HORTUS GRAMINEUS WOBURNENSIS. 233 



arundinaceus, at first sight, when growing, distinguish it from 

 every other species of Alopecurus. The strongly-ribbed lower 

 leaves of the Alopecurm Tauntornensis, with its slightly though 

 evidently creeping roots, in hke manner, when growing, dis- 

 tinguish it from the Alopecurus pratensis and A> arundi- 

 naceus. The more minute though certain proper botanical 

 characters of distinction, are less obvious. The florets of the 

 Alopecurus pratensis are more dilated or are sub-ovate, those 

 of the A. arundinaceus and A. Tauntoniensis are sub-linear; 

 but the florets of the latter are shorter. The edges of the 

 calyx of the A. Tauntoniensis are nearly naked and smooth, 

 while in the A. arundinaceus the edges of the calyx are 

 largely ciliate, and the side-ribs so prominent, as to give an 

 angular form to the valves. The A. Tauntoniensis is distin- 

 guished from A. pratensis and A. arundinaceus by deep purple 

 tints on the calyx and awns. The anthers of the A, pratensis 

 are broad and but little cloven, while those of the two former 

 species are narrow, long, and deeply cloven ; segments bent 

 outwards. 

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

 siliceous sandy soil is greater than that of the preceding 

 species, and on a similar soil the produce of the Alopecurus 

 pratensis is inferior in weight and in nutriment to this grass. 

 The following comparison of the nutritive powers of some 

 other species of grass with the Alopecurus Tauntoniensis may 



be satisfactory. 



Grass. Nutr. Matter, 

 dr. dr. gr. 



Alop. arundinaceus, at the time the seed is ripe, 

 furnished from Cheam, Surrey, (W. P. Taun- 

 ton's, Esq.) - - - - 64 3 10 

 Alup. arundinaceus, produce of the Grass Garden, 



Woburn, at the time the grass was in flower 64 3 26 



Alop. Tau)itoniensis, at the time of flowering, 



from the produce of the Grass Garden - 64 3 4 



Alop. pratensis, at the time the seed is ripe - 64 2 15 



Triticum e/ongatum, ditto - - - 64 4 14 



Fesluca heterophylla, various-leaved fescue, pro- 

 duced on Cheam Farm - - - 64 3 



The superior productiveness of this grass throughout the season, 

 furnishing very early and late herbage equal to the very best spe- 



