MORTUS GRAMINEUS WOBUUNENSIS. 307 



Produce per Acre. 

 dr. qr. lbs. 



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



Grass, 6 oz. The produce per acre - - 4083 12 



80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry - 40 ^ OQH 14 



The produce of the space, ditto - 48 3 



The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying 2041 14 



64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter 5 ^ oig a ij 



The produce of the space, ditto - 7 2 3 



The weight of nutritive matter which is lost by 



taking the crop at the time of flowering, is - 53 2 13 



The nutritive matter which is here shewn to be lost if the crop 

 is taken when the grass is in flower, will not make up for the value 

 of the latter-math which would otherwise be lost by taking the 

 crop at the time the seed is ripe. If the produce of this grass was 

 of greater magnitude, it would rank as one of the most valuable 

 grasses, as it produces foliage early in the spring, of stronger nu- 

 tritive powers than most other grasses. It has been recommended 

 as a grass to cultivate on poor soils ; but the produce is so very 

 deficient, that there are other grasses that might better answer the 

 end, as the meadow-barley, yellow oat, hard fescue, and crested 

 dog's-tail-grass. The roots, in some situations, penetrate to a con- 

 siderable depth, as in stony dry soils. It grows in abundance on 

 the walls which embank the ponds in Woburn Park. 



Dr. Smith, in the English Botany, observes, that this grass can 

 scarcely be put to any agricultural use : the trials that have been 

 made of it here confirm that opinion. It is true that the produce 

 is augmented by cultivating it on a richer soil, but not in that pro- 

 portion which is the result of a similar treatment in other grasses. 

 The culms and leaves attain a greater length on a rich soil, 

 but never form a close turf, being, under every circumstance, 

 thinly scattered over the surface. Though it cannot, therefore, be 

 recommended for cultivation, nevertheless it is worthy of further 

 trials, on account of its superior nutritive powers. 



It flowers in the second week of July, and the seed is ripe about 

 the middle of August. 



POA compressa, var. erecta. Upright Flat-stalked Meadow-grass. 



Obs. — This differs from the former variety of Pua comprasa in 

 having culms more upright, less compressed, and produced in 

 greater quantities. The colour of the leaves is somewhat 



