HORTUS GRAMINEUS WOBURNENSIS. 205 



opportunity to examine it while growing on chalky soils in a 

 natural state, nor to submit it to experiment on a soil of that 

 nature; however useful, therefore, it may be found hereafter on 

 chalky soils, it is evident, from the above details, that it is but 

 httle adapted for the best pasture land. It flowers rather early, 

 but the foliage is comparatively late in growth. 



Pheasants appear very fond of the seed ; they frequently pick off 

 the spikelets before the seed is perfected. The seed is afforded 

 in very small quantity. 



Flowers in the second and third weeks of June, and the seed is 

 ripe in the second and third weeks of July. 



BRIZA media. Common Quaking-grass, Ladies' Tresses. 



Specific character: Spikelets ovate, about 7-flowered ; calyx 

 shorter than the florets ; stipula very short and blunt. Sm. 

 Engl. Fl. i. p. 133. — Fig. 1. Spikelet magnified. 2. Corolla. 

 3. Seed, coated with the outer valve of the corolla. 4. Ger- 

 men. Nectary, Stamens, Styles, and Stigmas. 



Obs. — Stems from half a foot to a foot and a half high, ac- 

 cording to the nature of the soil it grows on. In moist soils 

 it attains to the greatest size. Dr. Withering remarks, that 

 if a seed be carefully dissected with a fine lancet, the young 

 plant will be found with its leaves and roots perfectly formed. 

 Professor Martyn observes, that it is easily distinguished as 

 a species of Briza by the shaking disposition of its panicle ; 

 whence its name among; ancient authors, " crramen tretmdum." 

 The French call these quaking grasses " amourettes." 



Native of Britain. Root fibrous. Perennial. E. Bot. 340 ; 

 F. Rust. t. 39; Wither, ii. p. 148; Hort. Gram. Wob. 

 Fol. 97. Germen Gemeines Zitter^ras. 



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



brown loam is — 



Produce per Acre, 



dr. qr. lbs. 



Grass, 14 oz. The produce per acre - 9528 12 



80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry - 26 ^ •^nqP 13 8 

 The produce of the space, ditto - 72 3x^5 



The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying 6431 14 8 



64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter 2 3^ . ^q „ ^ 

 The produce of the space, ditto - 9 2i S 



