HORTUS GllAMINEUS WOBURNENSIS. 157 



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 or two grasses only, in respect of a con- 

 stant or never-failing supply of herbage throughout the season, is 

 in one point, among many others, owing to the variety of habits 

 which exist in a numerous assemblage of different grasses. Some 

 species thrive best in an excess of moist weather ; others in a con- 

 tinuance 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 dryness. 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 weather, with those of 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. 

 When cultivated on a poor siliceous soil, or on a thin heath 

 soil, the culms become very fine and slender, and promise to 

 be valuable for the manufacture of straw hats. 



FESTUCA Cambrica. Welsh Fescue. 



Specific character : Panicle compact, oblong, upright, branched, 

 spikets awl-shaped, awned, leaves flat. — Fig. 1. Spiket mag- 

 nified. 2. Floret magnified, shewing the spreading-feathered 

 stigmas. 



Obs. — This CONSTANT variety of Fes^wca 7'w6;y/ (See Sm. Engl. 

 Fl. i. p. 142), is distinguished at first sight from the Festuca 

 ovina, and varieties of Festuca rubra, and Festuca duriuscula, 

 by the pale green colour of the panicle and culm. The root 

 leaves grow more upright and flat ; when cultivated, the spikets 

 consist of 10 or 12 florets. Stipulce membraneous, blunt. 

 {Wither.) 



Root creeping. Perennial. 



Experiments. — At the time of flowering, the produce from a 

 sandy soil is — 



Grass, 10 oz. The produce per acre 

 80 dr. of grass weigh when dry 

 The produce of the space, ditto 



