320 HORTUS GRAMINEUS WOBURN ENSIS. 



grasses, it will be found inferior. The leaves attain to a consider- 

 able length, and contain more nutritive matter than those of any 

 other annual grasses that have l)een submitted to experiment 

 here ; the cuhiis, however, contain much less nutritive matter 

 than those of most other annuals. It ripens the seed in sufficient 

 quantity, affects most a light rich soil, and is strictly annual. The 

 best time for sowing the seed is in the beginning of May. 



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

 beginning of September. 



Though it does not, from these experiments, appear capable of 

 being put to any agricultural use, yet the form and habits of the 

 plant being specifically different from all others of the same 

 family, offer matter for useful reflection to the lovers of variety in 

 the vegetable kingdom. 



CYNOSURUS echinatus. Rough Dog's-tail Grass. 



Specific character : Spike compound, ovate ; neuter spikelets 

 awned ; awns of the corolla full as long as the glume. Sm. 

 Engl. Fl. i. p. 137. 



Obs. — Culms from half a foot to a foot and a half high, round, 

 smooth, upper part naked, when in seed, simple or branch- 

 ing; leaves broad, lanceolate, at first embracing the stem, 

 and then as if channelled, afterwards flat, towards the upper 

 end and edges rough, the rest smoothish ; panicle or bunch 

 pointing one way ; floral leaves only on the outside of the 

 flowers, alternately winged, the rays ending in awns; one 

 floret in each; husks of the calyx two, containing two florets, 

 membraneous, very fine at the point ; corolla, two valves, 

 with an awn on the outer point. Host. ii. p. 67, t. 95; E. 

 Bot. 1333; Moris. 1. c. sect. 8, t. 4, f. 13 ; Wither. Arr. 



German, Weichslachliges-Raurrngras. 



Native of Britain. Root annual. 



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

 sandy 4oam is — 



Grass, 8 oz. The produce per acre 



80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry 



The produce of the space, ditto 



The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying 



64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter 



The produce of the space, ditto - 4 



