302 The Vale of Warminster. 
valley of Winterbourn Stoke, up to Orcheston. There are two 
small meadows—(I have not been at the place and am taking this 
from a printed aecount)—adjoining each other, containing about 
two-and-a-half acres: but the crop is something immense. 
There has been a great deal written about this grass, and many 
attempts made to propagate it; and many ‘skilful botanists have 
visited the place without discovering which was the long grass, so 
different was its appearance at different seasons. 
Mr. Davis (above-mentioned), who wrote a volume on Wiltshire 
agriculture, says that it was at last ascertained to be nothing more 
than “black couch,”—one of the worst grasses in its native state 
that the kingdom produces, and a great plague to the farmers. It is 
only found on poor worn-out lands, so wiry and coarse that cattle will 
not eat it, and forms a thick tough covering over the lands, pre- 
serving itself, but destroying everything else. But in those meadows, 
when fed abundantly with water, it it of a juicy nourishing quality, 
and makes the most desirable hay in the district, particularly for 
sheep. The substratum of the meadows, curiously enough, is an 
almost entire bed of loose flints, in which the roots of grass run 
freely—sending out shoots, which take root at the joints, send out 
other shoots, and so on over and over again: so that the stalk is 
frequently eight or ten feet in length from the original root: and 
though the crop is exceedingly thick, it is perhaps not 18 inches in 
height. The same grass grows in other meadows, but its quality 
and quantity entirely depend upon the supply of water. 
I will add, that for the purpose of this paper, I wrote a day or 
two ago for some information, and was kindly told that the grass is 
called Poa Trivialis: that as regards the length of it, it is entirely 
changed since the water has been dammed up to make the adjoining 
lands into water-meadows; which result is only partially accom- 
plished, as it depends upon the uncertain rise of the springs. Another 
correspondent, however, says that the average length of the grass 
is about 16 or 17 feet. It is not cultivated, but is natural to the soil. 
III. Tue Lanevace. 
Among the archeological features of any district, one cannot omit 
aCe rf 
mete ns crite 
