y 1002 5 2 



HORTUS GRAMINEUS AVOBURNENSIS. 179 



This species of fescue is very much hkethe rye-grass in appear- 

 ance ; it likewise affects the same kind of soil as rye-grass. Some 

 Botanists have supposed it to be a hybrid, the joint produce of the 

 Lolium perenne (rye-grsiss), and Festucajiuita)is (flote fescue); but 

 the time when the rye-grass {Lolium perenne) comes into flower, is 

 nearer to that in which the meadow ie^cue {Festuca prateyisis) is in 

 flower, than the flote fescue ; the soil and habit sof the two former 

 grasses are likewise more similar. 



From the above details, it appears that this species of fescue is 

 much superior to rye-grass in point of produce. The following 

 comparison of the quantity of nutritive matter afforded by the pro- 

 duce of one acre, will shew the degree of superiority. 



Lolium perenne, common rye-grass, affords — 



Produce per Acre, 

 lbs. lbs. 



Of nutritive matter, from the produce 



of one acre, at the time of flowering 305 1 1 15-^ 

 Of nutritive matter, from the produce 



of one acre, at the time the seed is 



ripe - - - 643 6 7 



Of nutritive matter, from the produce 



of latter-math - - '53 2 12 J 



Festuca loliacea, darnel-like fescue, affords — 



Of nutritive matter, from the produce of one acre, 

 of the flowering, seed, and latter-math crops, as 

 above - _ - . _ 1385 4 7 



The weight of nutritive matter, in which one acre of 

 the darnel-like fescue exceeds that of the Lolium 

 ^erewne, or common rye-grass, is - - 382 15 5 



Or in the proportion nearly of 4 to 3. 



This grass likewise springs earlier than the rye-grass, and im- 

 proves by age, which is not the case with common rye-grass, as it 

 decreases in value, with respect to produce and early growth, after 

 the fourth year of its being sown, while the darnel-like fescue im- 

 proves in these properties after that period of growth. Unfortu- 

 nately, however, this grass does not perfect its seed, the flowers ge- 

 nerally proving abortive ; which renders its cultivation, or rather, 

 propagation, inconvenient and expensive. By parting the roots, and 

 transplanting them, it might readily be propagated ; but its merits 

 hardly warrant the practice. In rich meadows this grass is very 



