HOKTUS GRAMINEUS WOBURNENSIS. 229 



left untouched by cattle : in the spring, however, they were gene- 

 rally eaten, and the protection they had afforded to the under 

 grasses was evident in the superior early growth of the herbage 

 where the stolones had most extended ; after this the creeping 

 bent was hardly to be recognized till the other grasses had again 

 exhausted themselves towards the end of the autumn. The plant, 

 in this state of combination, takes but little from the soil. 



In comparing the produce and nutritive powers of different 

 grasses, to arrive at a knowledge of their relative value, it is abso- 

 lutely necessary, for the truth of comparison, that the produce of 

 one whole season be taken, and not one crop singly, except 

 in instances where the produce consists but of one crop only. 

 Accordingly, the produce of fiorin may be compared with that of 

 the cock's-foot grass {Dacti/lis glomerata), meadow fescue (Festuca 

 pratensis), and the meadow foxtail (Alopecurus pratensis), when it 

 will appear inferior to the two former species, and superior to the 

 latter. On referring to former details it appears, that 

 The Agrostis stolouijera, var. latifolia, larger creeping-bent, 



lbs. per Acre in one Year. 

 From the produce of one season, taken in Decem- 

 ber, affords of nutritive matter - - 1435 

 The Dactijlis g/omerata, cock's-foot grass — 

 From the produce of early herbage in the 



spring, affords of nutritive matter - 358" 



From the produce at the time of flowering, 



affords of nutritive matter - - 1089 > 1728 



From the produce of latter-math, affords of 

 nutritive matter - - - 281 



The Festuca pratensis, meadow-fescue — 

 From the produce of early herbage in the 



spring, affords of nutritive matter - 382 

 From the produce at the time of flowering, 



affords of nutritive matter - - 957 > 1719 



From the produce of latter-math, affords of I 



nutritive matter _ _ _ 3yo 



The Alopecurus pratensis, meadow-fox-tail — 

 From the produce of early herbage, affords 



of nutritive matter - - 483" 



From the produce at the time of flowering, 



affords of nutritive matter - 478V 1216 



From the produce of latter-math, affords of 

 nutritive matter _ _ . 255 



