HORTUS GRAMINEUS WOBURNENSIS. 303 



alpinus and the Alopecurus pratensis, are less dissimilar in structure 

 than the Alopecurus geniculatus and Alopecurus prateusis, though 

 the two last inhabit the plain. The Aira monlana and the Aira 

 aqualica, may serve as another instance for comparison. The 

 numerous evidences of this kind which plants of every class have 

 offered, have led to the opinion that the primitive mountains were 

 the sources from which the plains, formed at a later period, were 

 furnished with plants. 



The Alpine meadow-grass flowers aboiit the third week of May, 

 and during the rest of the summer ; and the seed ripens about the 

 latter end of June, and successively, according as the grass pro- 

 duces flowers. Hares and rabbits are remarkably fond of this 

 grass, and snails devour the flowering spikelets of the panicle ; it 

 requires therefore much care and attention to obtain either seed or 

 perfect specimens of the flowers. 



SESLERIA cocrulea. Blue Moor-grass. 



Cynosurus cocruleus. Linn. ; Mart. Flo. Rust. t. 20 ; Jacq. i. 

 t. 21. 



Specific character : Spike egg-oblong, leafy ; bracteas alternate ; 

 spikelets 2 — 3-flowered ; outer husk of the corolla with 3, 

 seldom 5 awns ; awns shorter than the husk. E. Bot. 1613 ; 

 Sm. Engl. Fl. i. p. 114. 



Obs. — The roots take a slanting direction in the earth ; the 

 leaves grow in dense tufts. Culms from four to twelve inches 

 high, roundish or compressed, striated, smooth. Leaves 

 linear, somewhat obtuse, keeled, rough on the edges and 

 upper part of the keel, between sea-green and bluish. Spike 

 of a lead colour, or sometimes inclining to a purple. Spikelets 

 short, pedicelled, mostly in pairs, oblong oval, compressed, 

 2 — 3-flowered, shining. 



German, Blaue-Seslerie. 



Native of Britain. Root perennial. 



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



light sandy soil incumbent on clay is — 



Produce per Acre, 

 dr. qr. lbs. 



Grass, 1 1 oz. The produce per acre - - 7486 14 



64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter 3 3^ ^oo ia io 

 The produce of the space, ditto - 10 \^S 



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

 Grass, 10 oz. The produce per acre - - 6806 4 



