the coiners of fields, the ordinary means of destroying- it in ti. i ^ r i \ \

Mowino. nr .fnrl inc. ». Ti.' M • i n- • ^ ^""^^ ^^ *'^^ pusturc, by mowing, is rendered ineffectual. ^J

MON^ing, or stocking up Thistles, is only a palliative reined v l.,.f -f v k\

lion of the annual and biennial Thistles, by sufferinc them to ^ .^^ '^ """ effectual with respect to the destruc ^^^

cut; because, when mown at an earlier stage of their c^rowth'T "'' '^' ^"''"^ '^ *^"' ''""^ "'' ^"'"' ^'^"'' '^"^ '''
and consequently require an endless repetition of mowino- J^ ""'"" '' ""^ ^"^ suckers during the rest of the seasou,
thena^tiirP nn^ In.,... . 'n -A'- n "" ^'^""^ fulfilling the intention. But the only remedy is to break up

me pasture, and improve it by a judicious course of crons wl * u • J J

nroner miniir.-no. All fi,* i -ii u • n- deludes the application of clay, if the soil be sandy;

proper manuring. All this, however, will be ineffectual iftTi rr jj j

' ^^ surrounding' hftdcrpc nnrl wnctp Tilnpps nrp nPo-lprtpH

I

mg hedges and waste places are neglected.

2. Anthemis noUlis, Common or Sweet Chamomilp i? t>
and August, wall fenown for its use ia medicine It'i, . ''"^ '^°"'- ^^'^ '''-^ P"^"""'' '"""'"^ "" '

IS observed, that the single flowers are far superior to the double jn

m.

219

if Jim

• The seeds are large, and when
,own in wet sods, generally burst and rot without vegetating. There is some difference of

Vj

ca

m

„„iel, are cultivated in gardens, and sold in the shops. I never could observe that any part of this plant .astouehed by

» ■ ■

3, Antirrhinum llmrca. Common Toad Flax, or Bntter and Eggs. Curt. Lond. Eng. Bot.658; Flo. Dan. 982.

1 -.i„»f ninrn rnmmori liv t.hp siidpa r»f fl^lrU ti • ^i _ i i i^ .1 . ^ .

A percu-

,, plant, more eon,n,on b, the sides of fields than in the body of the pastures. Dr. Withering says, that an infusion of the
is diurefc and purgative; and an ointment prepared from them gives relief in the piles. The expressed juiee mixed «it!

leaves
milk

..... ^ - ' - . f-"' -"- ^Ai'»c3si:u juice mixca With

„,i,k^ ;.: a po.son to fl.es, as ,s hkew.se the smell of the flowers. Cows, horses, and swine refuse it ; sheep and goats are not fond
ifit.

' - m

r ,

i. Erica vulsaris. Common Heath; called Ling in England, a.id Heather in Scotland. Curt. Lond. 297; E Bot 1013- Flo
Dan. 677.-When dry pastures abound with this plant, they take the name of Heaths. It can only be extirpated bv parino- and
burning, and converting the pasture into tillage ; this has been effected with profit, by several occupiers of such land in ScoUand
and England. It is the most valuable material for the construction of bush-drains. Bees extract honey largely from the
flowers, which is of good quality, but of a reddish colour. In the Highlands of Scotland, the poorer inhabitants make walls
for their cottages with alternate layers of Heath, and a kind of mortar, made of black earth and straw; the woody parts
of the Heath being placed in the centre, and the tops externally and internally. They .nake their beds of it, by placingthe
roots downwards, and the tops uppermost ; they are sufficiently soft to sleep upon. Scott says-

u

■ ' — — the stranger's bed

Was there of monntain heather spread,
Where oft an hundred guests had Iain,
And dreamed their forest sports again ;
Nor vainly did the heath-flowers shed
Its moorland fragrance round his head/'

m '

They also use it for thatcli. In the island of Hay, Ale is often made by brewing one part of Malt, and two parts of the youn
tops of Heath ; sometimes they add Hops. Boelhius relates, that this liquor was much used by the Picts. Sheep and goats wiU
sometimes cat the tender shoots, but they are not fond of them. Cattle, not accustomed to browse on Heath, Linnaus says,
give bloody milk at first, but are soon cured, by drinking plentifully of water. The branches of Heath afford shelter; and the
seeds, a principal part of the food of many birds, especially those of the grous kind ; and the seed-vessel is formed in such a
manner, that the seeds are preserved the whole year/ and even longer. In the north of Scotland, ropes are made of it, as strong,
as durable, and nearly as pliant, as Hemp, Consult Pen. Tour ; Gametes Tour ; Light. Scot.; Withering, &c.

5. JRunium hulhocastanum. Earth-nut, Pig-nut, Ycr nut. E. Bot. 98S.--A perennial plant, with a tuberous root.
Swme are fond of the roots ; cattle do not appear to touch the leaves or branches. Being a diminutive plant, it is not much to
l)c feared as a weed.

■

L

6. Campanula rotundifolia. Common Bell-flower, Witches' Thimble. E. Bot. 866.— There is hardly a plant that indicates

more the extreme barrenness of a soil, than this. It is a perennial, flowering in July and August ; the flowers are blue, some-
times nearly white,

'^. Ccntaurea calciirapa. Star Thistle. E. Bot, t. 125. — This is a biennial plant, and a very troublesome weed. It is fre-
quent by road-sides, as well as in dry rough pastures. The flowers are at first a deep red. It flowers in July and August. It
"^3y he overcome by the same means as was recommended for the Dwarf Thistle.

8. ChrijsantJieimim leucanth

emum. Ox-eye Daisy, Moon Flower, Maudlin Wort. E. Bot. 601. — This plant is a percn-

'^'^ and flowers in June and July. It propagates by the root, and extensively by the seed. There arc no means of extirpating
rom dry pastures, but by converting the land into tillage for several years, and keeping the hedge-rows, patli-sidcs, &c. per-
^ctly clean during the course of crops.

^- ^onzT/a squarrosa. Great Fieabane, Ploughman's Spikenard. Eng, Bot. 1193.— A biennial plant, very common on dry
"^}' pastures, but more particularly on converted heaths; and there constitutes the most troublesome weed. The plant is
with white woolly hairs, which make it conspicuous; it grows from two inches to two feet in height, according to the
^Ptb of the soil in which it is produced : in hedges it attains to the greatest height. It will be found a vain attempt to subdue
/^P'ant, if the hedges and path-sides are suffered to produce and foster it. The seed is produced in abundance, and being
'^''^' is easily dispersed by the wind. It flowers in July and August. Its dwarf size, Avhen in poor soils, and the peculiar struc-

sa
covered

220

F

opinion with respect to the best season for sowing; according to several trials that I have made
the middle or end ofAprilisthe most certain; but when sown in the autumn, unless the soil

J

\

ture of the plant, render the scythe of little or no use in destroying it. Its presence denotes a great degree of sterility in tl
soil that encourages its growth. The application of clay or marl will be found the best remedy, as this weed will soon disannp ■

of itself.

\

w

JO. Galium verum. Yellow Ladies' Bedstraw, Cheese Kenning. Petty Muguet, Yellow Goose-grass. E. Bot. 660.— A
perennial, flowering from June till October, more common in the hedges and way-sides than in the body of pastures. It is sad
the flowers will coagulate boiling milk. The French prescribe them in epileptic and hysteric cases. Boiled in alum-water, the
tinge wool yellow. The roots dye a fine red, not inferior to madder, aqd are used for this purpose in the island of Jura. Sheei
and goats eat it; horses and swine refuse it; cows are not fond of it. Withering; Pennant, p. 314.

11. Cucuhalus laccifer. Bladder Campion, Spattling Poppy, White Bottle. E. Bot. 1577.— A perennial, more common
in corn-fields than in pastures. It grows from one to three feet in height, the flowers are white, and the calyx inflated, veined
like a net with green. Great care should be taken to prevent it from seeding, and the roots should be taken^up.

12. Euphrasia officinalis. Common Eyebright. E. Bot. t. 1416.— A small annual plant with blue flowers. It resembles
Chickweed in its manner of growth, and is nearly as difficult to extirpate as that weed; like the Ploughman's Spikenard it
indicates sterility of land, similar to that caused by injudicious cropping, and is only to be overcome by enriching the soil under
a judicious course of crops cultivated in rows, by which this, and all other weeds, are easily overcome. It flowers from July
till October.

f

13. Gera7uum. — Of this there are several species, common to sandy pastures. They are diminutive weeds, and little evil
results from their presence ; they generally disappear after the soil has been in tillage two or three years under good nianace-
ment ; and the soil enriched, by having its texture altered, from the addition of elay or marl,

14. Hypocli{Eris radicaia. Long-rooted Hawk-weed. E. Bot. 831. — A perennial, with yellow flowers; grows from four
-inches to two feet in height, according to the quality of the soil. The roots are long, and often the thickness of tlielilUc fmger.

It was oflered to sheep and cows, but they refused it. It flowers from June till August.

15. Jasione montana. Hairy Sheep's Scabious, Scabious Sheep's-bit. E. Bot. 882. — An annual plant, with blue flowers
and hairy leaves. It is to be found chiefly in very dry soils. It contains a milky juice; is said to be eaten by sheep; but they
refused it in one trial that I made. It flowers from June till August.

O

16. Veronica, officinalis. Common or Male Speedwell or Flueliin. E. Bot. 765.— A perennial plant; flowers in May and
August. The flowers are of a purplish blue colour. It is said that horses, goats, and sheep, eat it. An infusion of the leaves
IS recommended by Hoifman as a substitute for tea; but it is more astringent and less grateful. (Withering.)— 1\. is never found
in such abundance as to render it a formidable weed. It soon disappears under a judicious system of tillage.

17. Thymus serpyllunu Wild Thyme, Mother of Thyme. E. Bot. t. 1514.— A perennial, common on all dry sandy
soils, particularly on ant-hills. There is some difl'erence of opinion with respect to cattle eating this plant; its dwarf gro^vth
rendering the point difficult to ascertain. I off"ered difl'erent quantities of this plant to South Down and Welsh sheep, but they
uniformly rejected it. Dr. Withering says that it yields an essential oil, which is very heating, and that an infusion of the leaves
removes the head-ache occasioned by the debauch of the preceding evening. The Phalcena papilionaria lives upon it.-Par-
ing and burning the ant-hills during summer, would occasion the destruction of the ants ; when this operation is done during the
winter, or cold months, it is seldom effectual, as the ants are then in secure quarters below the base of their hills, and therefore
receive but little, if any injury, from the eff'ects of the paring and bu
of the hills after they are burnt, and the ashes scattered on the surface, which would complete the remedy.

18. TormentiUa crecta-ojricinalis. Curt. Lond. 337. Sept Foil._A perennial flowering in June and September. The
flowers are of a fine jellow colour; the straws are at first trailing, afterwards ascending; the leaves are of a fine green colour.
The roots are powerfully astringent; they are used, Dr. Withering inform, ,„ in several counties to tan leather, and that

I

i

■ if

X

^f

TAU

'%

■m

ef

•

rnlng. Hoi, or caustic lime, should be applied to the scites

Us

latu

li

Ni

Farmers find them efficacious in the dysenteries of cattle. They dye red. Goats, sheep, and swine eat the plant ; horses refuse

it.^fLinn.J

19. Rumex acetosella. Shee's Sorrel, or Dock.
June. It is very diminutive in dry sandy pastures; the leav

d

*1

E. Bot. 1674; Flo. Dan. 1161.— A perennial plant, flowering in Mayan

of the soil, and they are generally of
a deep red colour, caused by the drought. I have observed that it was sometimes cropped by sheep and hares; but in these
mstanccs there appeared always a great scarcity of other herbage. Liko. .vnrv .th.r .necies of Dock, it is with difficulty over-

to

N

es grow close upon the surface

h

H

Like .every other species

m

k

221

be favourable, many of tlie plants are lost during the winter ; should circumstances prove other-
^yise, the autumn sowing will he found the most advantageous, as it afFords nearly a full crop in

,)je ensumg season*

It was before observed, that dry thin sandy pastures are the least capable of improvement,
from the defect in ihe constitution of the .-soil, which arises from the want of clay and marl.
The process of paring and burning, which is so efficacious in converting bogs and rouoli tena-
cious clays, is found to injure thin sands; yet, without this process of burning the surface, the
crops that follow the ordinary mode of breaking up such soils by the plough only, arc devoured
by insects at the roots, and seldom i^epay the expence of labour.

The comparative disadvantages which attend the ordinary mode of converting thin sandy
pastures into tillage by ploughing only, are found by experience, to he far greater than those
■\vliicli result to the soil by the process of burning. Sir Humphry Davy says, that " the process
of burning renders the soil less compact, less tenacious, and retentive of moisture ;" burning,
therefore, increases the natural defects of sandy soils, and lessens the quantity of soluble vege-
table matter they contain. It seems probable, however, that the process of burning may be con-
ducted in such a manner as to prevent any diminution of the original quantity of soluble vege-
table matters contained in the soil. For when the parings or turfs are submitted to the fire,
tliey should only be burnt till the ashes are black, and will then contain carbonaceous matter,
which will be found to aflFord more soluble vegetable matter than the soil originally contained.
But when the parings are burnt till the ashes are red or white, the carbonaceous matter is de-
stroyed, and the ashes that remain will be found to consist of oxides, and saline matters of little

\

With

cannot he too much burnt, by the ordinary process of burning, as the object here is not so much
to destroy insects and the seeds of noxious plants, as to correct the texture of the soil, by render-

r

ing it more friable, and less tenacious or retentive of moisture.

It is evident that the application of clay or marl, and vegetable manure, even in small quan-
tilies, will compensate the soil for the greater division of its parts and loss of decomposmg ve-
getable matter, let the process of burning be conducted in what manner it may; but there
are no remedies at present known, for the prevention or even palliation of the ravages ol the
wire-worm, grubs, and other voracious insects with which these soils generally abound, except
tliat of burning, which, when properly effected, experience has proved to be effectual to thcu'

destruction.

In Scotland and in England I have witnessed the practice of converting rough pastures, con-

come

on its natural soil ; till by good management, under tillage begun with paring and burning the surface, and by adding clay

" marl, a permanent change is effected in the nature of the soil.

20. Polygonum aviculare. E. Bot. 1252. Knot-grass, Snake-weed, Red-weed. ?-This is a biennial plant, flo^vcring^f^om

April to October. It is one of the most noxious weeds that infest dry sandy soils, and even on rich soils, under ju .cious crop

1 1- u J ;„ y^.A^i <in\U The seeds appear to
^'% it is often met with ; so difficuU it is to destroy it, when once the roots get established in light soi . ^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^i^ ^^ ^^^^

^•^ as grateful to birds as those of buck-wheat. (Polygonum fa go vyr urn). There appears to ^"^ """^^'J^J^'^^^^^^^^^^
S^o^vlh and propagation of this weed, so much as severe cropping with successive white grain crops, an &

^'^'ill mode of cultivation.

" The knot-grass fetters there the bands.
That once could have burst iron bant^s." Scott,

* Young's Annals, viii. p. 73 ; ii. p. 360.

3 I-

222

taining heath/furze, and coarse grasses/ by first burning the plants on the surface while ctow
ing, and then ploughing the land for a course of crops. By this, it invariably happened that
the land soon became stocked with its original unprofitable plants, as their seeds and roots we
securely preserved in the turf while the plants themselves were burning.

In the Essays published by the Board of Agriculture, (Communications, vol. iv.), a variet
of facts are brought forward, which go to prove the great uicrease of value which these pasture
are capable of receiving by a proper mode of converting them into tillage.

Mr. Stephen Kershaw states, in his experiments, the increase of value in thin-skinned warr
when converted into tillage by previously paring and burning, to be from thirteen pence per
acre, the original value, to six or eight shillings per acre.

L

Mr. Wright of Pickworth, after describing several failures in attempting to convert " a tract
of poor light barren heath by the ordinary mode of breaking up with the plough, states the
complete success which attended his endeavours on another tract of the same soil by parino-
and burning/' This ground, Mr. Wright says, '^produced an excellent quality of turnips
value ^2 : 10 : per acre. 1 afterwards," continues he, ^' sowed with barley on one plouoh-

en,

ing in March ; the crop was estimated at five qviarters per acre throughout the piece ; clearino-
to me as much in one year, as it would have done in pasturage, in its original state, in a cen-

I

tury." — Mr. Wright recommends the following course of crops : First year, pare and burn, and

r

sow with turnips ; second year, barley ; immediately after the barley crop plough once, and

h

harrow in winter tares, to be luown for soiling stock of all kinds on the same ground, which
may be begun about the third week of May, and continue till the seed in the pod is nearly ripe,
perhaps in July; what then remains unconsumed may be made into excellent hay. After this,

+

on one ploughing to sow turnips, with or without manuring. After the turnips, barley with

%

grass-seeds, eitlier to remain one, or many years.

Mr. Legard, of Gratton, observes, that paring and burning, when regard is had to suhse-
quent cropping, is advantageous, because it generally ensures a crop of turnips, the foundation
of all good husbandry ; and in light soils, the advantage of eating the turnip crop upon the land
is very great, and should therefore be invariably practised.

Other statements, equally satisfactory, might be brought forward, but they all agree in prin-
ciple — to break up dry rough sandy pastures by paring and burning ; white crops seldom, at
the most one white crop to two green crops. In the preparation of the land for these crops,
the scarifier should be frequently employed instead of the plough, as the frequent turning up of
such soils becomes more injurious than beneficial.

From the foregoing series of facts and observations, respecting tlie different grasses
and other plants which compose the produce of dry upland pastures, it may fairly be in-
ferred, that these plants are not susceptible of that degree of improvement by cultivation,
which vv^ould fit them for the support of the larger domestic animals. Sheep may he consi-
dered the only stock that can be profitably maintained on such pastures. Still, however, their
natural state may be much improved by frequent top-dressings with manure or compost, and at
the same time, by sowing the seeds of the grasses which will be mentioned hereafter. The
roller should be often used ; the inferior grasses should not be suffered to perfect or shed their |
seeds; and the pasture should be closely cropped. By persevering in this mode of treatment,
a superior pasture would soon be obtained.

\

223

i

I

But these improvements, effected on poor siliceous sandy pastures, by the above treatment,
,,,ill be found only temporary ; and that, as soon as the means are suspended, the pasture m ill
return again to its former inferior state ; this kind of soil being of a nature that soon exhausts
niainire applied to it, vi^hether on the surface as a top-dressing, or when ploughed In the
„a. It will be found absolutely necessary to change first the nature of the soil, by the appli-
f clay or marl; and the superior grasses will then keep possession of the soil, even

111 1 -Tw^l A^-4-v ^^

the

lai

cation

del

c inclifFerent management. There will be much less occasion for manure, and the quan-
tity applied will have double the efFect. The land, by this means, is improved permanently." ■
It is much to be lamented, that pastures of this nature are often broken up, undero-o a course
of crops, and are again returned to grass, without any change being made in the nature of the
soil. If marl be often out of reach, clay seldom is, as this earth is generally found under saud,
or in its neighbourhood. Before clay, marl, or any Ingredient that effects a permanent chano-c
ill the nature of a soil, be applied, the nature of the soil, and the ingredient^ should first be
ascertained by chemical analysis. And the exact quantity of the ingredient, necessary to effect
tlie desired change in the nature of the soil, will, by this, be accurately determined. Without
this, the operation will be performed in the dark, and consequently with less certain success.
If the reader will look back to the observations on soils, stated in the Introduction, he will find
some hints on this important point.

Of the different grasses natural to dry siliceous sandy soils, that have been submitted to ex-
periment, and mentioned in the foregoing series, the sheep's fescue, fFestuca ovina); flexuose
Iiair-grass, (Airajleocuosa); common bent-grass, (Agrostis vulgaris); flat-stalked mead ow-o*rass,
(Poa co7npressaJ; and common bird's-foot trefoil, { Lotus comiculat us) ^ prove to be the best.
For dry calcareous soils, on chalky subsoils, the meadow oat-grass, fAvena pratensis); meadow

^

barley-grass, (Hordeum pratense) ; and crested brome-grass, (^JBromus cristatus); will be found
the most valuable, if no alteration be made in the nature of the soil.

It has already been observed, that the value of these grasses, even when cultivated in the
manner, are only adapted for the maintenance of sheep ; and to introduce the superior pas-
ture grasses on such soils, the previous application of clay or mail is absolutely necessary.
When this important point has been effected, to obtain the most valuable sward the soil is capa-
Ue of producing, the seeds of the following grasses should be sown, and experience will prove,
that under such circumstances, they are the best for this purpose.

best

CockVfoot grass, (Dactylis glomerata),
Cressed dog's-tail grass, (Cynosurus cristatus).
Yellow oat-grass, (Aveiiajtat'escens),
Rye-grass, Pacey's, (Lolium perenne),
Flat-stalked meadow-grass, (Foa compressa).
Hard fescue, (Festuca duriuscula ) ,
Lesser birdVfoot trefoil, (Lotus comicidatus),
"White clover, (Trifolium repensj, .

3 pecks.

1 ditto.

2 ditto.
1 ditto.

1 ditto.

2 ditto.
1 lb.

3 ditto.

From a variety of experiments that I have made on a small scale, with a view to ascertam
^^^ quantity of seed that would produce the best sward in the shortest space of time; I feel
^oiivinced, that any quantity less than five bushels per acre of the above mixture, should not be

circumstances

224

erof

Barley proves always less injurious to the Qxasses, when sown witli tl.^^ ^i

the white gram crops. 1 he nutritive matter of Barley contains more sugar, and proportioi "
less gluten or albumen, than any other species of Corn. ' ^'

The defect of sandy soils in germinating seeds, is clearly owing to the sudden deprivation of
moisture which they suffer, when a course of dry weather commences just before, after o^^^
the time the seed begins to vegetate. For when sandy dry soils are duly supplied with
moisture, seeds sown on such, sooner vegetate than on any other kind of soil, wdiethe-
richer or more tenacious nature.

The manner of growth of Tares offers a remedy for the defect of white grain, or upri ht
growing crops. The stems of Tares spread out and shade the surface of the soil from the effifj
of the sun. But, unless Tares are sown very thin, they will be found to destroy the seedlhi!
grasses, by excluding the air. In every instance, however, where the seeds of annuals are
sown with the perennial grass-seeds, it should be remembered, that every plant of these occupies
a space to the detriment of the expected sward ; and the results of all my experiments
perfectly agree in confirming the opinion, that £ovpermanenf pasture, the grasses sown should
be free from any admixture of annual, or white grain crops.

The results of all the experiments on light sandy soils, tend to confirm the opinion before
expressed at page 95, respecting the superiority of depasturing, or mowing seedhng grasses, the
first year. Oxen are liable to poach the surface; and horses and sheep weaken tl^e scedliu.
plants, by cropping too near the roots. Sheep are evidently the least hurtful. By frequently
rolhng the surface, and mowing the produce, the young plants establish themselves better in the
ground, and all of the plants raised are preserved. But by leaving the plants to perfect their
seed the first year, and excluding cattle, the young plants are deprived of the benefit of the
luanure suppbed by the sheep, which, at this stage of the growth of seedling grasses, is more
particularly valuable on a soil of this nature, than on rich ancient pasture land ; as the roller,
when used judiciously, presses the droppings into the surfixce of the ground, and brings the
manure in contact with the fibrous roots of the plants. It is evident, however, that all the
benefits accruing to the plants from depasturing the first year, may be suppUed by a top-
dressmg m the autumn or spring, and a liberal use of the roller, when the ground is in a suit-
able state to benefit by it. By suffering the seedling plants to perfect their seed before the
crop IS collected, is doubtless not the best practice : in all my experiments, the results were
decidedly in favour of this opinion. Atop-dressing should never be applied without sowing
some of the seeds along with it; once sowing will never be found efiieient to form the most valu-
able sward in the shortest space of time, on a fight dry sandy soil.

^bould the mode of depasturing, instead of mowing the first year's crop, be still preferred in

any case, I may be permitted once more to remnrt tlT . .1 • i / 1 r,h

r , ^"^^i^arJi, that nothing weakens or retards the CTOWth

ot grasses so much, as cropping them clo^e at th. v .i ■ i: i i ^U

■p . ri o "1 Close at the time their first tender shoots appear in the

spiing. -t^rom various trials, it appeared thahrl^ • 1 i ^ 1 ■ -i 1 • .i.

J, . ' ^^^"^ ^^"^ close cropping the produce of this sod early in the

spnng, and late ,„ a*,,™, was much less i„j„,.i„„s ,o it. old sward tl.an to seedling grasses.

When a g,ven space of the same speeies of grass was e„. close to the roots towards the end of

afterwIrT ,7 ■■ T" " """"''^^ "" *<= '^^' -^l' » April, the produce of each space heing
tm het eT^'™ " *"', '''f'''"' ^"""S'' *« P~<l"oe of L space that was left uncroppc.

latter end of AprJ, exceeded that of the early cropped spac!, in the proportion of 3 to « ;

■

M

d

225

one instance, during a dry summer, the last cropped space afforded a produce superior to th^t
f the early cropped space, as 2 to 1. I^ all these trials, the produce of the early space con"
^^i of four crops, and that of the later three. It appears therefore, that no stock should he
,^,l,„itted to seedling grasses, tdl after the time of their comlno- into flower.

)ii

III.

Of the Grmses tchich naturally groiD in Moist Soils, or in Bogs, Lands

that are periodically omrjloimi, and Irrigated 31eadoics.

Ki.1. the superior pasture grasses will thrive under irrigation, provided the Avater-meadow he
properly constructed ; that is, if the water he placed perfectly under command, so as to he
admitted on the land, and carried off from it at pleasure.

Bogs and lands that are periodically overflown, on which the water stagnates from the want
of drains, support few grasses of any value to the Agriculturist. They are principally the fol-
lo^ying : Marsh hent, (Agrostis palustris); awnless hrown bent, (Agrostis canina, vel. Triclwdium
canimm, var. mutica); awned creeping bent, (Agrostis stolonifera aristata); smaller-leaved creep-
ing bent, (Agrostis stolonifera angustifolia) ; creeping-rooted bent, (Agrostis repens); white
kilt, (Agrostis alba); flote fescue, (FestucaJtuitansJ; tall fescue, (Festuca elatior); turfy hair-
grass, (Aira cmpitosa) ; knee-jointed foxtail-grass, (Alopecurus geniculatus); water hair-grass,
(Aira aquatica); water-meadow grass, (Poa aquatica); long-leaved cotton-grass, (Eriopliorum
polysfachion); sheathed cotton-grass, (Eriopliorum vaginatumj.

The above grasses, however, constitute but a small portion of the produce of marshy ground.
The following plants compose the bulk of produce : Different species of rushes, (Juncus);
sedges, fCarexJ; rush grasses, (SchcenusJ; club-rushes, (Cy per us J; cat's-tail rushes, (Typha);
bur-weeds, ( SparganiumJ , Of all these plants, as far as my observations have extended, two
or three species of Juncus only, are eaten by cattle. Mr. Taunton indeed says, that he has oh-
served cattle croj3 some of the species of Carew. The natural, or proper grasses, produced on
these stagnant lands, are of .a very inferior value. The Water-meadow Grass seems the most
valuable, as will appear by the following details of experiments made upon them.

To the indigenous grasses natural to marshy and sour clayey lands, mentioned in the fol-
Wing series of specimens, I have added such foreign grasses as may be classed with them.

3 M

^26

\

Agrostis canimi, var. mutica* Awiiless Variety of Brown Bent.

Trichodium caninum muizcum.^ (Scliracler.) Creeping-stalked Brown Bent.

Specific character: Panicle branches subdivided, roughish ; corolla of one luisk, awnless

Obs. — In the Flora Germanica, this grass is made a variety of the Agrostis canina of D -
Smith. '^ Trichodium caninum, \2iT. Jloribus omnibus muticis!' Flo. Ger. 198. It differ^
but little from the Agrostis nivea, except in the want of the awns and the lenoth of the
culms. The structure varies almost imperceptibly in the Agrostis canina, Agrostis nivea
and in this species. The like gradual shades of difference may be perceived in the colour
of the plants : the canina is of a brownish green colour ; this awnless variety is of a pale
green; the nivea of a greenish straw colour. The knots or bundles of leaves attached to
the decumbent shoots, shew it to be connected with the Agrostis fascicularis ,

Experiments. — At the time of floweinng, the produce from a bog soil, is,

dr. qr.

oz.

87120

22
35 Of

23958

3

Grass, 8 oz. The produce per acre

80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry.

The produce of the space, ditto

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying

64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter - 13

The produce of the space, ditto - - 3 2

. At the time the seed is ripe, the produce is.
Grass, 9 oz. The produce per acre
80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry - - 34
The produce of the space, ditto - - Ql 0^

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying - - _ - _ . 3521

64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter

lbs.

5445

1497 6

3947 10

148 14

98010

6125 10

41654 4

2603 5 4

4 12

2 2

V

The produce of the space, ditto

5 2

%

3828 8

239 4 8

It will have been remarked from the perusal of the foregoing statements, that the stoloniferous
grasses afford more nutritive matter at the time, and after the seed is ripe, than at the time of

flowering.

,

)

The decumbent stems, or runners, of the annexed specimen, furnished with tufts
of leaves at the joints, illustrate in some measure, the meaning of the term stoloniferous. Sir
Humphry Davy says, that the concrete sap stored up in the joints of these grasses, renders
them a good food, even in winter. The weight of nutritive matter contained in this grass, at
the time the seed is ripe, is superior to that afforded at the time'it is in flower, in the proportion '
of 7 to 10.

It is the most common grass on deep bogs, even where they are subject to be under water
for six months in the year. It is a diminutive plant, very unlike the produce of such soils ; the
leaves seldom attain to more than two or three inches in length. Hares crop the foliage in the
spring. The smallness of the produce, even when cultivated under the most favourable cir-
cumstances, affords a sufficient proof of its unworthiness to be regarded by the Farmer, in any
other light than that of a weed which indicates a soil capable of being improved so, as to pro-
duce the most valuable grasses by artificial irrigation. It may be propagated to any extent by
seeds, or by planting the stolones, or decumbent-rooting shoots.

Flowers in tbp spf^nnrl unrl tliirrl ^7ir<it»lrQ ,^f T„1__ -, . , t i . .1. . „. ; J Jl_ _J? A,,^iiat

I

#

i

$

%

/

V

Asrostis canina^ mutica.

9

J

228

Agrostis alba. White Bent.

r

Specific character: Panicle spreading, meagre, branches roughish ; culms decuml

3ent

root

creeping
Obs,—Cu\

at the base, afterwards bent down ; panicle, when in flower, widel
spreading; branches rough, slender; leaves rough; outer valve of the calyx serrulated

ms ascending

pre-

from the middle to the top ; inner valve with a few minute serrulatures towards the ton •
corolla awnless. It is distinguished at first sight from the Agrostis repots, A<yrostis stolon'
fera, and its varieties, and from the Agrostis palustris, by its decumbent culms and tlii
meagre panicle. The Flora Germanica includes under this name five varieties. The

r

sent plant agrees with the Agrostis vulgaris, in having one valve of the corolla only serru-
lated, smooth, and without any ru^diment of an awn. This is a common variety of the
Agrostis alba, on poor wet clayey soils : that figured in the English Botany, is much larger
in every respect. E. Bot, 1189-

Native of Britain, Root perennial.

Experiments, — At the time of flowering, the produce from a clayey soil, is.

dr.

Grass, 12 oz. The produce per acre

80 dr. of grass weigh, Avhen dry

The produce of the space, ditto

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying

6'4 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter

The produce of the space, ditto

qr,

oz.

lbs.

130680

8167 8

34
81 0^

655m

3471 3

4696 5

2

6

4083 12

2255 3 12

This grass is late, unproductive, and contains hut little nutritive matter. Its creeping roots
greatly exhaust the soil : in this variety they are smaller than in the other varieties, hut equally
. difficult to extirpate when once in possession of tenacious clays. The next following species,
(Agrostis repens), is more troublesome as a weed, though less productive. Neither of these
plants produce stolones or runners, hke the varieties of the Agrostis stolonifera; sometimes, in-
deed, a few slender runners are found, but they seldom strike root at the joints. The creeping
roots abundantly supply this defect in the plant for its propagation, as they creep under tlie
surface, and send up at intervals numerous young shoots. This property of the roots is the best
character of distinction for the purpose of the Agriculturist, as it may be found at any season, or
stage of growth of the plant.

I

Flowers in the first week of August, and the seed is ripe about the beginning of September.

«.

4*

f

t

'

$

, »

;

* -«

•i

\ .

'\

Agrostis alba

t

•

I

\

Wlufe Bent

/

230

Agrostis repens. Creeping-rooted Bent, White Bent.

Agrostis nigra. (Witliering). Black Coucli-grass.

Agrostis alba. (E. Bot 1189?)

Specific character: Panicle scattered; branches bare at the base; florets few; calyx inner v 1
smooth; root creeping.

Obs. — Culms upright, not numerous; leaves slender, generally shrivelled; panicle lar^e
widely spreading w^hen in flower; florets thinly scattered; branches of the panicle naked
near their union with the main stem. Root strongly creeping. This comes very near to
the Agrostis alba of the Enghsh Botany. The difference between this and the precedinp-
grass is, perhaps, too little to constitute them distinct species; the culms of the former are
decumbent; in this grass they are upright, and the root is more powerfully creeping, li
is later in coming into flower, and in perfecting its seed.

Native of Britain. Root perennial.
* Experiments. — At the time of flowering, the produce from a clayey loam, is,

Grass, 9 oz. The produce per acre
80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry
The produce of the space, ditto

dr. qr.

oz.

lbs.

98010

S5

42879 6

6125 10
2679 15 6

The weight ]ost by the produce of one acre in drying - - * , , ^ 3445 jO 10

64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter . 3

The produce of the space, ditto - - - - 6 3

4594 3

287 2

Thougli a later growing grass, it is less productive than the preceding. It is subject to the

rust, and a peculiar disease which dries up the extremities of the leaves, and gives it an

unsightly appearance. Simple ploughing will be found ineffectual to root out this weed in

clayey soils. It will be found ultimately the cheapest and most expeditious mode of extirpating

it, to follow the plough, and fork out the roots. Burning, under such circumstances of soil,

would doubtless be highly beneficial, but the roots of this Couch-grass penetrate so deep,

that a considerable part of them would escape; and the least particle of the root soon produces
a plant.

Flowers in the second week of August, and the seed is ripe about the latter end of Sep-
tember.

iA

\-

4

/

/

/

)

••

/

\

.* .

i

,i

K

I

*

»

Creeping-rooted Bent,

k

\

/

232

Agrostis stolonifera aristata. Awned Creeping Bent.

Var.%. Corolla awned; awn long, and knee-bent at the top of the blossom, fixed below th
middle of the back of the larger valve; branches of the panicle very rouo-h ^"^ ^

edford,
on peaty moors. \i

The first knowledge I had of this variety was from His Grace the Duke of B

the hand

Moor. I have since found it common
Y be distinguished from the Agr. stolonifera latifc
1 he runners or stolones extend to a great lengtli; they are of a brighter reddish

htif(

From these few
no mention made of

marks of distinction, this variety may have been overlooked, as I find
it in the botanical works to vrhich I have had access. It is allied to the Jg7os7s]mZ
awned var. Jgr. vulgaris of Dr. Smith, but differs in the form of the panicle, which
more acuminated ; calyx more acuminate ; awn one-third longer, and bent th
way, ie. towards the blossom; branches rougher; culms producing stolones.
Native of Britain. Root perennial.

Ewperiments—At the time of flowering, the produce from a bos? soil is

or

IS

r

ontrary

"i

dr.

Grass, 13 oz. The produce per acre

80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry ' - - 38

The produce of the space, ditto - - 98

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying

64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter

The produce of the space, ditto

qr.

oz.

141570
67372

lbs.

80 gr.
260

5898 12

4210 12

4657 4

368 10

About the beginning of December, the produce from the same soil, is

Grass, 15 oz. The produce per acre

80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry

The produce of the space, ditto

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying

64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter

4

The produce of the space, ditto

163350

dr. qr.

36 ^
108 S

10209 6

73507 8

4594 3 8

5615 2 8

2 3

10

7018 15

438 10 15

The weight of nutritive matter in which the cron tnV^« ;« n u i i

^^_ 1^1 ... ^ P' *^^^^ ^^ December, exceeds that of the

crop when the grass is m flower m the proportion nearly of 10 to 13, is 70lbs.

Ihis variety of Creeping Bent is therefnvA rv^ ,i • r • i ^

,.-,.. , ./,. ^ ^ tneretore greatly inferior to the larger-leaved variety,

(Agrostis stolonvfera latifoliaj
by the latifolia

Meadow-grass and Meadow

Cattle appear to eat this

It flowers about a week later than the Fiorin hut fl. ^ • • i, i •

■ ^^^^n. l3Ut the seed is ripe about the same time.

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Awned Creeping Bent

234

Agrostis stolonifera angustifolia* Smaller-leaved Creeping; Bent.

Var, 3. — Panicle densely crowded with florets ; florets small ; inner valve of the calvx
outer serrulated ; corolla without any rudiment of an awn.

Obs.—Thi^ is the most common variety of the Creeping Bent on damp tenacious clayey soils
and in moist woods. It may readily be distinguished from the other varieties by its s 11
oblong crowded panicle of a whitish colour. The stolones are closely pressed to th
ground, and are almost covered by the leaves, which are more numerous and short
than in any of the other varieties of this grass. The joints are small, of a slight brown

. colour.

Native of Britain. Root perennial.

Experiments. — At the time the seed is ripe, the produce from a bog soil, is

oz- lbs.

261360 = 1Q33^ q

dr. qr,

Grass, 24 oz. The produce per acre

80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry - - 56

The produce ofthe space, ditto - - 172 3f^ ' " " '^'^7612 0= 7350 12

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying - - w , _ 3^3^^ ^

64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter - 3

The produce of the space, ditto - - 18 ^ ^ " " ^^^^^ ^ ^ "^^^ ^^

■

At the beginning of December, the produce from the same soil, was,
Grass, 2o oz. The produce per acre . - - - «. 272250 0=17015

80 dr. of grass, weigh when dry - ^ 40 >

The produce of the space, ditto - - 200 ^ " "" 136125 = 8507 8

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying

64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter - 3 2

8507 8

The produce of the space, ditto . - 21 3jS " " 14888 10= 930 8

The weight of nutritive matter afforded by the produce of one acre of the larger-leaved
variety of Fiorin exceeds that of the present variety in the proportion of 4 to 3.

The value of the lesser variety does not increase, after the time the seed is ripe, in the same
proportion as in the larger variety.

|. lbs.

The Agrostis stolonifera latifolia, mown in December, afforded of nutritive matter '• - 1435

The Agrostis stolonifera angustifolia, mown at the same time, afforded only ^ - 930

Which shews that the value of the variety latifolia exceeds, in December, that of the angustifolia
in the proportion nearly of 1 1 to 7. I

From the above details it is evident this common variety stands next in value to the larger
leaved variety of Creeping Bent. It appeared, from all the observations I could make on this
grass while growing in natural pasturesf to be entirely neglected by cattle while any of the supe- j
rior pasture grasses presented a sufficiency for a bite. I have examined pastures, in which this
grass abounds from the beginning of the season till the end, but never could observe that any
part of this variety of Creeping Bent was touched by oxen, horses, or sheep ; and the lowest or
moister parts of the pasture, where this grass had exclusive possession, were neglected by the
cattle ; the rest of the pasture was eaten closely. Though the

particular

temporary acceptance or rejc^

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Agrostis stolonifera angustifoUa

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SmaUer-kaDed Creeping Bent

V

236

1

comparative value, nevertheless, in instances like the present, whpvi^ +1.^ i

.„^ • IV .7 • . , . . - P^^^* possesses

quality

no

tive povrers, the dislike of cattle to partake of it, adds greatly to the demerits of th 1-

m^ m ^^ ^^^ ^^^u^^^ ^ v^ -M- B^ _ ^. _ -^ ^ .■ — lull ■■■■ ■ Y ^

Flowers

gust.

Agrostis palmtris. Marsh Bent.

Specific character: Panicle loose when in flower, spike-like when th^ «^o^ ^ r

^ Calyx-valves equal, the outer only serrulated, larger valve of the corolla with a minute

straight awn fixed above its middle, and reaching to its point, obsolete.
Obs.—lt varies much in size, according to the soil in which it grows. In marshes the a " 1

is very large, exceeding that of the Fiorin, and every other part of the plant in proportiir

poor

zfera, var. angmtifolia. The panicle is spear-shaped, hut tapers to a point ; after the time

very

much, and resembles a spike. The colour of the panicle is
lighter than in any other variety of stoloniferous, or Creeping-stemmed Bent-grass. This

from each other.

Withering

olonifero
stolonift

Experiments. —At the time of flowering, the produce from a bog soil, is.

oz- lbs.

163350 6 = 10209 6

Orass, 15 oz. The produce per acre - ' .

80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry - ^ 36

Tlie produce of the space, ditto - .- iqs q ^ ' " ''^^^ '^ ^ = ^^^^ 3

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying . . . _ ^ ^g^^ ^

64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter - 2 3

The produce of the space, ditto - ^ 10 1-^ V " '' ^^^^ ^^ " ^^^ ^^

At the time the seed is ripe, the produce is.
Grass, 20 oz. The produce per acre

217800 = 13612 8

80 dr. of grass weigh when dry ., . 32 o )

The produce of the space, ditto - r 128 O ^ " ' ^^^^*^ ^ = ^^^^ ^

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying

64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter .. 2 3

The produce of the space, ditto . . _ 13 3 ^ - r - ^358 9= 584 14

The ^veight of nutritive matter, in which the cron at f].^ r .i. a- • ^ t,

^ ^n . ^ ^ . ^ ^'*^P ^^ the time the seed is ripe, exceeds that

8167 8

at the time of flowerinp-, is

146 3

The proportional value of the grass of each crop is equal.

This grass .s properly a subaquatic. It will grow on tenacious clays, hut it seems only to

thrive m very moist soils, or in such as are for th p r. . . ^ -l t • ^c

u • ^ o , 'iieior tne most part covered with water. In moist woods

It is more frequent than any other of til « n • •

^,,- , n ; . , . , '"^ ^reepmg-stemmed Bent grasses ; here the culmns often

attain to fiv. feet m height, when supported by bushes,

lUe above details shew the inferior mtiiro f .1 • , i i i .

the lesser-leaved v.M.. nf .K. . ''']'^^ of this grass, compared to the larger, and even to

innmrr^+i,^ v 1 1 , ^j/^/w. xi cannot, tne]

ri'r 'f\ ^'^^ ^ -^!' *^^^ ^^°^- -P drains and nnder^ood.

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the end of August.

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^ uly, and the seed is ripe about the middle and towards

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Marsh Bent.

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238

Poafluitam, E. Bot. ; Flo. Ger. Flote Meadow-grass.

Festiicajluitans, Host.; Curtis; Flo. Dan. Flote Fescue.

Specific character: Panicle branches, some pressed to the main stalk, others divermni
it; spikets pressed to the stalk, roundish, many-flowered; florets obtuse with

nerves. Root creeping.

F.Jlttitam; E. Bot, 1520, Poajii

seven

Obs.

lonifera (F

Wh

in flower there is no difficulty in distinguishing them, the number of florets in each cal
being from five to eleven; in Fiorin only one. The leaves are much broader, flat, and Der
fectly smooth. By simply drawing the finger down the leaves of the Fiorin, they will L

Mead

by which means the two grasses may be distinguished at any stage of growth. Th
tary is in the form of a small heart-shaped gland, placed at the base of the germ.

Native of Britain. Root perennial.

Ea^periments, — At the time of flowering, the produce from a strong tenacious clay, is

e nec-

dr. qr,

^4
9Q

Grass, 20 oz. The produce per acre

80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry

The produce of the space, ditto

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying

64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter

The produce of the space, ditto - -

oz.

217800

ItlS.

13612 8

65340

4083 12

95%S 12

1 3
8 3

5955 7

372 3

Th

as a

which time it had increased every year ; it therefore appears capable of being cuhivated
permanent pasture grass, which is contrary to what has been supposed of the Flote Fescue.
Some writers on the subject of grasses inform us, that kine and hogs are fond of this grassland
that cows in the spring are frequently enticed into bogs, by endeavouring to get at the young
shoots, which appear earlier than most other grasses. The result of my observations lead me to
believe, that when cattle eat this grass, it is more through wantonness, than any particular relish
they have for it. On a bog, where this grass was in much abundance, black cattle only crop-
ped the extremities of the leaves, while the foliage of the Agrosfis stolonifera aristata, Poa tn-
vialis, and Alopecurus pratensis, which grew in company with it, were closely eaten down.
Birds are fond of the seeds, and generally strip the panicle ere the seeds are all perfected.
Schreber informs us, that it is cultivated in several parts of Germany for the sake of the seeds,
which are esteemed a delicacy in soups and gruels. When ground into meal, they make bread
very little inferior to that from wheat.- The bran is given to horses that have the worms, but
they must be kept from water some hours afterwards. Fish, particularly trout, are said to be
fond of the seeds. The seed will not vegetate unless kept very moist, indeed I never could
obtain any plants from the seed, except when sown in mud; when raised in this manner, and
transplanted on a tenacious clay, the plants throve very well, and on the fourth year afforded
the produce above stated. ■ ,

f

Flowers from the first or second week of July, till the end of summer.

r

e above produce was taken from grass that had occupied the ground four years, during I

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Tlote Meadorc-grass

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240

Air a aquatica. Water Hair-grass.

r

Specific character: Panicle expanding; florets without awns, smooth, longer than the cal

husks obtuse. E, Bot. 1557; Host. v. 2, t. 14; Flo. Dan. t. 381, bad figure.
Obs. — Culms seldom more than a foot high, with two or three joints, never

yx;

more. Th

leaves are shorter than those of the preceding grass (Poa Jiuitans), and more rounded

th

at

point. When in flower, they cannot be mistaken for each other: the Hair-ffrass h
only two flowers in each calyx; the Flote Meadow-grass, from 5 to 11.
Experiments. — At the time of flowering, the produce from mud, covered permanently with

running water, is.

dr. qr.

Grass, 16 oz. The produce per acre
80 dr. of grass weigh when dry
The produce of the space, ditto

oz.

1 74240

lbs.

M
- 76 3r.

52272

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying
64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter
The produce of the space, ditto

10890
3267
7623

2 1

9 ^0

6125 10

382 13 10

This plant is an aquatic, at least I never could preserve it out of water. It is found natu-
rally growing in the mud of standing pools, or running waters. It is therefore unfit for cul-
tivation.

Mr. Curtis says that it is the sweetest of the British grasses; but there are several species
which contain more sugar, in proportion to the other ingredients which compose their nutritive

1

.Jluitans, Elymus arenarius^ Poa nemoralis angustifolia
ler the like circumstances as those of the Poafltdtam

The

Meadow

Flowers in the second and third weeks of July. Root perennial and creeping.

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Aira cwspitosa. Turfy Hair-grass, Hassock-grass.

Specific character: Panicle diiFuse; husks of the corolla woolly, and awned at the base-
straight, short; leaves flat.

Obs. — Root fibrous- Panicle large, of a fine purple silky appearance. Root leaves formin
dense tufts, extremely rough; the edges so sharp, as to cut the finger when passed betw
them. Culms from a foot and a half to three feet high. Two, seldom or never three flow
in each calyx ; hairy at the base, the lowermost one sitting. E. Bot. 1453; Hos. 2 t is-
Flo. Dan. t. 157; Moris, s. 8, t. 7, fig- upper.

Experiments. — -At the time the seed is ripe, the produce from a strong tenacious clay is

dr. qr. oz. lbs.

Grass, 15 oz. The produce per acre ' - 163350 =: 10209

80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry - - 26 7

The produce of the space, ditto - . 135 0|5 ' " ^^088 12 = 3318

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying
64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter - 2

6891 5

The produce of the space, ditto - .-72^ " " 510411= 319 Oil

The above details prove the innutritions nature of this grass; hut even if it had greater
nutritive powers, the extreme coarseness of the foliage vrould render it unfit for cultivation.
Cattle sometimes crop the ends of the young leaves, but in all the instances that have come
under my observation, it appeared to be from supreme necessity. The only point to he consi-
dered here, therefore, is how^ to overcome, or destroy it on soils vrhere it has got possession. It
delights in moist clayey soils, vs^here the water stagnates; but is found in almost every kind of
soil, from the dry sandy heath to the bog. It forms dense tufts in pastures, very disagreeable
to the sight, and are termed hassocks, bulls' faces, &c. by Farmers. It is a most difficult
plant to extirpate when in considerable quantity. Some persons, to get rid of it, dig up the
tufts, and fill up the holes with lime compost; this, no doubt, would answer the end, at least
for a few years, if all the roots were destroyed; but this is never the case ; a circle of roots is
left, which in one or tw* seasons produce larger hassocks than before; and besides, when the

J I I

hassocks are numerous, the expence attending this process is considerable. Others depend on
occasional mowings to keep the hassocks under. But this is productive of little good, particu-
larly if the mowing of the tufts be deferred till the autumn, which, I believe, is the common
practice. I have found no treatment weaken or retard the growth of grass so much, as cutting it
closely before and soon after the first tender shoots appear in the spring. On the contrary, when
left uncut till the flowers are formed, or the seed becomes ripe, mowing then encourages the
growth of the plant, and a great increase and activity of the roots ensue. In this palliative
remedy, therefore, the principal efforts should he made to keep the plant close to the roots in the
early part of the spring, and till Midsummer.

But the only effectual and most profitable mode of extirpating this grass, is by first paring
and burning the surface of the land, and by making proper drains, to correct, as much as pos-
sd3le, the tenacious nature of the soil : in this case, surface-drains are as necessary as those
termed hollow. Sand should likewise be applied during the course of crops taken previous to
returnmg the land again to permanent pasture, if such should be desirable from its local situation,
as that for instance of a park or policy. '

Flowers about the third week of iuly, and the seed is ripe towards the end of August.

N

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^44

Alopecurus geniculatus. Knee-jointed Foxtail-grass.

Specie character: Culms ascending; panicle spike-like, cylindrical, obtuse- husks of tL
calyx united at the base, obtuse, somewhat woolly ; apex of the corolla minutely notched

is by far

Obs. — There

the most common, is distinguished from the other by its fibrous root and greater size • th
less common variety has a bulbous root. The Alopecurus Bulbosus may be distinguished
from the bulbous-rooted variety of the knee-jointed species, by its upright culms, which
Want the knee-jointed form so conspicuous in the culms of the former. The anthers are at

With

first of a purple colour,, but afterwards become ferruginous.

p. 120; Flo. Rust. t. 97; Host. t. 32; Curt. Lend. t. 57.
Native of Britain. Root perennial.
Experiments. — At the time of flowering, the produce from a rich moist alluvial soil, is

- 34
68

Grass, 10 oz. The produce per acre
80 dr. of grass weigh when dry
The produce of the space, ditto

L

1

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying
64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter
The produce of the space, ditto

dr. qr,

oz.

108900

lbs.

6806 4

46282 8

2892 10

3915 10

2 3
6 SI

4679 4

292 r

This produce may be considered the greatest that this grass is capable of affording under
ordinary circumstances ; for the produce from clayey, sandy, and peaty soils was, in each in-
stance, mferior to the above. In an open drain, in a rich water-meadow, where this grass ap-
peared to have attained the highest degree of luxuriance, some of the shoots measuring two feet
and a half in length, the weight of produce was but 14 oz. ; on drier ground in the same mea-
dow, it weighed only 5 oz. It grows common in surface-drains, and at the entrance of cattle-
ponds, particularly where the soil is clayey. It does not appear to be eaten with much relish
by either cows, horses, or sheep. Its nutritive powers are not considerable, and its subaquatic
natural place of growth, excludes any recommendation of it for cultivatio».

Flowers in the first week of June, and during the summer.

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Foxtail-grass4

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246

Poa aquatica. Water-meadow Grass.

F

Specific character : Panicle spreading equally, much branched; spikets linear, 5-9 flowered;
florets obtuse, distant, with seven nerves ; root creeping.

Obs. — ^The creeping roots terminate in jointed culms ; fibrous roots numerous. Culms very
high, from three to six feet. Leaves straight, broad, smooth on every part except the edges
and keel ; sheaths a little compressed, striated, smooth ; scales short, obtuse. Panicle very
large, upright, branches pressed tovrards the main stalk before and after flow^ering.

Native of Britain. Root perennial.

Experiments.— Al the time of flow^ering, the produce from a strong tenacious clay, is,

dr. qr.

oz.

lbs.

■ 48
1785 2tV

Grass, 186 oz. The produce per acre
80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry
The produce of the space, ditto
The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying
64 dr of grass afford of nutritive matter - 2 2
The produce of the space, ditto - - 116 1

At the time the seed is ripe, the produce is, .

Grass, 180 oz. The produce per acre

2025540

126596 4

- 1215324

75957 12

50638 8

79122

4945 2

1960200

122512 8

40
- 1440

80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry

4

The produce of the space, ditto

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying

64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter

The produce of the space, ditto

980100

61^56 4

61256 4

70 gr.

- 3150

7 J 465 10

4466 9

478 9

The weight of nutritive matter which is lost by leaving the crop till the seed be ripe, is

X

At the time of flow^ering, therefore, the produce contains more nutritive matter than at the
time the seed is ripe, in the proportion nearly of 19 to 17.

This grass is common on the banks of rivers, and frequent on the margin of standing pools.
On the banks and little islands of the Thames, where it is generally mow^ntw^ice in the year for
hay, it affords abundant crops of valuable winter fodder. Mr. Curtis informs us, that in flat
countries, which do not admit of being sufficiently drained, it is almost the only grass for hay
and pasturage. In the Fens of Cambridgeshire, Lincolnshire, &c. immense tracts that used to
be overflowed and produce useless aquatic plants, and still retain much moisture, though drained
by mills, are covered with this grass, which not only affords rich pasturage in summer,
forms the chief part of their winter fodder. Its powerful creeping roots make it a dangerous
and troublesome plant in ditches, where, with other aquatic plants, it soon chokes them up
the Isle of Ely they cleanse the ditches of these weeds by an instrument called a bear, which is
an iron roller, with a number of pieces of iron, like small spades, fixed in it. This is drawn up
and down the river by horses walking along the bank, and tears up the plants by the roots,

but

In

which float, and are carried down the stream. In the Bath Aoricultural Papers, the Water-
meadow Grass, we are informed, " in its native soil, the Fens of the Isle of Ely, grows to the
height of six feet. It is usually cut when about four feet high ; when dry they birfd it in
sheaves ; it generally undergoes a heat in the rick, which improves it. It is excellent fodder for
milch-cows; horses are not fond of it. The inhabitants there call it fodder, by way of eminence,

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other kinds of coarse hay being called stover, i. e. coarse stuff. It is also called white lead ,\
ing of a white colour/

The nutritive matter of this grass contains a greater proportion of sugar than exists in a
of the superior pasture grasses. I oiFered a bundle of the grass to a horse that was grazing o
field of White Clover ; the animal ate it with seeming relish, taking a Lite of the Clover, a d
then another of the Poa aqiiatica, alternately, till the whole ,of it was consumed. It does
grow freely from seed, except when sown in mud. The best manner of propagating it, acco A
ing to my experience, is by planting the roots, which from their creeping nature, soon increas
the number of plants. The best season for sowing the seeds is in the autumn, as soon as th
are ripe. The roots may be planted in the autumn, or spring, with equal success. The R

not

M

the results !

prove, that it may be cultivated on more elevated situations than has been supposed andtli
propagating it by planting the roots, is the best mode.

Flowers about the second and third weeks of July, and the seed is ripe about the second
week of August.

Eriophorum angustifoUum. Long-leaved Cotton-grass.

Specific character: Culms almost three-cornered ; leaves channelled, three-sided; fruit-stalks

smooth. E. Bot, 564 ; Flo. Germ.

F

0^^.— There are three species of Cotton-grass, which greatly resemble each other: the

tifolium
a), diffc

ifolkim

culent culm ; the leaves longer and broader, with only one nerve of a reddish colour, and

the fruit-stalks are smooth. It is distinguished from the Polystachion by its creeping roots ;

leaves twice the length; involucre and sheaths smooth, spikets smaller; fruit-stalks shorter,

and the woolly hairs everywhere longer.
Native of Britain. Root perennial.
Experiments.— kt the time of flowering, the produce from a bog soil, is.

dr.

Grass, 12 oz. The produce per acre -

80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry -

The produce of the space, ditto

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying

64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter -

qr.

oz.

lbs.

130.680

8167 8

40

65340

4083 n

4083 n

The produce of the space, ditto

% 2
7 2

5104 11

319

On bogs and moors where this grass abounds, cattle crop the leaves in the spring; but as
soon as the finer kinds of grasses afford them a bite, they neglect it. There are many grasses of

superior value, that succeed equally well on this kind of soil

When

lable

(which

the superior grasses, as the Meadow Fescue, Cock's-foot G
Meadow Fox-tail Grass, Rough-stalked Mead

e effected, and the soil will then carry

rass.

M

Grass,

mically practised, the surface should be pared and bur

ow-grass, &c. Where

It, and after'

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Long-leaved. Cotton

grass

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CAgrostis stolonifera^ var. lattfolia)

c^quaticaj. Jf^j^

amply

soil be not too wet for the former, or too peaty for the latter, the produce will be found
to reward the labour of preparing and planting the soil. Mr, Pennant says, that about A
in the Isle of Skye, the Farmers turn their cattle during the daytime to this grass, which * '
first, and at night drive them into dry ground again.

M

In

down has been manufactured into various articles of dress, paper, and wicks for candle
some parts of Sweden, the peasants stuff their pillows with it, whence it is called poor
pillow; but it becomes brittle when dry.

Neither the productive or nutritive powers of this grass appear, from the above details f
ficiently great to recommend it for cultivation. Though it comes into flower in June it is 1 t
in the spring before the foliage attains to any length.

.\

Eriophorum vaginafum. Hare's-tail, or Sheathed Cotton-grass.

■ J

Specific chaincfer: Culms obscurely three-cornered, sheathed; spike oval-oblong.

Obs, — Culms erect, smooth, with three or four joints, roundish below,' three-cornered above

' from six to twelve inches in height. Root-leaves sharp-pointed, streaked on two sides

convex on one side, flat on two sides. Stem-leaves less sharp, upper one with a remarka-

ble inflated sheath. It produces only one spike, which is upright. E. Bot, 873; Host. i.

t. 39. E. ca^spitosum; Linn.; Curt.; Schrader.

ISative of Britain. Root perennial, fibrous.

Exp eriments,-r^ At the time of flowering, the produce from a ho^ soil is

dr.

Grass, 10 oz. The produce per acre
80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry
The produce of the space, ditto ?

qr.

oz.

1Q8900

lbs.

6806 4

46

92

62620

3913 9

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in dryin
64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter -
The produce of the space, ditto

2892 11

%

3403 2

212 11

r

The produce and nutritive properties of this grass appear, from the above details, to be very
inferior to the preceding species of Cotton-grass. The chief property that would give value to
it, if its productive powers Ayere greater, is its early growth, being one of the earliest of the

-British grasses,; flowering in April.

The foliage is

the flowering culms ; but its produce of latter-math is very inconsiderable. It i

equally early, growing in proportion with

frequent

IS more

on moors of a drier nature, than moist bogs, though it is to be met with on most of them. Sheep
are said to be very fond of this grass, but as far as I have had opportunity to observe, they only
crop the foliage in the spring, till the finer natural grasses afford them a bite. It offers, there-
fore, no particular merit to warrant a recommendation for the purposes of the Agriculturist.
It flowers abput the third week of April, and the ^eed is ripe about the third week of May

I

1

-r

X

\

>

r

Eriophorum vaginatum.

r

T

r

\

^r

\.

\

Hares-tail Cotton-'grass

\

' •

•

252

Arundo colorata, Hort. Kew. i. p. 1T4. Striped Keed Canary

L

Phalaris arundinacea. E. Bot. t. 402 ; Host. 2^ t. 33. Reed Canary-^rass.

ass.

Wither

dener's-garters.

. 124. Ladies'-traces, Painted Lady-gras., Gar.

Specifii

at the base, leaves flat.

Root creeping, jointed; culms from two to six feet in height ; valves of the 1
vi^ith two ribs on each side, not much larger than the corolla, hairy at the edws A
furnished with a small, slender, hairy appendage on each side ; the outer valve not rolled
in; nectaries two, lanceolate-acuminate, with one tooth on the outer edge; seed oval fl-
ted, and shining. This grass partakes of some of the characters of Phalaris as well f
Anmdo.

Native of Britain. Perennial.

Experiments.— At the time of flowering, the produce from a black sandy loam incumb
clay, is,

enton

dr,

SQ
288

Grass, 40 oz. The produce per acre

80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry

The produce of the space, ditto

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying

64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter y 4

The produce of the space, ditto - -

qr,

oz.

435600

lbs.

27225

196020 .0

12251 4

4973 12

40

From a strong tenacious clay, the produce is,
Grass, 50 oz. The produce per acre r

80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry
The produce of the space, ditto - ^

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying
64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter

27225

1701 9

544500

34031

40

400

272250

17015 8

17015 8

The produce of the space, ditto

4
50

3403 1 4

2126 15-

From these details of experiments it appears, that the Striped Reed Canary-grass is much
more productive on a tenacious clayey soil than on a rich sandy loam. The superior nutritive
powers which this grass possesses, recommends it to the notice of occupiers of tenacious clayey
soils. , The foliage cannot be considered coarse, when compared to other grasses which afford a
produce equal in quantity. Dry straw is a much coarser food than the hay made from this
grass. The Festuca elatior grows as luxuriantly, and affects a similar soil, though of a
nature less retentive. It being greatly superior to the Arundo colorata in early growth,
nutritive quahties, and in the produce of latter-math, should be preferred before it, to cultivate

on tenacious clays that are less fitted for the nrorln^i- f • m^i i • • t«

, y *^ P^^^'^'uction of superior grasses. The obiection, as to

the coarse nature of the produce of these P-rasse. m^ol^i l i ■ T j i, i • .i, T ov to
™ . *^ b'^'^'^es, migiit be obviated by reducing the liay to

latt. i heir nutritive powers are egual to thn«:. ^f *u • i i • i . in

^ ^ ^ ''^'^*'e ot the superior grasses, and their produce m

quantity superior. The Striped Reed Canarv-pra,« 1... . *u r j- -u t t. It

1 . , . ' J S^^ss has not yet been found in a wild state, it

IS cultivated la gardens, for the beauty of its striped 1
grows by the sides of rivers and standing pools w

ar to be eaten by cattle ; hut

c

eaves. The common wild variety, which
ants this distinguishing feature. It grows to

4

s not

Wp

I

i

*■■

/

•r ^Y.

>

\

«

- -«

;

\

Arundo color ata.

^i

\

Kj

\

\ Striped Reed Canary -grass.

«

(.

254

birds are fond of the seeds. There are striped-leaved varieties of the Aorostis
glomerafa^ in the

Woburn

the leaves, are equal, if not superior, to tliose of the Striped-leaved Reed-p-rass

It comes into flower about the first and second vs^eeks of July, and the seed ri
middle of August.

alba, and DactyUs
ty of the tints i

m

pens about the.

Festuca elatior

sterilis. Barren-seeded Tall Fes

cue.

e outer one

or ten

+

Specific character: Panicle directed on one side, upright; spikets mostly awned, th
cylindric.

Obs. — It greatly resembles the Festuca prafensis. It is larger in every respect ; flowers "
- -" days later. The panicle of the pratensis is upright at first, afterwards drropL*
whde the panicle of the elatior is drooping at first, and afterwards upright; spikets of a
green and purple colour, cylindric, generally awned ; leaves rougher, and less pointed
than those of the Festuca pratensis, ^

Native of Britain. Root perennial, fibrous. E. Bot. 1593; Curt. Lond. 6. t. 7; Flo. Ger

Bromus littoreus.

Experiments.— At tlie time of flowering, the produce from a black rich loam, is

dr.

28
420

Grass, 75 oz. The produce per acre

80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry

The produce of the space, ditto

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying

64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter - 5

The produce of the space, ditto

At the time the seed is ripe, the produce is.
Grass, 75 oz. The produce per acre

^

80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry
The produce of the space, ditto

qr,

oz.

816750
285862 8

lbs.

51046 14
17866 6 8

33180 7 8

93

63808 9

3988 9

£8

420 S

y

816750
285862 8

51046

4

17866 6 8

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying
64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter
The produce of the space, ditto

3
56 1

33179 13 8

38285 2

2392 13 2

The propcH-tional value in which the grass of the flowering crop exceeds that at the ti.e the seed i

is as 5 to 3.
The produce of latter-math is.
Grass, 23 oz. The produce per acre
64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter

IS npe,

4

250470
15654 6

15654 6
978 6 6

The grass, at the tune of flowering afi>)rd« .v. . • • , ,

^, . V . , ■ "^' '*"''' ^^ more nutritive matter than that of the latter-

math, m the proportion of 5 to 4 : but the e-ri^^ ^f +1, i

^ -,, ,, T . , ' "^ Srass of the latter-math contains more nutritive mat-

ter than that at the time the seed is ripe, in the proportion of 4 to 3

The superior value of the grass of the latter matl. i i i. • i j •

.. ■ , , ,._* ^^"'^^-math, compared to that at the time the seed IS

ripe, IS manifested by the difi^rent appearance nf tl, i >- , xxn .t,

... , , FF^'irance ot the grass at these stages of growth. When the

seed IS ripe the culms are withered and dry • thp 1 1 t, • rl it

£ 1- J' J ine latter^math consists ot nne green succulent

-'!]

I '

f

I

I

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I

I

*

y

^'

»irp

N

\

\ i

\

\

■s

■\

A

N \

\

\

i

f

%

I

-»

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t

\

<,

<

\

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f
1

\

f

\

/

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/'

f

Festuca elatior fertilis

I

■'

Fertile

>

J

\

{

escue.

256

^

The produce from a tenacious clay, is.

dr. qr.

Grass, 70 oz. The produce per acre
64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter

5

OZ,

762300 =

lbs.

= 47643 12

59554 il =

= 3722 2 ;

i

r.

A tenacious clay is, therefore, best fitted for the production of this grass ; as, notwithstaud-
iag the plentiful supply of manure, the produce from the loam which had the advantao-es of it
scarcely exceeds that from the clay. I know of no grass of this class adapted for clays, that holds
out such fair promises to repay the Farmer. It is one of the earliest grasses, with regard to the

production of foliage early in the spring. It is nutritive, and very productive. It is true, the
produce may be denominated coarse, when compared to the Festuca pratensis, Alopecurus pra^
tensis, and other of the superior grasses ; but where is a grass to be found that produ
great weight of crop, that is not in some degree coarse? This objection, however, as befon
observed, may be overcome by reducing the hay to chaff, and mixing it with Clover-hay. Thi
nutritive matter contains but little bitter extractive or saline matter, whereas the Clover

ces a

con-

tains an excess. It does not perfect much good seed, and can only therefore be propao-ated by
parting and planting the roots.

The next following specimen , is of a grass which I believe to be a variety of Festuca elatior.
It ripens an abundance of seed, and appears in most respects equal to that variety in af>'ricultu-
ral merits.

The present variety flowers in the second week of July ; the seed is universally, according* to
all my observations, affected with the disease termed clavif^s, and consequently unfertile.

J ■

Festuca elatior, yar. fertilis* Fertile-seeded Tall Fescue.

Obs, — Differs from the common variety of Tall Fescue, in having the panicle somewhat
drooping; spikets six-ilowered, more ovate and flat; the larger husk of the calyx often

w

awned, and the awn is fixed on the apex more in the manner of that of a Bromus than a

_

Fescue. Leaves smoother, and of a less dark green colour.
Experiments.— Al the time of flowering, the produce from a black sandy loam incumbent on '

cl

^y

is

dr.

35
560

Grass, 80 oz. The produce per acre r

80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry

The produce of the space, ditto - -

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying

r

64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter r

The produce of the space, ditto r

qr.

oz.

871200

lbs.

54450

381150

1 14

- -"m

30628 2

* F

5

100

68062 8

4253 14

This grass, which is nearly allied to the common Festuca elatior, perfects an abundance of
seed, though not entirely free from diseased portions, and is therefore not liable to the objection
which takes so much from the value of that variety. It is equally early in the produce of foliage,
and flowers earlier than the barren Tall Fescue by eight or ten days ; the produce is equally nu-
tritive. For damp soils that cannot conveniently he made sufficiently dry by drains, this would

•'

»

*-

%

I

\

-'

I

» <

I •

\

i

V

I

/

I

-.r

\-

Barren-seeded Tall Pescue.

\

258

be a most valuable plant, either to be cut for soiling, or made into hay, and reduced t 1> ff
it might be wanted. I have never seen this plant in a wild state ; it was first disco r a l
in the grass garden, seemingly introduced by accident. W. P. Taunton, Esq. of Lon 1
kind enough to send me some seeds of a grass which he found growing on a bastard f ]] ^'
earth soil in considerable plenty, in the parish of Kilmersdon, Somerset. I believe this t h

same grass

eth

Mr. Taunton, who has paid much attention to the subject, conceives that the disease termed
clavus, which renders the seed of the other variety of Tall Fescue abortive, may be caused h
over-richness of the soil. My observations tend to confirm that opinion in a considerable d
gree, that at least if it is not the sole cause, over-richness, and great humidity of the soil an I
atmosphere, greatly encourage the disease, as it often occurs, partially, to many other grasses
under such circumstances only.

It comes into flower about the beginning of July, and the seed is ripe about the first week
in August. _

J

Sronrns Uttoreus, 8ea-side

Specific character: Panicle branch i
awned, from 4 to 5-flowered.

Broiiie-grass

Obs.

-The panicle is perfectly upright before and after flowering, which distinguishes it from
the varieties of Festuca elation the number of florets in each calyx is less, the spike ts are
oval-spear shaped, those of the Festuca elatior cylindric. The leaves are broader, more
deeply striated, and rougher, of a finer dark green colour, particularly in the spring.

Danube

Gram. p. 7? t. 8.
Fxperiments.—kl the time of flowering, the produce froni a clayey loam, is,

■

dr.

- 41

- .500

Grass, 6l 02. The produce per acre
8.0 dr. of grass weigh, when dry

^

The produce of the space, ditto

r

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying
6'4dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter
The produce of the space, ditto

At the time the seed is ripe the produce is,
Grass, 06 oz. The produce per acre
80 dr, of grass, weigh when dry
The produce of the space, ditto

qr.

oz.

lbs.

4-1518 2

340448 10

21278 10
20240 16..

1 2

22

S

\z>m

973 1

609840

38115

^%

49

^zzm 9

2084 6 9

When

tritive properties, and in the quality of the herbao-

species of Brome is found to be inferior in nu-

The leaves are much coarser in every

r

"^ ^ ' ^-— J wx Liic iit^rnage. Ihe leaves are much coarser m every

respect, It cannot therefore be recommended for any agricultural . purpose. The clayus often

attacks the seed of this species, though not

so

generally as to prevent it from perfecting a suffi-

ciency, if the value of the grass required its plopagation on the farm. The disease termed
clavus, makes its appearance by the body of the seed swelling to tliree times its usual size, and

P.

I

-\

^

1

I

i

I I

t

J

/

J-

/

/

/

•^

y

\

y

\

/

Sea-side

rome- grass

260

WiUd

which is mealy, and of a dark colour, without any smell or taste; second, the mdv"^^ ^ ^ ^^'^^'
which is violet blue or blackish, and internally too has a blueish colour, ' a fotTd 'smell* ''^'''^"''
sharp pungent taste. The first is the disease which attacks the grass now spoker^'^f ' ^'''^ "

Bread

made from grain affected with the last variety of the disease, or malignant clavus is of a bl
colour, and when eaten, produces cramps and giddiness. ' ° "^ ""^'^^

Flowers about the first and second weeks of July, and ripens the seed i

afterwards.

in three weeks

M^mus PMladelphims. Philadelphian Lyme-grass.

^

Specifii

)

--■.

Culm from two ,o five fee, high, smooth, round, of a light green or glaucous colour
J^eaves hroad mucronate, slightly rough, glaucous, spikets in pairs; awns of the calyx or
involucre, shorter than those of the florets.
E.pen^en.s.^Ax the time of flowering, the produce from a clayey loam and retentive suh-

Grass, 45 oz. The produce per acre

80 dr. of grass weigh, when drj,

The produce of the space, ditto

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying

64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter ^ .4

The produce of the space, ditto ^ ' ^

qr.

oz.

490050

lbs.

30628 2

40
360

^t

15314 1
15314 1

47 3^

32542 6

2033 14 6

th '"*;""""'. K;-««'> we are informed this grass was first introduced into England by
the R,ght Hon. S,r J. Banks, Bart. K. B. in 1790, from North America. It is a very prodac-
^va grass, and with respect to fohage, is rather early in the spring : it contains a cousideraUc

quantity of nutritive matter. From the laro-e si^P it att • .i, j •

+• „ 11 . , . ^^^® ^^^^ ^t attams, the produce is rank, and proper-

form ? r;\" '? '"' •"'''""• '' "PP^™ "•»' f" -»-?. - hay to be used iu the
.2 f f' !?' " T" °*" "^ *" S'^'"""^ S----. ™-W 1"= P"fitable plants on soils
mfit for the production ofthe superior pasture grasses, or of corn ' ^

A comparison of the quantity of nutritive matter contained in hay of the best quality, with

parltive vTe! '" " "' ™^'" °'"" '"^ "''" ''"-^ "''^ S™^»> ^" *'-■ "-■''• *^''' ~"-

One pound of hay, composed of the best natiiv.1 • r • • .^ a

One v.^ J n " . natural grasses, contains of nutritive matter 57 dr.

Une pound of hay, composed of the Eh/mm PhU \i j i ■ . > ,

Witl, .. vo I . . . ^li/mus Fhiladelphicus, contains of nutritive matter 34 dr.

With regard to nutritive powers, therefore, five ton, nf tt. 1, f i,- i ,.1

tntTir«o+ c ^^ r. 1 ' "^*^ "^ons ot the hay of this grass, are scarcely equal

to three tons of that of the superior erasses T{ . i ., / j

others of tT.. 1 P oi grasses. But the soil that will produce this grass, and

tito thet ""'''* ^''*^°'^^^*^^^^^ -uld not produce one-fifth the quan-

y superior grasses, consequently, the adoption pf the Tall Fescue, and Philadelphian

1

\

F

L

r

V

#

•

• •

■ •

t

t

m

*.

i

Elymis Fhikdelphicus,

\

Philadelphian

y

■1

,■

4

t

t

t

4

V

Lyme grasses, on soils of this description, for the uses now described, might be found a profita-

ble measure.

4

Flowers in the first and second weeks of July, and successively till the end of summer,
Seed ripe in about three weeks after the time of flowering.

r

Elymus striatus. Striated Lyme-grass.

Speczyic character: Spike erect; spikets 2-flowered, fringed; involucre or calyx striated,

■ L

short. Hort. Kew. i. p. 177-
0Z,5.— Native of North America. Root perennial ; was introduced into this country about

1790. Ibid.
Experiments.— kt the time of flowering, the produce from a clayey loam, is.

i

*!'>:

:i^^

dr. qr,

35

210

Grass, 30 oz. The produce per acre

80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry

The produce of the space, ditto

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying

64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter

The produce of the space, ditto - ^ -

oz.

326700

lbs.

20418 12

142937

Jh

V^'iJ

^ %L

'^^^^

-^3fefc

8933 9

11485 3

4
30

20418 12

1276 2

Lym

proportion nearly of 5 to 3. It is also mucli later in the production of foliage in the spring,
and does not come into flower till after that species has nearly perfected its seed. It cannot
therefore he recommended for the purposes of the Agriculturist.

Flowers about the latter end of July, and ripens the seed in August,

i

I

>

- \

'

^

>

>

^

\

\

i

.r

./

\\

^

I

lEilymm striatus.

I

^\

s

;

I

1

I

1

Striated Lyme-grass.\

♦

264

Elymus sibiriciis. Siberian Lyme-g

Specifii

Kew. i. p. 176.

like an arch ; spikets longer than the calyx.

Horf.

ex-

0^^.— Culm round, smooth ; leaves roughish, vagina smooth. This plant does not

actly with the description of the Elymus sibiricus of Gmelin* he savs th^ .r.\^ • .

11., ^ "^ spike is close 01

contracted; but in this grass the spike is mostly branched, oris in fact a panicle; the bran
are confined, however, to the middle of therachis, occupying about one-third^f its LTt^
both extremities are contracted, and spike-like. On very poor soils the branches Wdl '
appear; The cdyx Is hardly half the length of the spiket. The edges of the spiketr '
tinged with a reddish purple colour.

are

Native of Siberia.

ral

years

Root, on a moist or clayey soil, biennial; on a sandy soil it continues

seve-

Experiments.~At the time of flowering, the produce from a rich sandy soil, is.

dr.

Grass, 24 oz. The produce per acre

80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry

The produce of the space, ditto

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying

64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter

The produce of the space, ditto

qr

oz.

261560

28

134 1

T

91476

2 1

- 13 2

lbs.

16535

5717 4

IO6I7 12

9188 7

574 4 7

r

The produce of this grass is very coarse, and the weight of the crop, therefore, though con-
siderable, IS comparatively of no value. It is a native of Siberia, and withstands the effects of
the severest continued frost, but not sudden changes from frost to mild weather. It requires to
he sown every year, and treated as an annual. It comes into flower the second season, about
the second or third week in June, and continues tc emit flowering culms till autumn. The seed
IS ripe in about three weeks after flowering, A light rich siliceous soil appears to be best adapted

to Its growth. In the Hortus Kewensis, it is said to have been cultivated in 1758, by Mr.
rhihp Miller. ^ • ? j

/

s

•* ^

s

/

/.

■»

N

t

t

t •

1

■r
■

I

\

JEtlymus Sibiricus

/

^

(

I

Siberian Lyme-grass

^

Y

i

266

i

Mlymus hystrix. Rough Lyme -grass.

Specific character: Spike upright ; spikets without the involucre, spreadine-

Obs. — Spike compounded of two spikets at each tooth of the rachis ; spikets 4-flow

long awns. The place of the involucre is supplied by two calluses. Linn. Sp
Native of the Levant. Root perennial. Introduced in I77O, by M. Richard.

ered, with

Hort. Kew.

Experiments.— At the time of flowering, the produce from a rich siliceous sandy loam is

Grass, 40 02. The produce per acre

80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry

The produce of the space, ditto

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying

64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter

The produce of the space, ditto

dr. qr.

40
320

oz.

435600
217800

lbs.

27225

2 2
25

17015 10

13612 8

13612 8

1063 7 10

ewise

The harsh, broad, thin, light green leaves of this species, and li__.._ „^^^^ ^^

E. striatus and E. Sibericus, indicate that they are naturally inhabitants of woods or wet shad
places. Grasses of this description are generally (indeed in every instance that has come under
my observation) deficient in nutritive matter, and contain an excess of bitter extractive matter
Cattle appear to dislike these grasses ; oxen ate the Philadelphian Lyme-grass when it was
ofiered to them, but they refused the Striated, Siberian, and Rough Lyme gr;sses. From the
above details, there is no authority for recommending the Rough Lyme-grass to the notice of
the Agriculturist.

It flowers in the second week of July, and ripens the seed in the second week of August.

A

i

*?

IT

Elymus hystni

m

\

t

Rough

Lyme-grass.

■.0

r

., ^f .

268

Elymus geniculatus. Knee-jointed Lyme-grass.

r ■

Specific character: Spike bent perpendicularly downwards, loose; calyx, bristle-sha A
spreading, longer than the spikets ; leaves sharp-pointed.

Obs.

—The opposite specimen shews a singular habit of this grass ; the spike iust hef

flowering, bends down by the assistance of a joint near the foot of the spike-stalk. En 1

Bot. 1586. • S •

Native of Britain. Root perennial.

Experiments. — At the time of flowering, the produce from a sandy loam, is.

Grass, 30 oz. The produce per acre
80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry
The produce of the space, ditto

dr. qr.

oz.

326700

lbs.

32

im S

130680

20418 12
8167 8

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying
64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter
The produce of the space, ditto

3 I

24 04-

16590 1

12251 4
1036 14 1

The root is powerfully creeping, and the foliage is tough and coarse. The quantity of nutri-
tive matter it affords is not considerable. It seems, therefore, to be but little adapted for usefid
purposes. Sir J. E. Smith, in the English Botany, informs us, that it was discovered in the salt
marshes at Gravesend by Mr. Dickson, and that Mr. Curtis was the first to distinguish it from
the Elymus arenarius, as it seems even Linnasus had confounded them.

The Elymus arenarius is nearly allied to this species in its general habit, but differs specifi-
cally in the spikets being pubescent, more compact, and the spike perfectly upright. The leaves
are broader, culms taller and stronger, and the root is more ppwerfidly creeping. The pubes-
cence on the spikets, and the close order in which they are placed on the spike-stalk, with tJie
upright habit of the spike before and after flowering, seem to be good specific distinctions ; with
the exception of the last, as the two first indicate an excess of saccharine matter in proportion
to the other constituents of the plant, while the slender culms, distant florets, or loose spike desti-
tute of pubescence, with thin leaves, indicate the contrary. This is the case with the two
species now spoken of; the nutritive matter of the Elymus arenarius contains more than one-
third of its weight of saccharine matter, aijd that of the Elymus geniculatus contains but a very
small proportion.

M

•Huic affinis.

dr.

V

Grass, 64 oz. The produce per acre

80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry

The produce of the space, ditto .-

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying

64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter

The pr<?du.ce of the space, ditto r

qr

oz.

697160

lbs.

= 43572

45
576

392040

£4502 8

5

80

54450

19069 8
3403 2

1

4

at in Germania hue usque baud observata, species est Elymus geniculatus. Smith, Britan. i. j
p. 153.— Cui culmi altiores, graciliores ; foha angustiora; spic^ sesquipedales, hipedales, ,
lax* ; spiculae remotae ; glumae calicinaj lineari-setacccB flosculis longiores.

At the time of flowering, the produce of the Ehmus arenarius on a clayey loam, is,

X

f . ,

r

^

.1

i
>

4

V

\

^

V

\

\

\

/

/

Elymus geniculatus.

zt

t

/^'

/

» V

\

M

4

/

/

^

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\

\

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t

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i

\

f

f

/

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I

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*♦

.J

i

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Z

I

-Jj,

l!il|

Knee-Jointed Lyme-grass

10 I

1

«

270

This species is therefore greatly superior to the above in produce and nutritive pro
but neither appears to have merits sufficient to recommend it for cultivation j for even tl

strong
on th

they were early in the produce of fine foliage, and grew rapidly after being cut, their
creeping roots, which exhaust the soil very much, would preclude their introduction
farm.

The Knee-jointed, or Pendulous Lyme-grass, flowers in the second week of Julv Th S
Lyme-grass flowers about a week later. The seed is perfected in about three weeks aft tli
time of flowering. : ,

Dactylis patens* Spreading Cock's-foot Grass.

Specific character: Spike spreading, flowering a little on one side; florets bent Hke ^
culm decumbent; leaves spreading very much.

an arch :

Obs, — Introduced into England in 1781 by Mr. William Curtis. Hort. Kew, i. p 16o
Native of North America. Root perennial.

Experiments. — At the time of flowering, the produce from a rich siliceous sandy soil, is

dr.

1

Grass, 49 oz. The produce per acre

y

80 dr. of grass weigh when dry

The produce of the space, ditto j - i-

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying

64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter

The produce of the space, ditto

qi"'

/

oz,

533610

^Q
313 01

« '

lbs.

33350

240124 8

15007 12

18342 4

2 3

33 21

22028 8

1433

This grass is very late in the production of foliage in the spring, and it does not come into
flower till the month of August. The produce, considered as a single crop, is then great, but
it is the only one it produces in the season. The nutritive qualities of the herbage are likewise
inferior to those of most other kinds of grass. The leaves are remarkable for their length, smooth-
ness of surface, and toughness of fibre.

I submitted a quantity of the leaves to the process used for forming flax, by steeping, drying,
breaking, &c. The results were favourable, inasmuch as the clean fibre was equal in strength
and softness to that of flax, but it was deficient in length ; for though the leaves of the grass
were as long as the plants of flax in general, yet a considerable portion of the top, or from the
point of the leaf, did not stand the effects of the process. How far a little modification of the
process may obviate this, another trial must determine. The only advantage that appears would
result from this plant afl^ording flax, is, that it could be produced on a soil unfit for the growth
of flax or the production of corn.

It flowers in the second week of August, and the seed i

is ripe about the middle of September

I

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■

I

u

i

I

I

I

t

\

I

spreading Cock's-foot grass

r

272

ft

Sromus sylvaticus. Wood Brome-g

E. Bot. 729

r

Festuca gracilis.

Wo

Flo. Ger. i. p. 343.

>ecific character: Spike nodding; spikets distant, somewhat erect, awned awns 1

the Busks. ' °°gert}iau

r

Obs. — This species appears to be nearly allied to the Bromus pinnatiis, but the di t" "
nevertheless obvious: in this the spike-stalk is nodding, in that, erect; the a\
B. pinnatus are shorter than the blossom ; those of the B, sijlvaticus are longer T}i
of the former is creeping, but this grass has a fibrous root.

Native of Britain. Root perennial.

Experiments .—Al the time of flowering, the produce from a rich siliceous sandy loam i

th

e root

32
192

Grass, 30 oz. The produce per acre

80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry

The produce of the space, ditto - -

r

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying
64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter
The produce of the space, ditto

dr. qr.

oz,

326700

lbs.

130680

2

15
I

J 0209 6

^0418 12

8167 8

12250 4

638 1 6

natus)

: general appearance ot this grass, and that ot the next following species (Bromus pin-
promise but little to reward the labours' of the experimenter. Its natural place of o-rowth
is in woods, and damp shady places. Oxen, horses, and sheep, refused to eat this grass" when
offered to them. During deep snows and severe frosts, I have observed hares and rabbits crop
the extremities of the leaves. It is very subject to be affected with the rust disease at the
time of flowering. Birds appear to neglect the seeds, till every other resource fails.

Flowers in the second week of July, and the seed is perfected about the first week of August.

\

h '

r'

;

:x

t

/

- *

\

« •

*

•

Wood Brome

grass

A

274

Mronius pinnafus. Wing-spiked Brome

E. Bot. 730

Festuca pinnata. Wing-spiked Fescue-grass. Flo. Ger. i. p. 343.

Specific character: Spike erect; spikets a little distant, awned; awns after flowerin 1

spreading, shorter than the husks ; root creeping.
Ohs. — The whole plant is of a yellowish green colour. Culms numerous, eighteen ' T.

and more in height, upright, roundish, slightly scored, smooth and unhranched L

erect, linear spear-shaped. Spike-stalk flexuose, rough; spikets rather distant lin
first roundish, afterwards a little compressed, many-ilowered, awned, pubescent

Native of Britain. Root perennial, creeping.

Experiments. — At the time of flowering, the produce from a siliceous sandy soil with

at

ma-

nure, IS,

32
- \91

Grass, 30 oz. The produce per acre

80 dr. of grass weigh when dry 7

The produce of the space, ditto

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying

Q^ dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter - 1

The produce of the space, ditto - -9

dr. qr.

oz- lis.

326700 = 20418 12

- 130680

8I67 8
12251 4

6380 13

398 12

Wi

r

in any other light than a noxious weed; for though the weight of produce is considerable, it is
neither early, nutritive, nor relished by cattle. It grows chiefly in dry hilly woodlands, parti-
cularly where the soil is calcareous. This, and the Bromus syhaticus, which is likewise an inha-
bitant of woods, where the soil is siliceous, may be considered the least useful of the British

f^rasses, M
onnects

It flowers about the third week of July, and the seed is ripe about the last week in August.

I

1

I

I

I

1
I

L
'J

. I.

>

/

I

\

f'l

. J

/

■•4

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. >

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t

}

^'-spiked JBromC'-girass.

N

276

Sromus giganteus. Tall Brome-grass. Flo. Ger. 362* Curt. T
Host. t,Q, * '

Festuca gigantea. Tall Fescue. Engl. Bot. t. 1820.
. Specific character: Panicle nodding at top; spikets spear-shaped, comoressed noto^l.

— X. J

imbricated; awns somewhat flexuose, longer than the husks; leaves naked.

orets

Obs.

smooth^

Leaves sword-shaped, acute, a foot and a half long, apex nodding. Sheath roundisli
ated smooth, or a little rough, mostly tinged with purple at the base. Sheath-scale sli
truncated, cartilaginous, of a brown or russet colour. Outer husk of the corolla lance 1

above

e nerve,

at the top ; between the clefts issues the awn, which is a continuation of the middl

as in the different species of Fescue, to which it is evidently as much, if not nearer allied

than to the Bromes.

Native of Britain. Root perennial.

Experiments.— At the time of flowering, the produce from a ri^h siliceous sandy soil, is.

dr. qr.

- 435600

lbs.

27225

■ 17015 10

1063 7

I
r

I

381150

Grass, 40 oz. The produce per acre
64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter
The produce of the space, ditto

At the time the seed is ripe, the produce is.
Grass, 35 oz. The produce per acre
64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter
The produce of the space, ditto

This species is confined to woods in its natural state; but it continues in the soil, and ap-

a coarse grass, and but

23821 14

4

$ 1

- 13399 11

837 7 11

pears to thrive equally well when cultivated in open situations. It is

Wood

eaten by birds; and this appears to be the chief use of the plant, its large structure being, appa-
rently, intended to enable it to perfect its seed among bushes, where it would be otherwise
choked up. 'I

July.

npens

1

4

1

■^

l"

k

< p

V

/

V

L I

\

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V

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Bromus gigan teus

W

K

1 Tall Brome-grass

I

\

Agroptis ramosissima, Lateral-braiicliiiig Bent-

k^l*

rass.

wci/it

ing at each joint.

This is nearly allied to the Agroslis Mexicana; the culms are taller and
lateral branches more numerous, shorter, and pointing one way ; leaves siToTtV^^'L ^'
those of the ^.iJfe^2V«?2a;' panicle more compact, or heaped together, which i
the appearance of a spike ; calyx shorter than the corolla, with very few hairs at the ba'^'^^
which are long and numerous in the Mexicana, Flowers a month later than that ' '^'^'
£^^er^Wy^^^.— At the time of flowering, the produce from a strong clayey loam, is ^^^^^*^*'

Grass, 42 oz. The produce per acre

80 dr. of grass weigh when dry

The produce of the space, ditto

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying

64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter

The produce of the space, ditto - - .

dr. qr,

oz.

457380

3^
268 Of

Ihs.

28586 4

1 82952

11434

2

20 0:

17152 4

14293 2

893 5

This is one of the latest flowering grasses. It is remarkable for the number of branches that
issue from the joints of the stem; and the woody substance of the culms makes it approach to the
nature of a shrub. It affords little herbage till the beginning of summer, and flowers at so late
a period of the season, that excepting once, I have never been able to procure any perfect seed,
the frost generally destroying the panicles before the seed be perfected. The herbage is killed
by frost, but the roots suffer nothing from its effects. It is propagated by parting and planting
the roots early in the spring, or late in the autumn. The above details shew that it is neither
very productive nor nutritive.

Flowers in the first or second week of October.

\

/

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I

\

- -

I-

LateraUhrafiching Bent

\

if

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-7

^80

Will d

cr

eepmg.

Poa decumbens. Decumbent Meadow-grass. Engl. Bot. 792.

* F

Festuca decumbens. Decumbent Fescue. Flo. Dan. 162;

Specific character : Panicle simple^ contracted, few-flowered; spikets oval-oblong
calyx nearly equal to the florets ; sheaths of the leaves hairy; root somewhat

Obs. — Culms decumbent-, from ten to eighteen inches long; root-leaves flat hairv o il
per surface, especially at the base ; stem-leaves shorter; sheaths villose towards th
little compressed, striated; the place of the sheath-scale is supplied, with a row of sho t
hairs; panicle very simple, little branches alternate, simple, shortest one-flowered the
longest one two-flowered ; flowers from three to four, the terminating one always sterile
Flo. Ger. ; Leers, &c.

Native of Britain. Root perennial.

Experiments. — At the time of flowering, the produce from a clayey loam, is.

top, a

Grass, 8 oz. The produce per acre

64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter

The produce of the space, ditto

The produce of latter-math, is
Grass, 5 oz. The produce per acre
64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter
The produce of the space, ditto

dr. qr.

1 2 7

3 3

oz. lbs.

S7120 = 5445

2041 14

127 9 14

54450

3403 2

1 1

1 2i

;063 7

66 7 "^

i

It is chiefly confined to high wet barren pastures, though sometimes found in those that are
dry. On some particular spots among the trees in Woburn-parh, it is found growing in com-
pany with the Carex axillaris. It appears to be but little susceptible of improvement by being
transplanted to a richer soil; as the produce, from a rich black loam, scarcely exceeded the above
stated produce, from a clayey loam, without any manure. It never appeared to be cropped by
the deer in the park. It is late in the production of foliage in the spring, and produces little
after-grass : it is not, therefore, to be recommended for cultivation.

r

^ r

It flowers about the third and fourth weeks of July, and the seed is ripe in the middle and
towards the latter end of August, according as the soil and season are favourable to its growth.

iV

\\\

I

From the above details it is evident, that if we except one, or at most two species of grass,
the whole natural produce of bogs, and low-lying stagnant meadows, is of little or no value to
the possessors. Such lands, however, by the simple process of forming them into water-meadows,
have had their original value, which is, generally, from one to five shillings, increased to forty,
and frequently to sixty shillings, per acre. From the magnitude, and the short space of time m
which the rise in the value of land is thus permanently effected, the conversion of waste bogs
to irrigated meadows, may justly be ranked with the very first improvements in this branch of
practical agriculture; and were it not from the local nature of the lands in question, when it is
considered that in numerous instances, with a spade only, the process may be begun and finished,
it may justly perhaps maintain a claim for the first place in improvements of modern Agriculture,

281

*

in any l^ranch wliatever. At least it appears difficult to find any other improvement in lliis ait,
that so speedily, permanently, and at so moderate an expence, raises the value of land to the
degree now^ mentioned. It is hardly possible, T should conceive, to witness one of these wastes
converted into a rich fertile meadow in the short compass of two seasons, without feeling a con-
viction something like this. ,:

In forming a water-meadow, the chief point to be obtained is a perfect command of the water,
that it maybe admitted on the land, and completely carried off at pleasure; for without this, it
will be found a vain and useless labour, as none of the valuable species of grass will thrive, or
even exist ill this kind of soil, under any other condition.

Lands lying on declivities, are seldom converted into water-meadows, from the want of a

%'

regular and sufficient supply of water in such situations. Bogs and low marshy grounds are

r

generally, in their natural state, the least profitable of soils, but are capable, by means of irriga-

*

tion, of having their value increased to a higher degree than any other waste lands.

Water-meadows situated on declivities, are termed catch-work meadows; and those foinned

m ■ ■

out of bogs and low level land, are styled jiomng meadows. The last requires the most art and
labour in its formation, on account of the difficulty that sometimes occurs in getting a com-
mand of the water. This is generally effected by throwing up the land in high ridges, with
deep drains between them. A main carriage is then taken out of the river, at a level sufficiently
high to command the tops of the ridges. Along the top of each ridge, an open drain or trench
is made to communicate with the main water-carriage. These little water-carriages being fur-
nished with moveable stops of earth, disperse the water on each side of the ridge, and is received
below by the drains, which conduct it to other parts of the same meadow. The point of import-
ance next to that of having a perfect command of water, at least as far as the growth and pros-
perity of the superior grasses is concerned, is the size of the ridges. Where there is a plentiful
supply of water, as from a river, the ridges may be from forty to fifty feet broad, and seventy in
length ; but when the supply of water depends upon a small brook, or upon a reservoir formed
by land-drains, thirty feet in width and fifty in length, are supposed to be the best dimensions.
The height of the ridges seems to be a point of considerable importance. I have invariably
observed, that all the superior grasses inhabit the crowns of the i^idges, extending generally to
eight feet on each side of the water-carriage, and the inferior grasses occupying the lower extre-
mities of the ridges. When the ridges are nearly level, much less water is required to irrigate the
land; but unless the subsoil is porous, the produce will be foimd much inferior to what it
would have been, had the ridges been raised to a proper height. In all the observations I have
made while examining different water-meadows at various periods of the seasons, the most pro-
ductive in the superior grasses, were those where the ridges were formed tlnrty-thr^e feet in
width and two feet and a half in height, that is, from the level of the furrow to the crown of the
ridge. But when the situation is very low and moist, and the sod deep, as in the instance of a
peat-bog, or where the subsoil is tenacious, the heighth of the ridge should be from two to three

L _

feet.

From numerous statements published by gentlemen who have made these improvements,
the expences of forming land into water-meadows, appear to be from four to twenty pounds per
acre, varying thus according to the local circumstances under which the improveinent is made.
The yearly expences for repairs, appear likewise to be from three to nine shillings per acre. The

4 c

282

value of sucli lands, by these means, has been increased from one to twelve shill'

ngs, their ori-

ginal value, to forty and sixty shillings per acre. But when connected with a breed* ' fl I f

sheep, the advantages derived from these meadows is hardly to be estimnf^rl f ^i

o ^ II 1.-^ ^ .1 1 , ..11 ' ^^ *"^y Pi'oduce

a tuJl bile ot grass at least three weeks earber than the common pastures and th

when every other kind of food is scarce.

a season

Irrigated meadows seldom or never require any manure, the water beino- found s ffi '
produce that extreme degree of fertility for which they are remarkable'^.

tto

* Sir H. Davy gives the theory of the effects of water in increasing the fertility of meadows. He sa s th

causes, some chemical, some mechanical. '' When land has heen covered hy water in the winter ^. ; n i • . ^" ^^^^^'

the moisture that has penetrated deep into the soil, and even the subsoil, becomes a source of nourishment

plant in summer, and prevents those bad effects that often happen in lands in their natural sMIp fr«,« i

^ suiie, irom a long contmuance of dry

roots of the

weather.

h ^

7

" When water used in irrigation has flowed over a calcareous country, it is generally found impregnated with carbonate f
lime; and in this state it tends in many instances to ameliorate the soil.

" Even in cases where the water used for flooding is pure, and free from vegetable or animal substances, it acts by causino- the
more equable diffusion of nutritive matter existing in the land; and in very cold seasons, it preserves the lender roots and leaves
of the grass from being affected by frost.

" Waterisofgrcater specific gravity at 42° Fahrenheit, thanatS2=, the freezing point ; and hence in a meadow irrigated in
winter, the water immediately in contact with the grass, is rarely below 40° ; a degree of temperature not all prejudicial to the
living organs of plants.

" In general, those waters which breed the best fish are the best fitted for watering meadows ; but most of the benefits of irri-
gation may be derived from any kind of water. It is however a general principle, that waters containing ferruginous impreg-
nations, though possessed of fertilizing eff-ects, when applied to calcareous soils, are injurious on soils that do not effervesce
with acids; and that calcareous waters which are known by the earthy deposit they afi-ord when boiled, are of most use on
siliceous soils containing no remarkable quantity of carbonate i^nime."— Agricultural Chemistry, page 305, et seq.

The proper business of irrigation begins in October, and is carried on till April, according to circumstances. In cold
backward situations it is continued latest, and in warmer soils it is generally finished in February. As soon as the latter-math
is eaten bare, the water-carriages are cleared out, and the stops and sluices made good. The water is then admitted on the
land, and suffered to remain for two or three weeks, with a dry interval of a day or two; or, according to others, the water is
continued on the meadow two weeks at first, then laid dry for one week, and again laid under water for two weeks more. The
state of the grass affords the best rule to judge of the frequency of waterings. It is a general principle to make the meadows as
.dry as possible between every watering, and to stop the water the moment any scum appears on the surface, for that indicates
the land has had water enough ; in f\ict, it is caused by the fermentation excited by the decay of the grass. As soon as the land
has been sufliclently dry after the last watering in February or March, the early grass, of which there is always an abundance,
is consumed by ewes, and lambs, if a breeding flock of sheep is kept. In order to prevent the sheep from trampling too much
of the grass at first, some Farmers use hurdles, by which they portion out the consumption of a day. Open spaces are left in
the hurdles, to give the lambs free range of the meadow at large. Mr. Davis says, that one acre of good grass will be sufficient
for five hundred couples for a day. It is usual to leave off depasturing the meadows about the beginning of May, when the
water is again admitted to prepare the land for a crop of hay. Two days flooding at this season is all that the land can re-
ceive without injury; it is then laid dry, and the process mav be said to be finished for that season. Six weeks is usually
suflicient to produce the crop of hay ; so rapid is vegetation in ihese mead

The following is a statement of the produce of a water-meadow of nine acres, belonging to His Grace the Duke of Bedford.

1803. Stocked with twelve score of sheep, and it kept them three weeks. •

ows.

1804,

April 16, Shut up for hay.

June 23. Cut the crop for hay, supposed to be about two tons per acre.

Aug. 20, Cut the second crop for hay, supposed to be about one ton and a half per acre.

Sept. IC, Stocked it with four score of fat sheep : three weeks after that it was depastured with lean bullocks, as
long and as often as they could find food.

Feb. 27, Stocked with eight scor^ and four lamb hogs; they have now (April 28, the time this account was
drawn up) been nine weeks in it. It had more and better water this last winter than that before; but from the
want of grass upon the farm, it was in this instance eaten longer than it otherwise would have been.

88

All the superior perennial grasses thrive under irrigation, when the meadow is properly
formed. The following species of grass I have invariably found to constitute the produce of
the hest water-meadows. Meadow fox-tail, (Alopecuruspratensis); round panicled cock's-foot,
(Dactijlis glomemta); field brome-grass, (Bromus arvensis); meadow fescue, (Fcstuoa pra-
tensis); these occupied the crowns and sides of the ridges. The furrows were stocked Avith
the creeping bent, (Agrostis stolonifera); marsh bent, (Agrostis palastris); hard fescue f^es-
tuca chirmscula) ; lesser variety of meadow cat's-tail, (Phleumpratense, M'ixx, minus); woolly soft-
grass, (Holcus lanatm); rough-stalked meadows-grass, (Foa trivialis); meadow fescue, (Fes-
tuca pratensis) ; and a small admixture of other species, which were thinly scattered over every
part of the ridge; these were, meadow barley, (Hordeum jf?mtoz5ej; yellow or golden oat,
(Avena jlavescens); crested dogs-tail, (Cynosurus cristatus); rye-grass, (Lolium perenne);
sweet-scented vernal-grass, (Anthoxanthiim odoratum); tufted vetch, (Vicia cracca); with a
larger proportion of the tall oat-like soft-grass, (Holciis avenaceusj. The meadow cat's-tail,
(FhleumpratenseJ, I never met with in irrigated meadows, but only the lesser variety of it,
and that not very prevalent. It is a very common grass, however, in some natural meadows
that I have had an opportunity to examine. The soil of the water-meadows which produced the
above grasses, was either a deep active peat, incumbent on a siliceous sand, or a sandy loam on
a chalky or gravelly subsoil. In some irrigated meadows, that I examined, where the ridges
were formed nearly flat, and the soil consisted of a sandy loam on a retentive clayey subsoil,

r"

the following grasses constituted the chief produce: crested Ao^'^-t^iA, (Cynosurus cristatus);
creeping-rooted soft-grass, (Holcus mollis); rye-grass, ( Lolium perenne); meadow barley,
(Hordeum prat ense) ; tall oat-like soft-grass, (Holcus avenaceus) ; sweet-scented vernal; and soft
brome-grass, (Holcus mollis). Though this soil was not entirely destitute of the superior kinds
of grasses mentioned as the produce of the former meadows, yet they were in very small quan-
tity, being thinly scattered over certain portions of the ridges only. It seems probable, that
the flatness of the ridges tended much to prevent these grasses from flourishing on the sandy
loam incumbent on clay, for I invariably found the head ridges, which had been raised con-
slderably above the level of the rest, as the first conductors of the water, were plentifully
Stocked with the superior grasses, and as productive of grass, as those of the first-mentioned
meadows.

Valuation,

1803. March 29^ 240 sheep three weeks^ at sixpence per head

Spring food per acre, at 21^
June 23, 18 ton of hay, at 4/.
Aug. 20, 13f ditto, at4Z.

Sept. 16, SO fat sheep, three weeks at fourpence

Lean bullocks

£18 5

73

56

4

1804. Feb, 27, 164 hog-sheep, nine weeks at fivepence

J

Spring food per acre, 31, 8s, 4:d,

£150 5

^0 15

Vk

'-t

For full details respecting the construction and value of irrigated meadows, consult Brown's Rural Affairs, page 26:5;
Young's Annals ; Agricultural Surveys, viz. Middlesex, by Marshall, i.p.284; Wilts, by Davis; Dorset, by Coldridge;
Hants, by Driver ; Brecknock, by Clark ; Communications to the Board of Agriculture, vol. iv.

-i

284

The hay of water-meadows is generally supposed to T^e less nutritious than th 1 • T •
permanent pasture land. • I compared the quantity of nutritive matter afFo d 1 1 i
grasses, produced imder irrigation, and those produced in rich permanent na'
difference Avas much less than I had expected. An instance may suffice.

pasture land. Th

Eye-grass (Lolium peremie), at the time of flowering, taken from a water meadow that hid
been fed off with sheep till the end of April, afforded of nutritive matter - - .

The same weight of this grass, taken from a rich old pasture that had been shut up for hav
about the same time, afforded of nutritive matter - - - - • ._

The same grass from the meadow that had not been depastured in the spring, afforded

That from the rich pasture that had not been depastured, afforded - ^ ^

72 grai

ms.

95

110
120

A water-meadow may be said to be a hot-bed for grass. The rapidity with which
tion advances by the process of irrigation, justifies the comparison. The small deficien f
nxvtritive matter in water-meadow hay, is what might be expected from such a cause*
find it exemplified by daily experience, in the instances of esculent vegetables that are forced
beyond their natural habits. The same effects are produced by the application of an excess of

as we

manure.

On a spot, in a field of artificial pasture, where a large portion of cow-dung had been accu-
milated, the grass was extremely rank, and of a very deep green colour, distin^-uishable from
the rest of the Rye-grass pasture at a considerable distance.

Fou

L

r ounces weight of this luxuriant tuft was submitted to experiment, and it^

afforded of nutritive matter

The same quantity of grass from a moderately rich soil, that surrounded this
luxuriant patch, afforded of nutritive matter - -

In another trial, the same species of grass, produced on a soil entirely destitute of
manure, afforded of nutritive matter

On the same soil excessively manured, the grass afforded only
Common Quaking-grass, on a soil moderately enriched, afforded fourteen ounces^
of grass, the given weight of which contained of nutritive matter

■ ^ ■

On a poor siliceous sandy soil incumbent on clay, it afforded sixteen ounces of

grass, the given weight of which afforded
From a soil consisting almost of pure clay, the produce of grass was twelve ounces,

r ^

the usual weight of which afforded of nutritive matter

72 grains.

122

95

50

90

80

69

1

rass (Holcus avenaceus), from a clayey loam moderately ma
nured, was twenty-three ounces of grass, the given weight of grass contained

From a soil almost pure clay, the produce of grass was thirteen ounces, four of
which afforded of nutritive matter - - _ .

From a siliceous sandy soil, with a small portion of manure, the produce was ten
ounces of grass, the given quantity afforded - - -

r

From a Iicalh soil, tlie produce of grass was eight ounces, four of which afforded

84

89

80

of nutritive matter

83

the chemical process at the same stage of growth.

(two year old plants)

a

285

When

grasses, it will be found the most expeditious way to obtain a good sward, to replace the turf
on the new-formed ridges, and afterwards to give a top-dressing with compost, and then to sow
a mixture of the following grass-seeds: Alopccums pratensis, DactijUs glomemta, Festuca pra-

foli

Holcits avenaceus, and a small proportion of the Agrostis stolonifc

Consolidat-

ing the surface with a heavy roller would Le of infinite service, but the turf is often displaced
by the operation. A light bush-harrow, therefore, drawn over the surface to cover the seeds,
or rather to draw them into the interstices of the turfs, followed by a light w^ooden roller drawn
by men, in the same manner as the bush-harrow, will be found the best mode of manaoement.

It is customary, when forming a water-meadow out of inert peat-bogs, to throw the coarse
surface (composed of segs and rushes chiefly), promiscuously together to form the rido-es- but
it would surely be more advantageous to pare and burn a surface of this nature, as it aifords an
abundance of excellent ashes; and without these, or a substitute perhaps of a more expensive
nature, to apply as a top-dressing, previous to sowing the seeds, soils of this description remain
for years in a state of comparative sterility. Caustic or hot lime, is found to be the very best
simple manure that can be applied to inert peat-moss, to bring it into a state of activity. When
the ridges are formed of this soil, the surface should have a copious dressing of hot lime, which
may be with advantage incorporated with the surface soil by a common harrow, and afterwards
suffered to remain unmolested for a few weeks. A thick covering of the ashes, mixed with the
cleanings of roads, waste headlands, &c. should then be apphed; and the seeds of the fore-men-
tioned grasses, with a larger proportion of the Agrostis stolonifera, and an equal proportion of
the ^^ro5ir25^G?/?^5^m, sown at the rate of five bushels to the acre: the ground should be well
rolled. I have made several trials to overcome the sterile nature of this soil (see No. XII.
pagelxiv. Introd.), but in none was I successful, except in that where the above means were
adopted. The best season for sowing the seeds of the grasses, is in the beginning of May or
early in August. It may be unnecessary to remark, that if the soil becomes very dry, previous
to the vegetation of the seed, which is seldom the case in lands of this nature, a gentle water-
ing for one day, will greatly promote the progress of vegetation; provided it can be effected
without displacing any of the surface-dressing which covers the seed.

4 x>

286

IT.

^

Of the different Grasses^ imd other Plants^ adapted for the Alternate

Musbandry.

e

e

The grasses, and other plants, best fitted for alternation, as green crops with grain are
such as arrive at perfection in the shortest space of time, or within the compass of two years •
such as have their leaves broad and succulent, and that do not quickly run to seed. Plants of
this description are supposed to produce the greatest weight of herbage at the least expence to
the soil.

It is a curious and well-known fact, that any species of plant that has continued till its natu-.
ral decay on a particular soil, cannot be again immediately reared with equal success on th
same spot, till some other crop intervene ; but that a different species of vegetable will ther
succeed better, for its peculiar period of life, than it would on a soil naturally better adapted to
its growth, where it had just attained to perfect maturity. This holds good with respect to
annual plants as well as to those that continue to live many years. But it is better seen in th
former, as their habits and duration in the soil are oftener and more directly within the reach of
common observation.

On this antipathy of plants seems to depend the theory of alternate cropping Avith green
crops and grain, varying in some measure according to the circumstances of soil and climate;
but the principle appears to remain the same.

On analyzing a soil immediately before and after producing an impoverishing crop, the re-
suits of such analysis do not point out any diminution in the weight or proportions of its consti-
tuents, sufficient to account for the weight of vegetable matter produced. The decomposing
animal and vegetable matters of the soil^, are the only constituents wherein a sensible loss is per-

ceived. ,

M. Braconnot grew plants in substances free from any kind of soil, as in flowers of sulphur,

, w

r ■

and in metal. He supplied the plants with distilled water only. They arrived, by these means,
to a perfect state of maturity. The produce was submitted to careful analysis; and the results
shewed that the different vegetables so produced, contained all the constituents of the different
species, precisely the same as when the plants were cultivated on their natural soils ^.

Some have supposed that the antipathy of plants arises from the roots depositing a noxious

4

matter in the soil. And according to the experiments of M. Burgmanns, Oats are thus killed by
the Field Saw-wort; Wheat by the Blue Erigeron; Flax by the Corn Scabious, and the Purple
Spurge; and Buck- wheat by the Corn Spurry.

The analysis of a plant, therefore, and of the soil which produced it, appear insufficient to
account for the true cause of the impoverishing principle of vegetables to the soil, and why one
species should exhaust it more than another.

Some useful information, however, on this very interesting point, may probably be drawn
from facts obtained by daily practice and observation in the warden and the farm.

* Annales de Chimie, Fcv. ct Mars, 1808.

287

Grecu Food.

lbs.

r

Mangel-wurzel, br white beet, (Beta cicla), produces upon a suitable soil, or a deep rich loam, on")

an average, twenty-five tons of green food per acre, every pound weight of which contains 390 ( 06OOO

Nutritive
Matter.

lbs.

grains of nutritive matter, and therefore per acre

3120

Carrots, (Baucus carota), produce upon a deep light loam, on an average, eleven tons, every7

pound of which contains 750 grains of nutritive matter - - . . . ' .' j^^^'^^
Potatoes, (Soianum tuberosum), produce upon a fresh loam of intermediate quality as to moisture^

and dryness, on an average, 15 tons per acre, affording of nutritive matter per pound, 1440 grains )^^^^
The common field or white turnip, (Brassica rdpa, var.), affords from a sandy loam, upon an aveO

rage per acre, 16 tons of green food, a pound of which contains 320 grains of nutritive matter 3
The Swedish turnip, or ruta baga, (Brassica rapa, var.), produces on a favourable soil, or a strong")

loam, on an average, 13 tons per acre, a pound weight of which affords of nutritive matter 440 V 29120

2640

6912

1638

1830

grams

Cabbages, (Brassica oleracea, var.), which delight in a rich strong loam, afford of green food, on7 ^
an average per acre, 25 tons, every pound of which contains 540 grains of nutritive matter i

Kohl rabi, (Brassica oleracea, var.), the produce from a soil similar to that for cabbages, or Swe-")

dish turnips, is on an average 14 tons per acre*, and affords of nutritive matter per pound, 420 > 31360

4320

grams

1881

I,

If a plant, therefore, impoverishes the soil in proportion to the weight of vegetable substance
it produces on a given space of ground, the following will be the order In which the plants just
mentioned exhaust the land.

Mangel-wurzel
Cabbages
White Turnip
Potatoes -

Kohl- rabi
Swedish Turnip
Carrots

25
25

16

jg ! The proportions which they bear to each other

14

13
11

with respect to weight of produce.

J

Experience has long since proved, that Carrots exhaust the soil in a much greater degree

White

than any of these plants. But when we take the weight of nutritive matter which a plant
affords from a given space of ground, the results are very different, and will be found to agree
with daily experience in the garden and on the farm.

Potatoes

Cabbag

res

Mangel-wurzel
Carrots
Kohl-rabi
Swedish Turnip
Common Turnip

63 ^

42
28

24 >

17

16

14 J

The proportion in which they stand to each
other, with respect to the weight of nutri-
tive matter per acre, and in exhausting the
land.

* The average of some of these crops may be thought too small perhaps, but from information with which I have been
favoured from extensive Cultivators, and careful comparisons of the produce, as stated in the Agricultural Surveys, and in Mr.
Young's Annals, I believe the above correct.

r^^s

r^

288

The effects of some plants are only to impoverish the soil for an immediate succession of th
same plant; while others have the property of exhausting the land, not only for an immediat
succession of themselves, but likewise for every other kind of vegetable.

A consideration of the difference in the composition or component parts of the nutritive mit
ter of different species of plants, it appears, will account in some measure for this pronertv

)

vege-

ve-

tables consists, for the most part, of five distinct vegetable substances — mucilao-e or starch
charine matter, gluten or albumen, and bitter extractive or saline matters. A plant therefoi'e
whose nutritive matter consists of one or two of these principles only, will impoverish the soil in
a greater degree, for an immediate succession of the same plant, than a different species of
getable that has its nutritive matter composed of a greater variety of these substances. Hence
plants that have the greatest dissimilarity in the number and proportion of vegetable principles
which constitute their nutritive matter, will be found best fitted to succeed each other in alter-
nate cropping. The different varieties of Wheat consist almost entirely of starch and gluten,
while Barley, Pease, and Turnips, contain a greater proportion of saccharine matter which is
wanting in Wheat, and are consequently best qualified to precede, or follow that grain, in alter-
nation with green crops. Oats, Rye, and Beans, afford nutritive matters similar to Wheat,
though in less proportion; and a crop of either of these will have a like effect on the soil as
that of Wheat, though in a less degree, but totally different from those of Barley, Pease, and
Turnips. The former plants, therefore, as they impoverish the soil only for an immediate sue-
cession of themselves, msij he termed partial impoverishers ; and the latter, exhausting the land
for themselves, as well as, in a degree, for every other kind of vegetable, may be called genera!
impovcrishers, ,

If the nutritive matters of the following plants be examined with this view, they will be
found to rank either as general or partial impoverishers.

General IiDpoverishers.

Oats,

Rye,

Potatoes,

Carrots,

Mangel-wurzel,

Partial Inipoverlsliers.

Wheat,
Pease,

B

cans.

Turnips,

Cabb

a

ges

Kohl-rabi,
Bunias orientalis.

CI

overs.

Sainfoin,

Lucern,

Grasses when mown.

It does not fall within the limits of these pages, to give an account of all the plants employed
in \he Alternate Husbandry, but only of such as have been more particularly submitted to expe-
riment in this Series. There has been, however, several plants of this class made trial of, with
respect to the quantity of nutritive matter they contain, some account of which will be found in
the Notes, beginning at page 310.

y

I

W

\

-\

»

t

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I

i

Decumhent Meadow-grass.

290

TrifoUtim macrorhizum Long-rooted Clover.

Specific character: Legumes racemed, naked, one-seeded, h
Obs. — This plant appears to be the T, massanense, Lin. S^

^

M

erect.
Mali

lotus minima recta lutea, siliquis crassis, curtis in capitulum congestis radiatis s * f

graeci. Hist. ii. t. 16, f. 9, & t. 15, f. 9-

Melilot

Le

aves ternate, flesh y.

semi-

subserrate; flowers yellow, small; legumes rather oblong, whitish, wrinkled, with
circular streaks ; seeds bigger than in T.melilotus officinalis, (Lin. Mant.); racemes axillary,
short, erect; legumes one or two-seeded, subcompressed, pendulous, oblong, attenuated at
both ends, acute slightly curved in one side, (Desfont).
Native of Siberia, or, according to the above, Italy, Sicily, and Barbary. Root biennial,
Experiments. — At the time of flowering, the produce from a rich clayey loam, is

SO
- 660

Herbage, 110 oz. The produce per acre

80 dr. of grass weigh when dry

The produce of the space, ditto

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying

64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter

*

The produce of the space, ditto

At the time the seed is ripe, the produce is,
Herbage, 144 oz. The produce per acre
80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry
The produce of the space, ditto

dr. qr.

oz.

1197900

lbs.

74868 12

449212

28075 12
46793

2 2
68 3

. 46792 15

2924 8

1568160

98010

34
979 Of

666468

41654 4

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying
64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter
The produce of the space, ditto

6&^6o 12

2 3

99

67381 14

4211 5

The root of this species of Clover is biennial when the plant is permitted to perfect its seed ;
but if kept from flowering, the root remains fertile for four or five years. It produces little
after-grass, but a great weight of crop at the time of flowering. In this respect it is much su-
perior to most other plants of the same class employed in alternate cropping, as the following
particulars manifest :

Trifolmm pratense, (broad-leaved red clover), produces per acre, herbage

Ditto,

hay

Affords, ditto, of nutritive matter
Medkago sativa, (lucern), from a soil of .he like nature, produces, grass

Ditto,

hay

Hedysarum onobrychis^ (sainfoin),

Affords of nutritive matter
produces per acre, herbage

Ditto,

hay

Affords of nutritive matter

lbs.

- 49005

- 12251

- 1914

. 70785

- 28314

- 1659

- 8848

SbS9
345

I ■

It requires good shelter, and a deep soil. The deficiency of latter-math takes much from
the merits of this plant. Under circumstances where it may be desirable to plough up the
land after the summer crop is taken, hardly any plant can be more valuable than this one; as

facts, it is evident that this plant, on an equal soil, aiFords

oregoing

(

/

\

:*

».

/*

•*

1

1

I

/

i

•1

y

I

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\

r*

r

/

\
\

/

I

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f •

/

>

1

i

Trifolium macrorhmm.

r^

■

\

f.

1 •

•>

^ *

^

i

t

.-i

Long-rooted Clover.

\

• /

t

292

r

twice the quantity of nutritive matter of that afforded by the Broad-leaved Clov Tl,

duce of Lucern, in quantity, comes nearer to this Clover, but it is inferior m vim^ •+• t

"Utriuent qualities.

The lonff continuance of Lucern in the soil, is therefore the chief advantao-^ iV r^^

^ . . ' ^vtiuLdge It possesses

over this

plant; however, when that, or depasturing, is particularly desired, the Broad-1 rl PI
and Lucern are greatly superior.

The value of the herbage of Sainfoin is equal to that of the Broad-leaved Clov

and

pro-

portionally less than that of the Long-rooted Clover, as 10 to 11. The weight of h '

comparatively small on a soil of the nature above described, it is doubtless inferior O rl
hilly situations, and chalky soils, however, it may be their superior in every respect
of its valuable herbage.

on account

White or Siberian Melilot

Clover, was cultivated by Arthur Young, Esq. as he informs us in his Annals of Agriculture
The produce, by drilling on a moist loam, with a cold marshy bottom, was seven and a half
tons per acre. It was given to horses, working oxen, and calves, and they ate it very readily,
some even greedily. i*

From the foregoing details, it is evident the Long-rooted Clover should be cut at the time
of flowering. It can only be locally useful, as in instances where it is desirable to have the
land ready to plough up before the beginning of August.-

H

It flowers about the first week of July, and the seed is ripe in August.

^ ^

Trifoliiim Melilotus officinalis

Clover, Hart's Clover.

Melilot Trefoil, Common Melilot, King

Specific character: Legumes racemed, naked^ ' two-seeded, wrinkled; acute, stem erect.
(Martyn). ^ m

0^5.— This is very nearly allied to the Long-rooted Clover. The root, however, appears to

he strictly annual. The lower leaves are oblong wedge-shaped; the upper ones eliptical,

they are more serrate, and smaller in every respect than those of the Long-rooted Clover.

The flowers are smaller, and more drooping. The legume contains often more than two

seeds, which is seldom, or, according to my experience, never the case in the Long-rooted
Clover. '

Native of Britain. Root annual. '

/

/

L

Experiments.^Ax the time of flowering, the produce from a clayey loam, is.

Herbage, 6b oz. The produce per acre

80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry

The produce of the space, ditto - , -

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying

64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter . g

The produce of the space, ditto

dr. qr.

oz.

598950

lbs.

37434 6

SO
330

S24606 4

\

- SO 3

21056 13

14037 U
^5S9Q 8*

1316 13

swine

With

mg says, that water distilled from the flowers possesses but little odour in itself, but improves
the flavour of other substances. It does not appear to have been cultivated in England. Pro-
fessor Martyn observes, that there cannot be a wor^p w^.^ o.^^^«. l.v..^..*nrn- for a few of the

\

{

I

I

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y

s *

•. m

I

i

t-

y

TrifoUum melilotus officinalis

t

/

\

■^

t

c

• *

/

^

/

/

V

\

\

m

294

seeds ground with it, spoil the flour, by communicating the peculiarly strong taste of the plant-
notwithstanding this, horses are said to be extremely fond of it. Some Italian writers call it
Trifolium caballium. In medicine it was esteemed emollient and digestive, and was used "

being

cannot be

fomentations and cataplasms, particularly in blister plasters; but it is now laid aside
more acrid and irritating than emollient.

From the above details it is very much inferior to the Long-rooted Clover and
put to any use, for which that species is not equally good or superior: it grows chieflv '
clayey soils. In very exposed situations, it attains only to a small size; while in such as
much sheltered, I have found it exceeding six. feet in height.

It ripens an abundance of seed. Flowers in the third or last week of June.

Vicia cracca. Tufted Vetch.

i

H

Specific character: Peduncles many-flowered; flowers imbicate; leafets lanceolate pubescent*
stipules half arrow-shaped, mostly entire.

Obs, — Root creeping, perennial. Stems quadrangular, weak, striated, attaining a great
height when growing in hedges. Branches alternate from the axils of the upper leaves.
Leaves alternate, consisting of from eight to twelve pair of leafets, and terminated by a
long branched and curling tendril. Leafets oftener alternate than opposite, more or less
hoary on both sides, with silky hairs, commonly rounded at the end, and terminated hy a
short point. Flowers of a purple or violet blueish colour. Legume half an inch lono-;
containing four or five globular seeds, the size of a lentil. Fl. Rust. t. 117; Fl. Dan.
t. 804; Wither, ii. 363; Engl. Bot. t. 1168.

Experiments, — At the time of flowering, the produce from a clayey loam in an exposed situa-
tion, is,

dr.

30

Herbage, l6 oz. The produce per acre

80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry

The produce of the space, ditto

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying

64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter

The produce of the space, ditto . - -

qr,

oz.

lbs.

174240

10890

65340

4083 12

6806 4

2
8

5445

340 5

This species of vetch is chiefly confined to woods and hedges, in its natural state : I have
found it, in two instances, among the herhage of irrigated meadows. When growing among
hushes, a space of ground, equal to that ahove mentioned, afforded 48 oz. of herbage, or three
times the weight of that cultivated in an open situation. Dr. Plot, in his History of Stafford-
shire, says, that this and the Vicia syhatica, advance starved or weak cattle above any thing
yet known; and Dr. Anderson, in his Essays, speaks highly of this plant. It is inferior to
common tares (Vicia syhatica), in the quantity of nutritive matter it affords, but contains much
less superfluous moisture. This must give it a superiority, in regard to nutrient properties, over
Tares, which contain an excess. But it has a strong creeping root, that will always prevent its
admission to arable lands. It might be best cultivated on tenacious soils, and used after the

' r

i

I

i

^

;

\

f

\

c

F-

I

\

S^

jl

t

296

4

manner of Lucern, than which, though greatly deficient in the weight of crop, it is neverth 1

■ «

more nutritive.

43 grains of the nutritive matter consisted of:

Saccharine matter or sugar

I

Mucilage * _

Insoluble and saline matters

20
12
11

Flowers

beginning of September.

Vicia st/lvatica. Wood Vetch.

#-

Oh.

Stems running to a great height in the bushes, where it grows, and spreading widely,
so as to choke its supporters. Leaves of six or nine pair of leafets, mostly alternate. Sti-
pulae in pairs, small, deeply divided into several awl-shaped segments. Flowers whitish,
with beautiful pencil-streaks of blue. Pods lanceolate, smooth, pale brown. E. Bot. t. 79 •
Flo. Dan. t. 277; Wither, iii. 335.

Native of Britain, and most parts of Europe, from Sweden to the south of Italy; also of Sibe-
ria. Root perennial.

Experiments.— At the time of flowering, the produce from a clayey loam, is.

dr.

20
48

Plerbage, 12 oz. The produce per acre

r

80 dr. of herbage weigh, when dry

The produce of the space, ditto - '" -

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying

64 dr. of herbage afford of nutritive matter

The produce of the space, ditto

q*"'

oz.

130680

lbs.

8167 8

3

2670 = 2041 14

6750 10

2 2

7 2

5104 11

319

The habits of this Vetch are similar to those of the Vicia cracca, but it seems more impatient
_ •. .1 • 1 .. 1 . ^ , f

When

r^

situations, the produce is inconsiderable, compared to that of the Vicia cracca, or Vicia scepium;
though in its natural place of growth the produce is six times that of either of these Vetches, it is
likewise superior in the quantity of nutritive matter it affords. Horses, cows, sheep, and the
South American sheep, (lamala), ate this Vetch with more eagerness than they did the other
Vetches or natural grasses that were on several trials offered to them.

Of all the different Vetches that were submitted to experiment, the Winter Tare, or Common
fVicia sativa, var.)

cut at the

time of flowering, afforded 4 dr. 4 gr. of nutritive matter ; Spring Tares afforded only 3 dr. 5 qrs.
^vhich confirms the justice of that preference which practice has given to the former.
Flowers in July and August, and the seed is ripe in September.

*-H

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Jjolium femulentum. Animal Rye-grass, Bearded Kay-grass

i/ii

Obs.

r

This is distinguished from the Perennial Rye-grass by its bearded or awned spikets b

the roughness of the stem and leaves ; leaves broader, of a paler o-reen col
distinguishing marks of the seed, see pages xxxiii. and xliv. of the Introducti
Native of Britain. Root perennial. Flo. Rust. 33; Flo. Dan. 160; En^l. Bot
Experiments. — At the time of flowering, the produce from a rich sandy loam is

40
160

Grass, ^0 oz. The produce per acre

80 dr. of grass vi^eigh when dry

The produce of the space, ditto

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying

64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter

The produce of the space, ditto

dr. qr,

217800 = 13612

108900

70 g

350

7940 10

For the

8

6806 4
6806 4

496 4

-iiiife 1^ bupposeu lo ne tne uarnei ot tne ancients, mentioned as hurtful to crops of Wheat
It has lived under the opprobrious name of weed, nearly two thousand years. It appears, from
the trials that have been made of it here, to be incapable of outliving winter frosts; even in mild
winters I never could preserve a single plant under ordinary circumstances. It is never, accord-
ing to my experience or information, found beyond the precincts of tillage-fields. It is proba-
ble, therefore, that it owes its preservation or continuance in this country to the sprin<v-sown
annual crops of grain. It is reasonable to conclude from this circumstance, that it was not origi-
nally a native of this country, but may have been mixed with the grain imported from warmer
climates. *

The above statements shew the produce of one acre for one year. Being strictly an annual
plant, it may be easily kept under, or totally extirpated, by the practice of the drill mode of
husbandry. Indeed it is never found in arable lands that are managed under this superior sys-
tem of tillage, except when introduced by having seed from other farms where broad-cast sow-
ing is practised.

Flowers in the first week of July, and the seed'is ripe about the beginning of August. Th
seeds vegetate quickly after being sown.

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Lolium temulentum.

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Annual-bearded Bye-grass

soo

Jjoliumj temulentum, var. Slender-awned Annual

Rye-g

rass

Obs. — This differs from the Common Animal Rye-grass in having the calyx Ion ■ tli \.
spikets; spikets more cylindrical, resembling in this respect the Lolium tenue-

weak ; leaves smoother ; root-leaves spreading, pointing horizontally. It part k f I.

characters of the Lolium tenue^ L, arvense, and i. temulentum; hut evidently an Ti

nearest to the last. It is said to be a native of New Holland, being marked as su h li

envelope of the seeds I received ; but as it withstands the effects of the severest frost L" K

Mr

British plant returned from transportation.
Root annual.

Experiments. — At the time of flowering, the produce from a siliceous sandy soil is

a

Grass, 25 oz. The produce per acre
80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry
The produce of the space, ditto

dr. qr.

Xi

02- lbs.

272250 .0 = 17015 10

35
175

^BSSQ 6

5334 15

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying - - , - - _ 1X680

64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter
The produce of the space, ditto

1

80
- 500

11343 12

708 15

This variety is very hardy, being able to bear the severest of our winter frosts. It i

IS consi-

derably superior to the preceding species in point of produce, and affords a superior quantity of
nutritive matter. But neither of these plants appears to possess sufficient merits to rank them
above the class of annual vs^eeds. The seeds are larger than any of the natural annual grasses, and
approach to the size of the cultivated grain crops. Birds are very fond of the seeds. Linneeus
says, that when mixed with bread corn, these seeds produce but little effect, unless the bread
be eaten hot; but if malted with barley, the ale soon occasions drunkenness. It is said*, that
when made into bread with a small proportion of wheat, and eaten repeatedly,, it produced vo-
naiting, purging, violent colics, and death.

Flowers about eight days before the common variety, and the seed is perfected nearly at the
same time as that of that variety.

* Monthly Review, vol. 67, p. 659. Withering.

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Lolkim temulentum

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var.

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Slender-awned Annual

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303

Phalaris canariensis. Manured Canary-grass.

Specifii

tire ; corolla four-valved^ outer smooth, inner villose.

en-

Culms from six inches to three feet high, according to the richness of th '1
roundish, sonie what compressed ; leaves linear lanceolate, acute, flat, rou^h- flo t
compressed, outer convex, inner somewhat concave ; nectary, two fleshy conca

shaped substances on thq outside of the base of the corolla. Schrad

Wither

er; Engl. Bot.

Native of the Canary Isles, also now of England, France, Spain, and New Zealand. Root

annual.

Experiments. —At the time of flowering, the j)roduce from a rich clayey loam on a tenacious

subsoil, is.

- 26
416

Grass, 80 oz. The produce per acre
80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry
The produce of the space, ditto

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying
64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter
The produce of the space, ditto

tir. qr.

oz.

- 871200

I

lbs.

54450

283140

17696 4
36753 12

1 2
30

20418 12

1876 2

■

This grass has been cultivated in England for the sake of its seeds only, which are esteemed
the best for the smaller birds, particularly canaries; whence it takes its name. Its culture here
appears to be chiefly confined to the Isle of Thanet. From the results of the above experiments,
it proves a great impoverisher of the soil. A given space of a rich clayey loam afforded in the
first season 80 oz. of grass, when cut at the time of flowering ; the succeeding year, the same
space was well worked and sown, but no manure was applied ; the produce was only 9 oz. On
the third year the ground was manured with decayed stable dung, at the rate of ^0 cart-loads
per acre ; the given space then afforded 85 oz. of grass. The herbage is but little nutritive, and
the plant cannot be recommended for cultivation but for the seeds only, which are principally in
demand in the neighbourhood of large cities. •

Flowers in the first week of July, and the seed is ripe about the end of August.

■ *.

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Fhalaris camriensis

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Manured Canary-^rass

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304

F

JPoa annua. Annual Meadow-grass^ Suffolk-grass.

^

Specific character: Panicle divaricate; spikets ovate; florets somewhat remote fi

free; culms oblique, compressed. Flo. Rust. t. 8; Engl. Bot. t. 1141. Huds A ^ /q
Curt. Lond. 1. t. 6; Wither. ' • "g • 5

Obs, — The Poa annua is distinguished from the Poa trivialis by its general habit its A'

panicle, and reclining culms; by its smoothness, greater softness, and delicacy- fro P
pratensis, by having the branches in pairs, its panicle more thinly set, and its spikets 1
from both, by its inferior size, compressed culms, and annual root. Martyn.

Experiments. — ^About the middle of June, the produce from a rich black loam is

Grass, 8 6z. The produce per acre

80 dr. of grass weigh when dry

The produce of the space, ditto

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying

64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter

The produce of the space, ditto

dr. qr.

02.

87120

lbs.

5445

28
44 3\

30492

1905 12
S5S9 4

^

2 2
5

3403 2

212 11 2

This, though a diminutive annual plant, is the most troublesome weed that infests gravel
walks, stone pitchings, and the like. It continues to flower and produce seed all the spring,
summer, autumn, and even sometimes in the winter months. The seed is perfected in a shorter
space of time than that of any other species of grass, or of any plant with which I am acquainted.
It will produce flowers and seeds when it cannot attain to more than an inch in height, from the
soil being in the next degree to absolute sterility.

Mr. StiUingfleet informs us*, that in some parts it is called Suffolk-grass, there being whole
fields of it in High Suffolk, without any mixture of other grasses; and he expresses an opinion,
that it is likely to be the best grass for the dairy. But the diminutive size of the plant renderl
its cultivation unprofitable, compared to that of any other of the pasture grasses; and besides, it
IS an annual, which, though it continues to produce flowering culms during most part of the
year, nevertheless is soon injured by frost, and often killed by a continuance of dry weather.
How to extirpate it, therefore, is the point of most importance to be ascertained. Some recom-
mend boiling water to be poured on the stone pitchings where it abounds ; but the most effec-
tual mode is to cover the spot with a layer of litter, or the mowings of the lawn, in sufficient
thickness to create fermentation. On removing this, in the course of ten days or a fortnight, the
Poa annua, and most other weeds in the pitching, will be found completely destroyed.

It flowers and ripens the seed throughout the summer.

* Tracts, page 383.

05

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Annual Meadow-grass

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306

t

Tritimim repens. Creeping Wheat-grass, Couch, Quitch, Dog's-grass,

Quicks

cific chare

s acuminate; leaves

flat; root creeping.
Obs.— Root perennial, powerfully creeping, jointed, coated, fibres downy. Stems slender,
upright, two feet high, but acquire a much greater height when drawn up in hedges,
round, smooth, striated, having five or six joints, which are frequently tinged with red.
Leaves spreading very much, smooth on the under surface, on the upper and the margin
rugged ; they are often directed on one side. Spike nearly upright, two or three inches
long, flat, composed of numerous spikets, often more or less awned. Flo

W:

Smith Brit. 158 ; Flo. Dan. t. 784.

Experiments .—At the time of flowering, the produce from a clayey loam, is.

dr. qr,

oz.

lbs.

Grass, 18 oz. The produce per acre
80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry
The produce of the space, ditto
64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter
The produce of the space, ditto

196020

12251 4

32
115 Of

J

2

9

78408

4900 8

6125 10

382 13 10

64 dr. of the roots afford of nutritive matter 5 dr. 3 qr. The proportional nutritive powers
of the roots, is therefore superior to that of the herbage as 8 to 23, ^

This species constitutes the principal of what is termed Couch-grass in gardens or rich culti-
vated grounds. The

The Holciis mollis and Poa pratensis, are the proper Couch-grasses of light or
sandy soils. The Agrostis alba is chiefly troublesome as couch in clayey lands. Forking out
the roots after the plough, is doubtless the best mode of extirpating this noxious weed; but the
process must not be discontinued while a particle of the root is suspected to remain in the soil,
as the least portion will grow, and the land being so much broken and loosened by the operation,
gives double encouragement for the rapid growth of the plant. It does not thrive well when
combined with other grasses, but is naturally more common in hedges.

The roots contain a large proportion of nutritive matter; they are esteemed abroad for feed-
ing horses. At Naples, they are collected in large quantities for this purpose, and brought to
market. My kind friend, Mr. Thomas Roy, sent me some of these roots from Naples;

kind friend, Mr. Thomas Roy, sent me some of these roots from Naples; they
were much larger than any I had seen of British growth. On trial, the given quantity afforded
6 dr. 2 qr. of nutritive matter ; being, in this respect, superior to the English roots in the pro-
portion of 26 to 23. Boerhaave "recommends the juice of the root to be drunk liberally m
obstructions of the viscera, particularly in cases of schirrhous liver and jaundice. Dogs eat
the leaves of this grass, and also those of the Holcus avenaceus, to excite vomiting. The nutri-
tive matter from the leaves contain an excess of bitter extractive and saline matters.

Flowers about the beginning of August, and the seed is ripe about the end of the same

F

month; but it is seldom good, being subject to mildew.

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Triticum rep ens

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Couch-grass

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808

Milliuni effusum* Common Millet-grass.

r

Specific character: Flowers panicled^ dispersed, aw

Obs, — Stems generally rising to three or four feet in height, with about four joints 7

aves

smooth, thin, and weak. Panicles from four inches to a foot in length • branche 1
Pedicels often in whirls, diverging by glands fixed in the axils, which has caused it h

oji.

Mr

distinguished from the panics, to which it has the greatest natural affinity, by havin
calyx of two valves only. Engl. Bot. 1106; Curt. Lond. iy. 12, 248; Wither. Arr
Native of Britain. Root perennial.

Experiments. — At the time of flowering, the produce from a light sandy soil, is.

IS

a

dr. qr,

31

111 2

Grass, 11 oz. 8 dr. The produce per acre

80 dr. of grass weigh when dry

The produce of the space, ditto

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying

64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter

The produce of the space, ditto

oz.

125235

lbs.

7827 3

1
y

48528 9

3033

4794 3

1 3

5 Ot',

3424 10

214

Th

common Millet, in its natural state, seems to be confined to woods as its place of growth.
It will thrive and grow, however, when transplanted to open exposed situations. It is remark-
able for the lightness of the produce in proportion to its bulk. The foliage comes pretty early
in the spring, but appears, from the above results, to be but little nutritive. Birds are remark-
ably fond of the seeds ; so much so, as to raise a doubt whether, for the sake of the seed only.
It could be cultivated to advantage on the farm. But in covers, where game is preserved, there
cannot be a better grass encouraged : it will save the corn fields. About the beginning of
August is the best season for sowing the seed. The surface of the ground, near the roots of the
bushes, should be lightly stirred, and the seeds scattered over it and raked in ; a few of the
decaying leaves that cover the ground, should be afterwards thrown over it.

It flowers in the second week and latter end of June, and the seed is ripe in the middle of
July, and beginning of August. |

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310

Agrostis Mexicana. 31exican Bent-grass.

h

Specific character: Panicle obJong, heaped; calyx and corolla acuminate, and nearl
0^*.— Culms numerous, from one to two feet high, according to the' naturif \'''^''''^' •
grows in, branched, erect; leaves smooth, sheath-scale truncated- paniJir ^ '''^ '*
tinged with purple, according as it is produced in full exposure to the sun' ^ "^^ ^ T^^'

e sun, crowded with

scabrous florets; calyx-valves unequal, shorter than the corolla; corolla-valves near] "^ 1
hairy at the base. Linnaeus observes, that it is very difficult to distinguish tl.^' ^ '

hairy at the base.

Native of South America. Root perennial,
ander in 1780.

M

Mant

E.penrnents.~At the time of flowering, the produce from a rich black siliceous sandy soil in
. ciinihpnt nn a fpnur^Inno o.,T.o^;i • . J *"^*^ in-

cumbent on a tenacious subsoil, is

Grass, 28 oz. The produce per acre - . '' T cS^nr. ***'"

0O492O = 19057 8 O
80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry - 28 ) ' o u

The produce of the space, ditto - » I56 3f ^ " " 106722 = 6'670 2

The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying - ..

64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter - Sf ) - 7

The produce of the space, ditto - - 14 > ' " " ^^^^ ^^ = 595 8- u

.4

I. delights more in calcareous or clayey soils than in those that are of a siliceons sandy na-

ritio?!? r '7"""?^ "' '''''^'^- -''» --. P"''— plants that soon arri™ at
perfect, on. So far, hcrefore, ,t possesses the requisite properties of a grass adapted for the Alter-

na e Hu.handry ; hut ,t ,s late in the produce of foliage in the spring, and that herbage is not

d.s.,ngu,shed hy any superior nuritive powers, as the ahove results of experiments mantet. It

perfect y hardy. Being a native of a warmer climate, its defects may possibly he greatly

essened hy hemg naturalized, and by frequently rising it fron, seed successively ripened in

lot TI' ,^'.P"T"'' "' ''°" ""' ""^^ ™y *°"S ■■« '° -—'J i« f""!- to the
notice ot the Agriculturist.

It flowers in the third week of August, and the seed is ripe towards the end of September.

J

are tT ""^n"" "T't' ^°"'""^ "" *" ""^ ""^ ^''^^'^S S<=™s, it appears manifest there
but a small number of the natural grasses pecuharly fitted for the Alternate Husbandty.

■e hX!" : ■rir" "'" '''"'" °' P'-^ ^-^ *--'■». - S— -F*. -.h grain.

were before mentioned.

culturist. ^"ngtnemmay not be altogether uninteresting, but of some use to the Agri-

not appear. But from various accoult^ '^T* ^" ^^ ^^^^ V^^'^od, Turnips were first used in England as the food of cattle, does
records. The ancients appear trW b' ^ ^''^ Z'"'*"''^ ^""^ "'^' ^^^^ ^"^wn in the Low Countries, as far back as there arc any
kinds of vegetables adapted for t^heTrm'''' ^'^"^^"t^<l ^ith the value of this root. Columella, speaking of the several

not wanted for the table will ii ♦ 1! ^^^^™™^" ^ *^^ cultivating of Mapa in plenty, because, sajshe, those roots that are

J Will De eaten hy the cattle.

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The meadow

(^Alopecums prafejtsisj

not arrive at perfection so soon as many other grasses. The seed is also often def t"

F

Woldridge, in his Mjstery of Husbandry, &c. printed in 1681, (my copy I believe to be a second edit*

ridge wrote in 1668), says, that '^^ although Turnips be usually nourished in gardens, and be properly a o- ^ ^

to**^^cn. piftntj vet 3.rp
they, to the very great advantage of the Husbandman, sown in his fields in several places of England nnt ^ i r

° ' ""*y tor culmary uses,
as about London and other great cities, but also for the food of cattle." Again he says, that '' in Holla r! fii •

Turnips with the tops, and Rape-seed cakes, and grains, &c. and therewith make mashes for the mwo j •

uuws, ana give it them

warm, which the cows eat like hogs." He likewise complains of the " very great neglect and deficiency of F r i, i,

^ ^^ i^ngiish husbandry

m this particular. "^

Lord Viscount Townshend appears to have the merit of occasioning their culture to be carried to a great extent i P 1 ri

His Lordship was Embassador to the States-General in 1709, and afterwards retired to Rainham in Norfnlk . in , i,- i,

i j.-»vnuift. , 111 wnicn county

the culture of Turnips has been brought to the highest state of perfection by Mr. Coke. In most counties in Scotland thecal
ture of Turnips has also arrived at a great height, and appears to be more general than in many parts of England. Sir John
Sinclair* informs us, that the seod of the Swedish Turnip was first introduced into Scotland in 1781-2, on the recommendation
of Mr. Knox, a native of East Lothian, who had settled at Gallowburgh, whence he sent some of the seeds to Dr Hamilt

The culture of the common Field Turnip is most advantageous on lighter sandy soils; it enables the Farmer to adopt a
profitable rotation of crops on such soils as would not otherwise admit of it, nor support live stock during the winter, much less
prepare them ready for market, without great expense in the use of hay. The Swedish Turnip, or Ruta Baga, is 'equally va-
luable for heavy soils that are not well fitted for the common Field Turnip.

Manure is essential in the culture of the Turnip, which, like all tuberous or bulbous roots that require it, thrives better with
short than long dung. There is no mode of applying it so effectually as that of burying it in the ridges made for the purpose of
the drills; because the dung in this case becomes as it were a hot-bed for the young plants, encouraging their growth in a high,
degree, which is of great effect in defeating the attacks of the turnip-fly. The Swedish Turnip is a great acquisition to the
Husbandman, for tenacious soils. It is seldom injured by frost, and though less productive in the average weight of crop,
contains much more nutritive matter than the Common Turnip, as much as 3 to 2. When sown hroad-cast the produce is seldom'
more than half the weight of that drilled on ridges, though on the same soil.

The nutritive powers of the different varieties of Turnips appear to be as follows :

64 dr. of the Swedish Turnip, or Ruta Baga, afford of nutritive matter
64 dr. of the Stone, or Garden Turnip, ditto ditto
64 dr. of the Common, or White Loaf, ditto ditto
64 dr. of the Tankard, or Long rooted, ditto ditto
64dr. of the Norfolk White Turnip, ditto ditto

■m

The quantity of nutritive matter contained in different roots of the same variety, varies according to the size and texture of their

110 grains,

85

80
76

83

substance.

A root of the White Loaf variety, measuring seven inches in diameter, afforded only seventy-two grains and a half,
while the same quantity of a root which measured only four inches, afforded eighty grains. The middle-sized roots of the Com-
mon Turnip are therefore the most nutritious; as on the contrary, are the largest roots of the Swedish Turnip, affording 110
grains, while the middle-sized and smaller roots afforded only 99.

100 grains of the nutritive matter of White Turnips appeared to consist of mucilage 16, sugar 82; albumen or gluten

2

100 grains.

2. Cabbages, ( Srassica oleracea, varj, are of great value under the circumstance of a tenacious heavy soil, where the turnip
culture cannot be practised with advantage. They require to be raised from seed sown in beds of earth in autumn or spring, and
transplanted into the field towards the end of May, or beginning of June at farthest; and will be ready for use in October. It
IS essential that the seed-beds have good shelter, but at the same time free exposure to the sun, morning, raid-day, and noon.
The soil a rich friable loam. One pound of seed, if properly treated, will produce 24,000 plants, and 8000 plants are considered
sufficient for an acre of land. For the purposes of the Dairy, one acre of Cabbages is considered worth three of Turnips. ^ There

has been some difference of opinion with respect to their effects on the quality of the milk and butter; but they are evidently
superior to Turnips as long as they keep fresh ; one or two decaying leaves upon a head, however, are sufficient to give both milk
and butter a strong disagreeable taste. This I have long had an opportunity of proving.

. The varieties of the Cabbage are numerous. Those best fitted for field-culture are the Drum-headed Cabbage, Red-veined,
the Scotch, or Yorkshire, and the American. The most productive of these are the Drum-headed and American, but the Red-

* Account of the Systems of Husbandry iu Scotland, &c. by Sir John Sinclair, Bart. Founder of the Board of Agriculture.

313

CPhleum pratense)

It is very productive

in the fore part of the season, and the foliage and cuhns are very nutritive ; but it runs much to
stalks, and the after-grass is very trifling.

veined and Scotch stand llic ^Yintcr best. This phant impoverishes the soil very much; in collccUng the produce for consumption,
X\w phuiis should therefore be drawn up by the roots, and not merely cut over, as is often practised to the detriment of the soil.
These different varieties afford about equal quantities of nutritive matter.

64 dr. of the Drum-headed Cabbage afford of nutritive matter, 140 grains.
Swedish Turnips are therefore inferior lo Cabbages in the quantity of nutritive matter they afford, m the proportion of 7 to 6;
and the common Field Turnip is inferior in the proportion of 7 to 4. Carrots are more nutritive than Cabbages, in the proportion
of9to7.

3. Potatoes, (Solanum tuberosum). The varieties of the Potatoe are very numerous, ind the confusion of their names inex-
Iricable. Those most valued in the field-culture are the Ox-noble, Yam, Champion, Purple-red, Rough-red, Hundred-eyes,

r

\ orlisliire Kidney, and Moulton White. Though there is some difference of opinion respecting the time when this most valuable
root was first cultivated in Great Britain, as also of the individual to whom we are indebted for its introduction; yet the most
authentic records agree in giving the merit to the illustrious Sir Walter Raleigh, who brouglit it from Virginia in 15S4. ''The
President of the Royal Society/' Sir R, Southwell, "related that Potatoes were first introduced into Ireland by his grandfather,
■v\ho had them from Sir Walter Raleigh, after his return from Virginia*.

The culture of Potatoes is well kuosvn. They are a very impoverishing root to the soil.

The \:im PoUtoe is very productive, attains to a large size, but is often hollow, and less nutritive than most others. 64 dr.
afford of nutritive matter 222 grains, which consist of starch 192 grains, and saccharine and albuminous matter 30,

The Ox-noble is a very productive variety, contains more nutritive matter than the Yam, but less than several others. 64 dr.
afford 235 grains of nutritive matter, consisting of starch 198, and saccharine, mucilaginous, and albuminous matters 37.

The Purple red Potatoe is smaller than the preceding, but well-flavoured and very prolific. 64 dr. afforded me 241 grains of
nutritive matter, which appeared lo consist of starch 204, albuminous and saccharine matters 37 grains.

The Hundred-eye variety is very prolific on dry loams ; it contains rather more nutritive matter than the foregoing. 64 dr.
afford 276 grains of nutritive matter, which afforded, starch 216 grains, albuminous, and other matters 60.

The Rough-red produces plentiful crops on soils of a molster nature than that adapted for the Hundred-eyed variety; it is
welUflavoured. 64 dr. afforded 308 grains of nutritive matter, which consisted of starch 252, and saccharine, mucilaginous, and

albminous matters 56.

Champion, this variety grows to a moderate size, is very productive, and but little subject to the cwrZ disease. 64 dr. con-
tain 378 grains of nutritive matter, consisting of starch 208, mucilage, sugar, and albumen 90.

Carrots, fDaucus carotaj. The Garden, or cultivated Carrot, is supposed to be an accidental variety of the Wild Carrot, a
common weed in sandy loams, (sec Engl. Bot. 1174). There are four varieties of the common Carrot, distinguished by their
colour; as the Long-red, the Orange, the White, or Walcheren, and the Early-horn Carrot. The soil which answers to the
turnip-culture is likewise adapted for the Carrot; but it requires to be deeper. The highly nutritious nature of this root is well
known; it is excellent food for all sorts of cattle, particularly horses. Swine are said to fatten sooner on Carrots than on any
other kind of food, and the flesh is superior. The only objection to the general adoption of the cultivation of Carrots, is their
impoverishing effects on the soil, and the root does not succeed well if manure be applied with the crop. The most successful
mode I ever witnessed ofraising Carrots in the field, was precisely the same as that of Turnips, with the exception that no
manure was applied with the crop. The seeds were drilled on ridges, about the end of March, in dry weather, and on gaining
their fourth leaf, about the middle of May, were thinned out, and first-hoed, vacancies being filled up by transplanting from the
crowded spots. The produce about 300 bushels per acre. The Long-red Carrot is the most productive, but the Orange variety
is more certain for a crop. Carrots are superior to Turnips, in being more nutritive, more hardy, and less suhject to disease, and
continue good till a later period in the spring. But their effects on the soil unfit them for alternation as a green crop with grain.
The expense of reaping the produce is also greater than that of Turnips. The growers of this root affirm, that one acre of it will
feed as many cattle as three of Turnips, which exactly agrees with the comparative weight of nutritive matter afforded per acre.
Carrots being superior to Turnips as 3 to L 64 dr. afforded 187 grains of nutritive matter, 100 grains of which, according to Sir

H Davy consist of sugar 95, mucilage 3, and extract f.
' The White Carrot appears to contain more sugar. 04 dr. afforded 190 grains of nutritive matter, 100 of which gave sugar

L

98, mucilage 2, and extract 1.

* Minutes of the Royal Society, December 13, 1^93.

h

4 L •

314

*

Rye, or ray-grass, (Lolium perennej, comes soon to perfection, and wlieh i

produces a plentiful supply of early foliage. After the time of flowerino- hn. '" ^ ^^'^"^ ^'''*^'

S, However, It produces

Mangel- Wurzei; Root of Scarcity, Lettsom Root, White Beet. ( Beta cicla, Racine de disette) This •
to have been introduced to the Agriculturists of this country by Mr. Parekjns, who sent the seeds /' """^'^ "^ ^'^* ''PP^ars
directions for its culture*. Dr. Lettsom did much to recommend it for field-culture. It requires a rich de""" ^^'^' '" ^^^^' ""''^
the seeds to be sown in March or April, and .as soon as the roots attain to the size of a goose Lml T '°"" ^""^ '^""°"''""1
plant from plant in the rows. But with this as with all bulbous and tuberous roots transplanting d^ ' '''"'^''"''^' ^^ '"'^h^'
size of the root, as those tuberous-rooted esculent vegetables in general do much better when not tralT T'!'^ '" increase the
the weight of crop produced on suitable soils, make this the most productive of esculent plants But > ' ^"^ ''^'"'' "^

a high degree, even more than carrots. The weight of nutritive matter afforded by Manuel \Yul / ""f''"'^'' ^^^ '"" '"
superior to Turnips, and Carrots, and inferior to Cabbages and Potatoes. '"'"' ^^^°'^ '^""^^^ ' ^t is

_ Kohl Rabi, Bulb-stalked Cabbage, riJra...-c«oZ.rac.a,var.;. This curious variety of Cabbage is a nativ. ,n
n .s much cultivated. They take it up before the frost sets in, and protect it like Potatoes or Tu nios '' "'"^

produce is nearly the same as that of Swedish Turnips, and the soil that suits the one, is equally good fo^th^'T ""' ^'^
either be sown in drills, or raised in beds, and transplanted like Cabbages : in this cas' the bed^lu re t /' ''""''
the preceding autumn. Two pounds of the seed will produce a sufficiency of plants for on. 7 '""^ '"'"'

.woln like a bulb, .„d when divested of the leaves, may readily be mistake^ for te ^i:: ^ f 7".^- ^'^^ ^^ ^^
where these animals abound, the culture of this plant is found to be impracticable. Sir Thomas Terwhit fi / T °" ^""''
Rabi into England from Germany. In 1805, Messrs. Gibbs and Co. seedsmen to the Board of Igr^ ^^^^^^^^^^ ^ '"'''

a quarter of the seed, and continue to supply the demands of the public for it. and for all oTherA ,","*" '"'

best quality. 6. dr. of the bulb of Kohl Rabi afford 105 grains of nutritive matter '"'"'""' ''''' ^' «'^

Burnet, CPoterium sanguisorla). This plant is a native of Britain, growin- in drv unl.n^ «-,ct ^ ,

I. ... fi„. i.,„d„.d ,0 ,.e „o,i.. or .he A,Hc.l,.H. ., M. E.o,„: ,' ^lllTt^TZ . ""'"

period the „„„e,ou. Iri.l. th.t h.v. been „.d. et it, .s . pl„, s„ p„,„„ ^ ,„ ^ j„; ° ' f !''• '"^•"- «-«"■■■

:e:: ::— :;— r r:;r -r-

x.e..„.e,o,,„..on,:r:;:i*: r:::;:—:;:

well. It is less productive than n„Vn a- , • dandelion. It is not a very early plant, but bears mowing

food. Its nutrit ve qu t e^a e e Z tl '^ TTT' '" ''' ''''' •"^""" ^^ '''' ''^'^ ^^ ''''''' '' ''^ ^^ "- -
«eed is ripe, afford 100 gr i of V '"'^"^' ^'"^^^- '^ "'• "^ *^'° ^'^"' ^""^ '^-^ ^' ^''^ *'- ^he

TOgrains. ' "' ""'"'"^ "'^"^^'- ''' ^-\-'S^' "^ '-ves, cut at the beginning of May, affords only

r

\

e„,, ..a „,.do.,::, 1. ° '■"""' " "■"' "'" "' '■""■" 'P»»- "■« ff- *'.-»». He ob.e„e.. ,„., , ,. . ,„,

e.ri V and produeli,e oknt h. ■ , "™ "'"'"■ "■«-«■ S*~'"»- He ob.erve., th.t It li , ,er,

ve,j fond ef .he leave. I, e"," , L" '■""" "'"''' '"■" "'"• '''""■ ''-'• '""'=■ """ "^^"•' 'Pr'" '» ""

cpated .0 th..e of L.e.: :;::!::::,::' ■" """ " "•'■ "■ """"^" '"»- "'-' •» '« ™-''"* *»

90 grains
90

compared to those of Luceru and some other plants.

About the first of Ma,. 64 dr. of the herbage afford of nutritive matter

iJitto, ditto of Lucern,

Ditto, ditto of Burnet, . ^ '

Ditto, ^itto of Bunias orieni alls,
.Ditto. ditto oftheBroad.leaved cultivated Clover, "

It has a creeping root yvhich il7\m^\ f """T "'^^"^^^ ^'^''' ^^' ^''''^ ^^^"^ considered a bad weed in pasture, and arable lands.

g -t> -h-h zs difficult to extirpate onlight soils. Sheep are said to be fond of it. and Dr. Anderson has re-

100

100
80

• Trans. Soc. Art. Vol, V,

315

comparatively nothing duriiig the rest of the season ; and unless the culmns are mown previous
to ripening the seed, the ground is much impoverished by it.

i ■

Hard fescue, (Festuca duriuscula)^ early attains to maturity; the culmS are succulent and nu-
tritious, grows quickly after being cropped, and springs pretty early; but it is very deficient in
the weight of produce.

Meadow fescue, f Festuca pratensis)^ is very productive and nutrient, but does not spring
sufficiently early, and seldom attains to perfect maturity in two years.

Tall oat-like soft-grass, (HokuS avenaceusj, attains to maturity from seed in a very short
space of time. It is very early and productive in the spring, and during the whole season,
grows rapidly after cropping, and the cuhns are succulent. The produce, however, is very de-
ficient of nutritive matter, which contains an excess of the bitter extractive and saline principles.

■i

Yellow oat-grass, CAvenaJiavescens), arrives soon at perfection; the produce is tolerably nu-
tritive, but deficient in quantity.

Rough-stalked meadow-grass, (Poa trivialis), early attains to maturity; the produce is
highly nutrient, but likewise deficient in weight.

The produce

Smooth-Stalked meadow-grass, (Poa pratensis), is early, and rather nutritive,
tively unproductive. The creeping roots unfit it for introduction on arable lands,

n ■

Crested dog s-tail, (Cynosurus cristatiisj, is backward in arriving at maturity,
is very nutritive, but wanting in weight.

Fertile meadow-grass, CPo(^ fertilise soon attaint to maturity ; the produce is highly nu-
tritlve, but comparatively deficient iii quantity.

'■ . - ■ -r ■ . . ■

Nerved meadow-grass, fPoa nervata), is productive, very nutritive, and afFords an abun-
dance of early foliage ; but it does not attain to its full productive povrers in tvFO years.

J

Narrow-leaved meadow-grass, (Poa angustifoUa) , is greatly superior to the Smooth-stalked
Meadow-grass in early growth, produce, nutrient properties, and reproductive powers; but,
unfortunately, it possesses a strong creeping root, which exhausts the soil, and renders it inad-
missible on arable lands.

* J - ■

co„,mended it for cultivation ; but its productive and nutrient properties are very inferior to n>any other plants equally adapted
to light soils. Linn^us says, that its properties are vulnerary and styptic. An essential oil is extracted from the flowers. 61 dr
of the leaves and stems cut when in flower, (June 26), afforded 98 grains of nutritive matter.

. An ointment made of the leaves is reckoned good against the scab in sheep. There is every reason to beheve, that Yarrow
is only useful as a part of the food of cattle, in a medicinal pdint of view.

Chicory, Succory. (CicUorium int',,us). This plant is common on the borders of corn-fields, and poor gravelly soils The cul-

tivated vaHety was first pointed out as a pfant for cultivation, in this country, by Arthur Young, Esq. who brought he seed

rom France in 1788. In some instances, it appears by Mr. Young, experiments, to be more producUve than Lucern, ^Annas

;i«0 Succory has broad succulent leaves, and the stems become hard with age ; it . therefore unfit to be made

1 h r 80 d of the herbage lost in drying 52 dr. which shews it is more difiicult to make into good hay than the clov.s.

T quLi y of : edrequired sow one a r.' is thirteen pounds, but a good deal depends on the richness of the so.l. It requires

to be sown in drills.

^ I

7il of the herbage, cut previous to the time of flowering, afforded 60 grains of nutritive matter.

316

Wood meadow-grass, CPoa nemoraUs)

and

spring herbage is likewise very nutritive, and produced in considerable quantit

very

springs early; the

The after-

■

■6

(Poa compressa)

^* y will

to vegetate from spring till autumn; but its deficiency, with regard to weight of pr d
out of the question for the purpose of alternate cropping.

continues
uce, puts it

Darnel-like fescue, fFestuca loliacea). This grass possesses all the valuable

e properties of

%e-grass, and few of its defects. ' It would, doubtless, be the best substitute for that
alternate cropping -, but, unfortunately, it does not perfect a sufficiency of seed. ^^^^^^ '"

Cock's-foot, (Dactylis glomerata), though not possessing every excellence in a degree supe-
rior to those species now mentioned, for the Alternate Husbandry, nevertheless, it appears h
a greater variety of merits for this purpose, than almost any other grass. It 'soon arriVes It Zl
turity • it bears cropping well, is very productive, and its nutritive powers are considerable It
IS much less impoverishing to the soil than Rye-grass, and when ploughed in, affords a greater
quantity of vegetable matter to the soil. It has been objected to Cock's-foot, that it rises in
tnfts, and is apt to become coarse. But the objections will apply to every grass that is not
sown sufficiently ; thick to occupy, with plants, every spot of the ground, and that is not after-
wards sufficiently stocked to keep the surface in a succession of young leaves. It is the prac
tice of thin sowing and the strong reproductive powers of the plant, that occasions it to appear
a hassocky grass. If one species only is therefore thought preferable to several, in the Alternate
Husbandry, there is scarcely a species to be preferred to the Bactylis glomerata. But with
respect to an early and certain supply of the most nutritious herbage throughout the season, it
will be ound a vain labour to look for it in one species of grass, but only where Nature has
provided It, m a combination of many. It will likewise be found, that the Dactylis glomerata
from Its more numerous merits, should constitute three parts of a mixture of grasses adapted foi'
the purposes of the Alternate Husbandry. The different" species most proper to combL with

cient F r " " ^""" " ' ^"^'^^ ^'^^'^ *^^ P-P-t- «f -^-h tl^- grass is defi-
cient. For this purpose, none appear better fitted than the Festuca duriuscula, Poa trivialis

J^s avenaceus, Phleum pratense, Loliun. per.^ne, and White Clover, which should be in a

mailer proportion. A combination thus formed, of three parts Cock's-foot, and one part of

ttrX" '"* ""''"''' "'' "^^^^ *'^ ^^^^* P^«^-*-^ -d -^^^ P-*-^ - ^terna-
K>" with gram crops on sods of the best quality; and even on soils of an inferior nature, under

Id wouTdh"" . ""^^^^"-^1^ --o-^ will afford nutritive herbage, when otherwise the
W would have been comparatively devoid of it, if one species of grass only had been em-

/

/

J^mis.

■■ ■». ■

li-

4

^ndoa. Printed by R M'Milha, Bow.St«et. Covent-

Gwden, Printer to Hi. B. a th« Prince Reg.^4.

INDEX

A

Agrostis alba, 228, 229.

caniua, var, mutica, 226-229.

canina, 146^ 147, 148.

fascicularisj 154, 155, 156.

Mexicana, 310, 311.

nivea, 152, 153, 154.

- — — ramosissima, 278, 279.

repcns, 230,231.

stolonifera, var. latifolla, xxiii, 112,

113,114,115,116,117,118.

stolonifera aristata, 232, 233.

stolonifera angustlfolia, 234, 235, 236.

palustris, 236, 237.

lobata, 148, 149, 150.

stricta, 150, 151, 152.

vulgaris, 142, 143, 144.

Aira aquatica, 240,241.

ciESpItosa, XXV, 242, 243.

crislata, 190, 191.

flexuosa, 156, 157, 158.

Alluvial soJ], analysis of, Ixiii.

more productive of grass than any

other kind of soil, ibid,

Alopccuvus agrestis, xxxix, 164, 165.

bulbosus geniculatus, 184, 185. '

geniculatus, 244, 245.

pratensis, xxiii, 12, 13, 14, 120.

Anthoxanthum odoratum, xix, 6, 7, 8.

Avena flaveseens, 38, 39, 40.

pratensis, 200, 201, 202.

pubescens, xxxi, 166, 167, 168.

Anthemis noblis, 218.
Antirrhinum llnarea, 219.

Arundo epigegos, xxxiii.
Arundo colorata, 252, 253, 254.

B

Barley-grass, m'cado\v, description of, 203.

specimen of, 203.

experiments on, and comparative value

of, 202, 204.

Barley-grass, wall, specimens of the seeds of,

XXXV.

description of, 140.

-specimen of, 141,

experiments on, and comparative value

of, 142.

Bent-grass, common, description of, 142.

experiments on, 144.

comparative value of, ibid,

specimen of, 143.

Bent-grass, bundle-leaved, description of, 154,

. specimen of, 155,

experiments on, 156.

comparative vdue of, ibid.

Bent-grass, brown, description of, 146.

experiments on, ibid.

specimen ot, 147.

comparative value of, 148.

Bent-grass, avvnless variety of brown, description

of, 226.

experiments on, 226.

specimen of, 227-

Bent-grass, creeping-rooted, description of, 230.

experiments on, ibid,

specimen of, 231.

Bent-grass, awncd creeping, description of, 232.

specimen of, 233.

experiments on, and comparative value
of, 232, 234.

Bent-grass, smaller-leaved creeping, description

df, 234.

specimen of, 235.

experiments on, and comparative value

of,234-236.
Bent-grass, larger-leaved creeping, description

of, 112.

■ specimen of, 113.

— expcrunenls on, 114.

comparative value of, 115, 116, 117.

nutritive matter afforded by the leaves

of, in spring, 120.

specimen of the seeds of, xxiii.

Bent-grass, fine panieled, description of, 182.

specimen of, 183.

■ ^ experiments on, 184.

Bent-grass, sea-side lobed, description of, 148.

experiments on, ibid,

specimen of, 149,

comparative value of, 150.

Bent-grass, marsh, description of, 236.
experiments on, and comparative value

of, ibid,

— specimen of, 237-

Bent-grass, lateral branching, description of, 278.

experiments on, ibid.

specimen of, 279.

Bent-grass, Mexican, description of, 310,

experiments on, ibid.

specimen of, 311.

Bent-grass, white, description of, 228.

experiments on, ibid.

specimen of, 229.

Bent-grass, rock, description of, 150.

specimen of, 151.

experiments on, and comparative value

of, 150, 152.
Bent-grass, snowy, description of, 152.

specimen of, 153.

experiments on, and comparative value

of, 154.
Bent-grasses, general view of, in the order of
their early produce of foliage in the spring,
148.
Botany, the study ot the whole science not ab-
solutely required, to ascertain the different
species of grass, xi.
Biiza media, xxvii, 96, 97, 98.
Bromus arvensis, xllii, 54, 55.

cristatus, 204, 205, 206.

diandrus, 178, 179, 180.

erectus, 94, 95, 96,

inermis, 98, 99, 100.

littoreus, 258, 259, 260.

— . multiflorus, 56, 57-

— mollis, xxxi, 58, 59, 60.

pinnatus, 276, 277.

sylvatlcus, 2/2, 2/3.

tectorum, 180, 181, 182.

sterilis, 176, 177; 1/8.

Bromc-grass, annual ujjriglit, description of, 178.

specimen of, 179.

experiments on, and comparative value

of, 180.
Brome-grass, crested, description of, 204.

specimen of, 205.

comparative value of, 206.

Brome-grass, barren, description of, 176.

specimen of, 177*

. comparative value of, 178.

Brome-grass, field, description of, 54,

4M

Brome-grass, field, experiments on, and compa-
rative value of, 54.

specimen of, 55.

specimens of the seeds of, xliii.

Brome-grass, many- flowered, description of, 56.

experiments on, ibid,

specimen of, 57.

Brome-grass, noddlng-panlcled, description of,

180.

experiments on, ibid.
specimen of, 181.

comparative value of, 182.

Brome-grass, sea-side, description of, 258.

■ specimen of, 259.

' ■ experiments on, and comparative value

of, 258, 260.
Brome-grass, soft, specimens of the seeds of,

xxxi.

-^ description of, 58.

• • experiments on, ibid.

■ specimen of, 59.

• comparative value of, 58, 60.

Brome-grass, upright perennial, description of,

94.

experiments on, ibid.

specimen of, 95.

' comparative value of, 94, 96.

Brome-grass, smooth awnless, description of, 98.

experiments on, ibid.

• specimen of, 99.

comparative value of, 100,

nutritive matter contained In the leaves

of, 120.
Brome-grass, wood, description of, 272.

experiments on, ibid,

■ specimen of, 273.

Brome-grass, wing-spiked, description of, 2/4.

— experiments on, ibid,

specimen of, 275.

Bogs, grasses that naturally grow in, 225.
Bunias, oriental, nutritive matter contained in

the spring produce of, 120.
Bunium bulbocastanum, 219.
Burnet, nutritive matter afforded by the spring

produce of, 120.

C

Cabbages, varieties of best adapted for the farm,

312.

nutritive powers of, 313.

Calamagrostis variegata. See Arundo colorata.
Cattle often subject to disease, when fed on

food containing an excess of bitter extractive

and saline matters, x.
Canary-grass, common, specimen of the seeds

of, xxi.

description of, and experiments on, 302.

■ specimen of, 303.

Canary-grass, striped reed, description of, 252.

specimens of, 253.

'■ experiments on, and descriptions of, 254.

Canary-grass, reed-like, specimens of the seeds

of, xxxvji.

Canary-grass, cat's-tail, description of, 206,

specimen of, 20/.

— ■ experiments on, and comparative value

of, 208.
Carrots, nutritive powers of, 313.
Cat's-tail grass, meadow, specimens of the seeds

of, xxi.

description of, 82.

experiments on, ibid.

.\

I

INDEX.

Cat*s-tail grass, meadow, specimen of, 83. .

comparative value of, 84.

nutritive matter afforded by the leaves

in spring, 120.
Cat's-tail grass, lesser, var. meadow, specimens

of the seeds of, xxxvii.

description of, 84.

specimen of, So.

experiments on, and comparative value

of, 84, 86.

Cat's-tail gi'ass, bulbous-jointed, description of,

86.

specimen of, 87.
experiments on, 88.

Chicory, nutritive matter afforded by, 315.

Clay, tenacious, analysis of, Ixil.

method of determining the quantity to

be applied to poor sandy soils, to bring

them to the nature of loams, Ixv.
Clover, red perennial, description of, 108.
experiments on, and comparative value

of, for permanent pasture, 110,111.
Clover, white or Dutch, comparative value of,

111, 112.

nutritive matter in the spring leaves, 120.

Clover, broad-leaved red, nutritive matter in
the spring leaves, 120.

Cotton-grass, sheathed, description of, 250.

experiments on, ibid,

specimen of, 251.

specimens of the seeds of, xix.

.Cotton-grass, long-leaved, description of, 248,

experiments on, ibid,

comparative value of, 248, 250.

specimen of, 249.

Culm of grasses, varieties of, xii.
Cynosurus cristatus, xxix, 26, 27, 28, 29.

erucssformis, 88, 89, 90, 91.

■ cchinatus, 210, 21 1, 212.

D

Dactylis glomerata, xxix, 8, 9, 10.
patens, 270; 271.

Dog's-tail grass, crested, specimens of the seeds

of, xxix,

specific character of, 26. '

specimen of, 27.

results of experiments on, 28.

comparative value of, ibid. 29.

nutritive matter afforded by tlic leaves

in spring, 120.
Dog's-tail, linear spiked, description of, 88.

specimen of, 89.

experiments on, 90.

comparative value of, 90, 91.

Dog's-tail, rough, description of, 210.

■ specimen of, 21 1.

experiments on, 210, 211.

,EIymusarcnarius, 268, 270.

geniculatus, xxxlii, 268, 269, 270.

, Philadelphieus, 260, 261, 262.

■ striatus, 262, 263.

- sibirlcus, 264, 265.

hystrix, 266, 267.

Erica vulgaris, 219.

Extractive matter, bitter, examined cliemieally
by Sir Humphry Davy, supposed to be little
nutritive, but useful in forming a constituent
part of the food of cattle, ix.

F

Feather-grass, long-awned, specimens of the

seeds of, xxxi.
description of, 162.

Featlier-grass, long-awned, experiments on, 162,

-^ ' comparative value of, ibid,

specimen of, 163.

Fescue, creeping, description of, 132.

■ experiments on, ibid,

specimen of, 133,

■ — comparative value of, 134.

Fescue, barren-seeded, tall, specimens of the

seeds of, xliii,

nutritive matter afforded by the leaves in

spring, 120.

description of, 254.

specimen of, 255.

experiments on, 254,

comparative value of, 256.

Fescue, fertile-seeded tall, description of, 256,

— experiments on, ibid,

specimen of, 257.

comparative value of, 258.

Fescue, fox-tail like, description of, 208.
specimen of, 209,

experiments on, and comparative value

of, 210.
Fescue, hard, description of, 30.

experiments on, ibid.

• specimen of, 31,

• comparative value of, 31,

Fescue, meadow, specimen of the seeds of, xxix,

experiments on, 24,

description of, ibid,

specimen of, 25,

■ comparative value of, 26,

compared with tares, 122.

Fescue, pubescent wood, description of, 134.
— specimen of, 135.

experiments on, and comparative value

of, 134, 136.

Fescue, viviparous, description of, 130.
■ ■ experiments on, ibid.

- specimen of, 131.
comparative value of, 132.

Fescue, wall, description of, 138.

— specimen of, 139,

experiments on, 140.

Fescue, Welsh, description of, 32,

• experiments on, ibid.

specimen of, 33,

" comparative value of, 34, 35.

Fescue, long-awned sheep's, description of, 36.

experiments on, ibid.

comparative value of, ibid,

~ specimen of, 37.

nutritive matter in the spring leaves, 120.

Fescue, darnel-like, description of, 60.

■ experiments on, ibid.

~ specimen of, 61.

comparative value of, 60, 62.

spring

nutritive matter In the spring leaves, 120.

Fescue flote, see Flote meadow-grass.
Fescue, smooth, description of, 62.

specimen of, 63.

experiments on, 64.

comparative value of. Hid.

nutritive matter afforded by the
leaves, 120.
Fescue, sheep's, description of, 128.

-experiments on, ibid,

■ specimen of, 129.

comparative value of, 130.

Fescue, glaueou'j, description of, 136.

experiments on, ibid.

specimen of, 137.

comparative value of, 138.

Festuca alopecuroides, 208, 209, 210.

Cambrica, 32, 35.

Festuca dumetorum, 134^ 135^

duriuscula, 30, 32.

-elatiorfertllis, 256,258.

- elatior sterilis, xllii, 254,' 256 '

- glauca, 136, 138.

- glabra, 62, 64. ■

- lollacea, 60, 62.
-myurus, 138, 140.

- ovina, 128, 130.

- ovina hordlformis, 36, 37.

- pratensis, xxix, 24, 26.
-rubra, 132, 134.

- vivipara, 130, 132,

- fluitans, see Poa flultans,
Fiorin-grass, see Agrostis stolonifera, var. la-

tifolla.

Flea-bane, great, or ploughman's spikenard, a
troublesome weed in sandy pastures, bow to
destroy, 219, 220.

Flowers of grasses, varieties of, xiv.

parts of, XV,

Food of cattle, the nutritive powers of, can be

only satisfactorily ascertained by the
aids of chemistry, viii.

Food of cattle, green, its laxative nature cor-
rected by the bitter extractive prin-
cljjle, X.

Food, the succulency of, and the different vege-
table principles it contains, influences
its fattening qualities, ibid.

Fox-tail, bulbous-rooted, knee-jointed, descrip-
tion of, 184.

' experiments on, and comparative value

of, ibid.

• specimen of, 186.

Fox-tai!, meadow, specimen of the seeds of^xxili.

[ experiments on, 12.

• specimen of, 13.

■ comparative value of, 14,

nutritive matter afforded by the leaves

of, in spring, 120,
Fox-tail grass, knee-jointed, description of, 244.

- experiments on, and value of, ibid.

specimen of, 245.

Fox-tail, slender, specimens of the seeds of,

xxxix. •

description of, 164.

experiments on, ibid.

specimen of, 165,

G

r ■ L

Grasses, selection of, for permanent pasture on

soils of the best quality, 122, 123.

out of 215 species, two only have been

cultivated to any extent, 1.

the knowledge of, yet in its infancy,

ihid, '

the length of time required to ascer-
tain the relative value of the different
species of, discouraging to farmers, ii.

a hope of promoting the knowledge of

. the different species and varieties, in-
duced the Duke of Bedford to institute

a series of experiments on, ill.

chemical process, to ascertain the com-
parative nutritive powers of, vi.

vegetable principles that constitute the

nutritive matter of, vi.

: every distinct species of, differs from all

others, in one or more of the proper-
ties, which alone render them of va-
lue to the farmer, xi.

— botanical terms used in describing the

structure of, ibid.
. comparative advantages and disadvan-

INDEX.

tagcs of depasturing or mowing the
first year on dry sandy soils, 224, 225.

Grasses, specimens of the seeds of, xix, xlv.

that naturally grow in moist soils and

irrigated meadows, 225.

that peculiar structure which distin-
guishes them from all other plants, xlv.

■ general catalogue of, xlviii.

selections of for early fioweiing, 119.

— that aObrd the least nutritive matter from

the first growth in spring, what, 120.

that afford the greatest quantity of nu-
tritive matter, what, ihld.

the composition of the nutritive matter

of the leaves of, 120, 121.

' ■ not two species afford nutritive matter

of the like composition, 122.

-^— nothing retards the after-growth so much

as close cropping the first shoots of,
early in tlie spring, 224.
' the different species of, natural to dry

sandy pastures, 126, 12/.

the attempt to cultivate them on soils

not naturally adapted for, a vain la-
bour, 152. - *

the kinds best adapted for improving dry

sandy pastures, 223.
Grazing, the leaves of grasses the most valuable

part of the plant for, 120.
. statement of the nutritive powers of the

spring leaves of the grasses adapted

for, 120.

*

H

Hair-grass, crested, description of, 190.

. experiments on, ibid,

specimen of, 191.

Hair-grass, turfy, specimens of the seeds of, xxv,

description of, 242.

specimen of, 243.'

experiments on, 242.

Hair-grass, zig-zag, specimens of the seeds of, xll.

description of, 156.

specimen of, 15/.

experiments on, 15S, 159.

Hair-grass, water, description of, 240.
experiments on, and comparative value

of, ibid.

specimen of, 241.

Hassocks, see Aira csespitosa.
Heath-soil, analysis of, Ixi.
Hedysarum onobrychls, 21 Jj 218, 219.
Hllaire, M. St., his natural arrangement of

grasses, xlvii.
Holcus avenaceous, 48-50.

avenaceous muticus, 52, 53.

odoratus (repens), 46-48.

mollis, xxxlx, 42-45,

lanatus, xxv, 40-42. 120.

Hog-weed, nutritive matter afforded by, 314.
Hordeum murlnum, xxxv, 140-142.

pratense, 202-204.

Husbandry alternate;, of the grasses best adapted

for, 2S6-316.
impoverishing crops in, 288.

I

Irrigation, all the superior grasses thrive under,

225.

Irrigated meadows, grasses that naturally grow

in, 225, 283.

hints for forming, value of, 281, 282.

experiments on the grass of, 284.

compared to that of rich ancient pas-
ture, ibid.

best season for sowing the seeds on, 285.

K

Kohl Rabi, nutritive matter afforded by, 314.

Loam, sandy, analysis of, Ixi.

rich black clayey, analysis of, IxH.

Clayey, analysis of, ibid.

Lathyrus pratensis, 74-76, 120.

Leaves of grasses, description and varieties of,

Xlll.

Lolium temulentunij xlv, 298^ 299.

temulentum, var. 300, 301.

perenne, xxxiii, 104-107.

Lotus corniculatus, 196-198.

major, 120.

Lyme-grass, jointed, specimens of the seeds of,

xxxiii.
description of, 268.

— experiments on, ibid.
specimen of, 269.

Lyme-grass, Philadelphian, description of, 2G0.

specimen of, 261.

experiments on, and comparative value

of, 260-262.

Lyme-grass striated, description of, 262.

experiments on, and comparative value

of, 262.

specimen of, 263.

Lyme-grass, Siberian, description of, 264.

• specimen of, 265.

experiments on, 264.

Lyme-grass, rough, description of, 266.

. experiments on, ibid.

specimen of, 267.

M

Mat-grass, upright, specimens of the seeds of,

xix.

description of, 170.

experiments on, ibid.

specimen of, 171 •

Mangel Wurzel, nutritive matter afforded by,

314.

Meadow-grass, alpine, description of, and ex-
periments on, 186.

specimen of, 187-

Meadow-grass, annualj description of, and ex-
periments on, 304.

. — specimen of, 305. •

Meadow-grass, flat-stalked, description of, 192.

■ — experiments on, ibid.

• ■ specimen of, 195.

-. comparative value of, 194-196.

specimens of the seeds of, xxvll.

Meadow-grass, flat-stalked, upright, descrip-
tion of, 194.

experiments on, ibid. ' •

specimen of, 195.

comparative value of, 194-196.

Meadow-grass, fertile, description of, 70.

specimen of, 71 •

experiments on, and comparative value

of, 70-72.
nutritive matter in the spring leaves,

120.

Meadow-grass, flote, description of, 238.

. specimen of, 239.

experiments on, 238,

Meadow-grass, narrow-leaved, description of, 68.

specimen of, 69.

— experiments on, and comparative value

of, 68-70.
Meadow-grass, nerved, description of, 70.
nutritive matter in the spring leaves,

120.

Meadow-grass, nerved, experiments on, and

value of, 76-/8.

specimen of, 77.

Meadow-grass, glaucous, description of, 80.

specimen of, 81 .

' experiments on, 82.
Meadow-grass, rough, description of, 20.

specimen of, 21,

■ — experiments on, 22, 23.

specimen of the seeds of, xll.

Meadow-grass, smooth, description of, 16.

' specimen of, 17.

— — — ■ experiments on, 16-18.

specimen of tlie seeds of, xll.

Meadow-grass, sea-green, description of, 78.

specimen of, 79.

experiments on, 78, 80.

Meadow-grass, short blue, description of, 18.

specimen of, 19.

experiments on, 18, 20,

Meadow-grass, soft, description of, 160.-
' specimen ^f, 161.

r

experiments on^ 160.

Meadow-grasSj reflexcd, description of, 212.

specimen of, 213.

experiments on^ 214,

Meadow- grass^ water, description of, 246.

specimen of, 24/-

■ experiments on, 246, 248.

Meadow-grass, wood, description of, 66.'

specimen of, 67-

experiments on, 66, 68.

nutritive matter in the spring leaves, 120,

Medicagolupullna, 214, 215,216.
Melica ca^rulea, xxvii, 168, 169.

ciliata, 100, 10], 102.

Melic-grass, ciliated, description of, 100.

specimen of, 101.

experiments on, and comparative value

of, 102.
Mellc-grass, purple, description of, 168.

specimen of, 169.

experiments on, and comparative value

of, 168, 170.

specimen of the seeds of, xxvll.

Milium cffusum, xxiii, 308, 309.
MlUet-grass, wood, specimen of the seeds of,

xxiii.
, description of, and experiments on, 308,

specimen of, 309.

Moor-grass, blue, description of, 188.

experiments on, ibid.

specimen of, 189.

Mould, vegetable, analysis of, Ixiii.

N

Nardus stricta, xix, 170, 172.

Nonsuch, black, 214, 215, 216.

Nourishment, the absolute degree of, contained

in different species of food, cannot be
ascertained by the process of feeding
and weighing, v.

chemical process recommended by Sir

Humphry Davy, at the suggestion of
the Duke of Bedford, to ascertain the
degree of, in vegetables, v.

Nutritive matter, comparative statement of the

weiglit of, contained in food, and that
of the flesh formed by it, vlil.

nature of, Indicated by the peculiar

structure of the plant, xlv,

o

Oat"grass, downy, specimens of the seeds of,xxxj.
: description of, 166.

INDEX

Oat-grass, downy, experiments on, 166.

specimen of, 167.

Oat-grass, yellow, description of, 38.

— specimen of, 39.

experiments on, 38, 40.

Oat-grass, meadow, description of, 200.

— specimen of, 201,

experiments on, 200, 202.

Oxen, experiment on s.Ix, vii.

V

Panic-grass, glaucous, specimen of the seeds of,
xxi.

Panic-grass, green, description of, 172.

specimen of, 173.

— experiments on, 172, 174.

Panic-grass, slender-spiked, description of, 174.

specimen of, 175,

experiments on, 174, 176.

Panieum sanguinale, 174, 176.
Panicum viride, 172, 174. *

Plants, their effects in impoverishing the soil,
286, 288,

Phleum bulbosum, 86, 88.

pratense, i, iv, xxl, 82, 84.

■ pratense, var. minor, xxxvii, 84, 86.

Phalaris.arundinacea, see Arundo colorata.

i Canariensis, 302, 303.

. phleoides, 206, 208'.

Pqaalpina, 167, 168,

— annua, 304, 305,

— angustifolia, 68, 70.

— aquatica, 246, 248.
■ ' — caesia, 78, 79.

— caerulea, 18, 20.

— cenisia, 160, 161,

■ — compressa, xxvil, 192, 194.

— compressa, var. erecta, 194-6.

— decumbens, 280.

— d'istans, 212, 214.

— fertilis, 70, 72.

— flultans, 238, 239.

— glauca, 80, 82.

— nemoralis, G6, 68.

— nervata, JG, 78.
— - pratensis, xl, 16, 18.
■^ trivialis, xli, 20, 23.

Peat, active, analysis of, Ixiii.
Peat-moss, barren, analysis of, Ixir.
Pasture-land, natural, enquiries resjiecting the

frequent failures in attempts to renew

the valuable sward on, 1.
grasses and other plants that compose

the produce of, 5.
■ cause of failures in attempts to renew

the valuable sward on, 118.

unaccountable assertion respecting its

renewal, ibid.

the superiority of, over artificial pas-
tures, ibid.

the chief properties which give value to

a grass for, 118.

■ selection of grasses adapted for, 123.

manner of sowing the grass-seeds on,123.

■ treatment of seedling grasses on, 124.

the original valuable sward may be re-
newed on, in thespace of fouryears,i6i(i.

Pastures, dry rough sandy grasses and other

plants that are natural to, 126 '^18
221 J - J

less capable of improvement than peat-
bogs, 127.

disadvantages that attend converting
them with the plough only, 221,

Pastures, facts to prove the increase of value they

are capable of receiving, 222.

— -may be much improved by conversion

to tillage, ibid.

how improved permanently, 223.

grasses best for improving, ibid.

Q

Quaking-grass, common, specimen of the seeds

of, XX vii.

— description of, 96.

— specimen of, 97.

comparative value of, 98.

nutritive matter contained in the spring

leaves, 120.

R

Ray-grass, see Rye-grass,

Reed-grass, wood, specimens of the seeds of,
xxxiii.

Root of grasses, varieties of, xil.

Rye-grass, annual bearded, specimens of the

seeds of, xlv.

description of, 298. "

— specimen of, 299.

experiments on, 298.

Rye-grass, slender-avvned, annual, description

of, 300.

specimen of, 301.

experiments on, 300.

Rye-grass, perennial, specimens of the seeds of,

xxxiii.

L

description of, 104.

specimen of, 105.

experiments on, and comparative value

of, 106, 107.

nutritive matter afforded by the leaves

of, in spring, 120.

*

S
Sainfoin, 217, 219.

Seed of grasses, specimens of the,xvii, et seq.xlvi.
Sesleria caerulea, 188, 189.
Stem of grasses, see Culm.
Soft-grass, creeping meadow or couch, speci-
mens of the seeds of, xxxix.

description of, 42.

— specimen of, 43.

experiments on, 44, 45. *

nutritive matter afforded hy the leaves

of, in spring, 120.

Soft-grass, tall oat-like, description of, 48.
■ specimen of, 49.

experiments on, and comparative value

of, 48, 50.

nutritive matter afforded by the leaves

of, in spring, 120.

Soft-grass, awnless, tall oat-like, description of,

52.

specimen of, 53.
experiments on, 52.

Soft-grass, sweet-scented, description of, 46.
• — specimen of, 47.

experiments on, 46, 48.

Soft-grass, woolly, specimens of the seeds of, xxv.

description of, 40.

experiments on, ibid. 42.
specimen of, 41.

nutritive matter affbrded by the leaves
of, in spring, 120.
Soil, every different species of, produces grasses

in some measure peculiar to itself, Ivili.

terms used to denote the different kinds,

lix.

to what theseterms should be limited, lix.

Sods, chemical examination of those employed

m the experiments on grasses insti-
tuted by the Duke of Bedford, Ix-lxiv.

— — dry, sandy, or elevated, different grasses

S„P. 1 ' ,f^^?P^'"^^^^^t^^enaturalto,126.

Suceulency, the degree of, in the food of cattle,

ofimportanee to be ascertained, how it ma;
in most instances, 121, 122.

Stipa pennata, xxxi, 162, 163.

T

Tare, everiasting, 74, 75, 76.

Tares, nutritive matter contained in, 296

manner of growth of, offers a remedy

for the defects of thin sandy soils, in
rearing seedling grasses, 224.

Trefoil, bird's-foot, 196, 197, 198.

greater bird's-foot, 120-198-200

Trefoil, medick, 214-216.

melilot, 292.

Trifollum, macrorhlzum, 120, 290, 292.

medium, 108-111.

■ pratense, 120. ■

• — meiilotus ofKcinalis, 292-294.

rcpcns, 111,112-120.

Triticum, XXXV, 306, 307.

canrnum, 92-94.

Trichodium canlnum, var. 152-154,

■ canlnum, var. muticum, 226, 227.

■ rupestre, 150-152.

Turnips, yellow, Scotch, nature of the nutritive

matter of, ix.

dung of sheep that had fed on, ibid.

Turnip, weight of nutritive matter afforded by
diffl'rent varieties of, 310, 312,

V

Vernal-grass, sweet-scented, specimens of the

seeds of, xlvlii.

r

' -— description of, 6.

— specimen of, 7.

experiments on, and comparative value
of, 6, 8.

nutritive matter contained in the leaves
of, in spring, 120.
Vetch, bush, description of, 102.

' specimen of, 103.

— experiments on, and comparative value

of, 102, 104.

Vetch, tufted, description of, 294.
— specimen of, 295.

' experiments on, 294, 296.

Vetch, wood, description of, 296.

experiments on, 296, 298.

' specimen of, 297.
Vetchling, yellow, see Lathyrus pratensis.
Vicia craeca, 294-296.

seepium 102-104.

syh-atica, 296-298.

W

Water-meadow, see Irrigated Meadow,
Way-bennet, see Hordeum murlnum.
Wheat-grass, bearded, description of, 92.
■ experiments on, ibid. 94. ^

— specimen of, 93,

Wheat-grass, creeping, or couch-grass, speci-
mens of the seeds of, xxxv.

r

' description of, 306.

■ experiments on, ibid.

■ specimen of, 307-

y

Yarrow, nutritive matter afforded by, 314,