ctAsslii. puDiR n.] AGROSTIS. 95 



Root fibrous. Stems smooth, frequentlj'' long, decumbent and 

 spreading in the lower part, putting out roots and numerous stems 

 from the joints. Leaves flat, broader, rougher, and stouter than in the 

 last species. Sheaths striated, smooth, or roughish, particularly in the 

 upper parts. Ligula oblong, obtuse, mostly torn, ribbed, smooth, or 

 minutely downy. By tliis character all the varieties are essentially 

 distinguished from the above. Infiorescence, a loose branched panicle, 

 feomevshat contracted from two to six inches long; the rachis smooth 

 in the lower part, the branches ropgli and angular. Glumes nearly 

 equal, lanceolate smooth, e::cept on the keel, shining, grsen or purplish. 

 Glumelbs unequal, pale, thin, membranous, the outer valve largest 

 lanceolate five nerved, which terminate in more or less distinct teeth, 

 the inner much smaller, two nerved, and bifid. Dr. Kooker, who has 

 bestowed much labour upo}5 this grass, remarks that " in some there is 

 a short awn at the base of the outer valve of the corolla (ghimella), this 

 constitutes the A. compressa, Willdenov/, and sometimes the flowers are 

 viviparous, which is the A. sidvcticc, Linn. I believe all are now 

 agreed that A. stolovAfcra of authors is the same as A. alha. The 

 famous Fiorin grass of Dr. Richardscn ar.d the Irish agiiculturists is 

 what I have called A. aloa, as I ascertained by the aid of specimens 

 gathered in the company of Dr. Richardson himself. I know not of 

 any British awnless Agrosiides, which may not be reduced either to 

 A. vulgaris or A, alha. The tv.o species are indeed very closely allied." 



Habitat. — In dry pastures, road sides, and waste places, abundant. 



Perennial, flowering from June to August. 



The utility of this grass for the purposes of cultivation, is the early 

 period at which it furnishes herbage in the spring ; it also is one of 

 the latest in autumn : th^ latter property renders it one of the most 

 valuable grasses in permanent pastures, a part of which it ought always 

 to form, though from the spreading habit of the plant, which has been 

 compared to that of the otrav.'berry, it should not constitute so large a 

 proportion of the mixture as some other species. This grass is not so 

 advantageously cultivated by itself fcv the purpose of pasturing, as it is 

 making hay, on account of the peculiar manner of its growth ; and for 

 when in this [way cultivated, it is necessary, to obtain the full amount 

 of profit, that the plants should be kept free from weeds ; and as its 

 spreading roots in a considerable degree exhiust the surface of the soil, 

 a top dressing of manure will be found necessary. This grass, which was 

 found from seven to tea feet long, constituted a part of the hay grown 

 in the neighbourhood of Salisbury, an account cf which is published in 

 the Linnc^an Transactions : two acres and r. half of land, accsrding to 

 this account, produced the astonishing cuantity of ten tons of hay in 

 one year. The creeping under-ground steriis contain much nutritious 

 matter and sugar, from which circumstapce, in soii^e parts of France 

 and Italy, they are collected as food for horses, and from the presence 

 of the saccharine matter it has been proposed to ferment them, and 

 brew table-beer. 



