314 HORTUS GRAMINEUS WOBURNENSIS. 



The produce or value of the yellow oat is therefore superior 

 to that of the meadow oat, in the proportion nearly of 

 7 to 3. 

 The downy oat-grass {Ave7ia puhesceiis) affords 



of nutritive matter from the grass at the time lbs. 



of flowering . _ _ _ 366 ^ r^o 



From the crop at the time the seed is ripe - 212 3 



The downy oat-grass is therefore superior to the meadow oat- 

 grass in the quantity of nutritive matter it affords from the crops 

 of one season, in the proportion nearly of 3 to 2. From these 

 facts and observations, it cannot justly be recommended for culti- 

 vation in preference to either of the two species with which it has 

 now been compared. Its nutritive matter contains a less propor- 

 tion of bitter extractive and saline matters than any other of the 

 oat-grasses that have here been submitted to experiment. 



It flowers in July, and the seed is ripe in August. 



HORDEUM pratense. Meadow Barley-grass. 



Specific character: Lateral flowers imperfect, with shorter awns ; 

 all the calyx valves bristle-shaped and rough. Sm. Engl. Fl. i, 

 p. 180 ; Mart. t. 108 ; Flo. Dan. 630 ; Moris, s. 8, t. 2, f. 6 ; 

 E. Bot. 409.— Refer. Fig. 1. Neuter Florets. 2. Perfect 

 Floret. 3. Germen, feathered Stigraas, and Nectary. 



Qlfs. — This species has affinity to the Hordeum murinum, wall 

 barley-grass, in appearance ; but this is strictly perennial, 

 while the Hordeum murinum is annual. The culms ^of the 

 Hordeum pratense are more slender, taller, and erect, sheaths 

 roundish, spike slender in comparison to that of the H. 

 murinum; of a purple or greenish hue ; that of the H. muri- 

 iium is of a dirty yellow ; husks of the calyx bristle-shaped, 

 rough, but not ciliate ; awns much shorter. E. Bot. 409; 

 Host. t. 33. 



German, Wiesen-Greste. 



Native of Britain. Root fibrous. Perennial. 



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



sandy loam with manure is — 



Produce per Acre, 

 dr. qr. lbs. 



Grass, 12 oz. The produce per acre - 8167 8 



80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry - 32 ) ^267 



The produce of the space, ditto - 76 3J^ > 



