HORTUS GUAMINEUS WOBURNENSIS. 305 



Ohs. — This grass was formerly ranked by Botanists under the 

 genus Poa, hut has since been referred to that of Aira, to 

 which it is more closely allied by its two-flowered calyx and 

 acuminate glumes ; culms from a foot to a foot and a half 

 high, round, striated, a little pubescent towards the top, erect 

 from the lower joint upwards, under that, decumbent; leaves 

 linear, acute, flat, roughish at the margin, and ciliated ; sheath- 

 scale very short, more or less ciliate ; panicle erect, cylindri- 

 cal, but tapering on each side ; spike-stalk pubescent, smooth 

 towards the top, and furnished with a few hairs; calyx acumi- 

 nated, compressed, keeled, terminated by an awn-like point. 



German, Kamm- Schm iehti . 



Native of Britain. Root perennial. E. Bot. t. 648. Hort. 

 Gram. Fol. 191. 



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

 sandy loam is — 



dr. qr. 



Grass, 16 oz. The produce per acre 

 80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry - 36 7 

 The produce of the space, ditto - 115 Of^ 5 

 The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying 

 64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter 2 0^ 

 The produce of the space, ditto - 8 3 



At the time the seed is ripe the produce is- 

 Grass, 10 oz. The produce per acre 

 80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry - 40 | 

 The produce of the space, ditto - 80 ) 

 The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying 

 The weight of nutritive matter which is lost by leav- 

 ing the crop till the seed be ripe, is - - 127 10 



The produce of this species, and the nutritive matter it affords, 

 are equal to those of the Festuca oihui at the time the seed is ripe ; 

 they equally delight in dry soils, though the Aira cristata will thrive 

 well, and remain permanent in soils of a moist and clayey nature, 

 which is different with the Festuca oviria. The greater bulk of the 

 produce of the Aira cristata, in proportion to its weight, makes it 

 of inferior value to the Festuca oviua. In some parts of the country 

 it grows on dry pastures plentifully, where it appears to be but 

 sparingly eaten by cattle, particularly if the pasture be not over- 

 stocked. Rye-grass (Lulium perenne), sheep's fescue (Festuca 



X 



