258 HORTUS GRAMINEUS WOBURNENSIS. 



Obs. — The awns appear to be an uncertain character in this 

 grass, as it is frequently awnless, and there are varieties of it 

 having awns : in the Festuca ovina hordeiformis , before men- 

 tioned, the awns are of a considerable length ; but all the 

 varieties may be distinguished at first sight from the .F. du- 

 riuscula, glabra, rubra, &c., to which it is nearest allied, by 

 the compact though simple appearance of the panicle, which 

 more distinctly faces one way. Besides the present variety, 

 (which is by far the most common,) there is another, which 

 is also awnless, but distinguished by its superior height, 

 reddish-coloured culms, brown panicle, and brown-coloured 

 anthers. The Festuca tenuifolia much resembles this, but 

 the panicle is less crowded, the leaves are as long, or longer 

 than the culms, and bent downwards, while those of the 

 present species are shorter, and grow upright. E. Bot. 585 ; 

 Host. t. 84, var. awned ; Wither. Arr. ii. p. 152. 



Native of Britain. Root fibrous, perennial. 



German, Sc/iaaf-Schwirigel. 



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



light sandy soil is — 



Produce per Acre, 

 lbs. 

 Grass, 8 oz. The produce per acre 

 64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter 75 gr. 7 

 The produce of the space, ditto - 150 3 



The produce of latter-math is — 

 Grass, 5 oz. The produce per acre 

 64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter 1 dr. 1 qr. 



At the time the seed is ripe, the produce is — 

 Grass, 8 oz. The produce per acre 

 64 dr. of herbage afford of nutritive matter 45 gr. ^ 

 The produce of the space, ditto - 90 3 



When cultivated on a heath soil, the produce was somewhat 

 less than the above, but from a rich sandy loam, the produce 

 afforded was greater than from the light sandy soil ; but, as the 

 superior pasture grasses thrive well on this last-mentioned soil, 

 and afford a produce superior to that of the sheep's-fescue on the 

 same soil, as 3 to 1, its comparative value may be considered only 

 with regard to its natural soil and the grasses it produces. The 

 smallness of the produce renders it entirely unfit for hay, and the 

 dry weight was in consequence not ascertained. 



/ 



