142 HORTUS GRAMINEUS WOBURNENSIS. 



less. It thrives well under irrigation, keeping possession of the 

 crowns of the ridges : it is strictly permanent. 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 perfec- 

 tion on lands of an intermediate quality as to moisture and dry- 

 ness, and also being somewhat longer in attaining to its full pro- 

 ductive state than some other grasses, its merits have been mis- 

 understood in many instances ; and in others, as in the alternate 

 husbandry, it has been by some persons set aside altogether. In 

 many rich natural pastures it constitutes the principal grass. 

 Though not so well adapted, therefore, for the alternate hus- 

 bandry, it is one of the best grasses for permanent pasture, and 

 should never form a less proportion than one-eighth of any mix- 

 ture of different grasses prepared for that purpose : its merits de- 

 mand this, whether with respect to early growth, produce, nutri- 

 tive qualities, or permanency. It has been observed by the Rev. 

 Mr. Swayne*, that nearly two-thirds of the seed is constantly 

 destroyed by insects : according to my experiments this evil may 

 be almost entirely obviated by suffering the first culms of the 

 season to carry the seed. It flowers in April, May, and June, 

 according as it may have been depastured earlier or later. Seed 

 ripe in June and July, according to the season of flowering. 



The meadow-fox-tail constitutes part of the produce of all the 

 richest pastures I have examined in Lincolnshire, Devonshire, and 

 in the vale of Aylesbury. In Mr. Westcar's celebrated pastures at 

 Creslew I found it more prevalent than in those of Devonshire 

 and Lincolnshire. 



POA prafensis. Smooth-stalked Meadow-grass. 



Specific character : Panicle spreading ; spikets four-flowered ; 

 florets lanceolate, five-ribbed, connected by a web ; stipula 

 short and obtuse ; stem and leaves smooth ; root creeping, 

 perennial. Sm. Engl. Fl. vi. 125. 



Fig. 1. Germ. 2. Calyx. 3. Floret magnified. 



Obs. This grass is distinguished from the Poa trivialis, smooth- 

 stalked meadow-grass, by its strong creeping roots, sheaths 

 of the straw being smooth ; whereas in the P. trivialis, the 



• See Gramina Pascua, by tlie Rev. George Swayne : a work which contains 

 mucli valuable information on the subject of grasses. 



