( 513 ) 



XV^III. — On the Natural History of British Meadow and Pasture 

 Grasses. By Ja:mes Buckman, F.G.S., F.L.S., Professor of 



; Geology and Botany in the Royal Agricultural College, 

 Cirencester. 



The following description of meadow grasses is meant to apply 

 for the most part to such species as are of importance to the 

 farmer, from making up a part of the ordinary pasture in different 

 soils.and situations ; at the same time remarks will not be want- 

 ing on those species which either from their bad qualities as pas- 

 ture grasses may be considered as pastoral weeds, or from 

 occurring to a considerable extent under tillage may be deno- 

 minated agrarian weeds. 



As regards the relative value of the pasture grasses, there must 

 always be some difference of opinion, arising from difference of 

 soil, climate, and other external causes, which certainly exercise 

 great influence, and cause a wide diversity of result. I can there- 

 fore only say, on behalf of my own observations, that they are the 

 result of many years' study of this useful tribe of plants, which I 

 have pursued not only as a botanist, but as one thoroughly alive 

 to their agricultural bearing and importance. Not only have I 

 carried on this study in the field, but I have also kept most of 

 the species in cultivation for many years, and have made them the 

 subjects of practical experiments in reference to their growth, 

 yield, and some of the chemical details connected with them. 



It should be remarked that this paper has not been burdened 

 with descriptions of all the grasses, as many of them, though 

 curious in a botanical point of view, are yet without agricultural 

 interest, and their consideration would have too greatly increased 

 the length of this paper. 



Eefeeexces. — A refers to an annual jirass, or sucli as dies when it has pro- 

 duced its first crop of flowers. 

 B, hiennial, such as flower two years, and tlien die. 

 P, perennial, such as flower for several years, 



A. — STAiiENS,*2. Styles, 2. 



Anthox^V>;tiium — panicle spicate, r/hanes unequal, r/hanel 

 double, outer one with short awns. — P. 



A. odoratum — sweet vernal grass — is the only agricultural spe- 

 cies in this division ; it is a very early grass, being one of the 

 first to flower, and is well known for its peculiar fragrant och)ur, 

 which is more apparent in the dried tlian in the green speci- 

 mens : it is the presence of tliis grass which imjiarts most of the 

 grateful suull and flavour to meacU)w-hay, and whicli in all pro- 



