350 HORTUS GRAMINEUS WOBURNENSIS. 



0^5, — This grass has sometimes been mistaken for the Agrostis 

 stoloniftra (florin). When in flower there is no difficulty in 

 distinguishing them, the number of florets in each calyx being 

 from five to eleven; in florin only one. The leaves are much 

 broader, flat, and perfectly smooth. By simply drawing the 

 finger down the leaves of the fiorin they will be found sensibly 

 rough to the feel, but those of the floating sweet-grass per- 

 fectly smooth ; by which means the two grasses may be dis- 

 tinguished at any stage of growth. The nectary is in the 

 form of a small heart-shaped gland, placed at the base of the 

 germ. 



Native of Britain. Root perennial. 



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



strong tenacious clay is — 



Produce per Acre, 

 dr. qr. lbs. 



Grass, 20 oz. The produce per acre - 13612 8 



80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry - 24 ^ .Qgo lo n 

 The produce of the space, ditto - 96 3 



The w^eight lost by the produce of one acre in drying 9528 12 



64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter 13^ 079 o rx 

 The produce of the space, ditto - 8 3 * 



The above produce was taken from grass that had occupied the 

 ground four years, during which time it had increased every year; 

 it therefore appears capable of being cultivated as a permanent 

 pasture grass, which is contrary to what has been supposed of the 

 flote fescue. Some writers on the subject of grasses inform us, 

 that kine and hogs are fond of this grass, and that cows, in the 

 spring, are frequently enticed into bogs, by endeavouring to get 

 at the young shoots, which appear earlier than most other grasses. 

 The result of my observations lead me to believe, that when cattle 

 eat this grass it is more through wantonness than any particular 

 relish they have for it. On a bog, where this grass was in much 

 abundance, black cattle only cropped the extremities of the leaves, 

 while the foliage of the Agrostis stolonifera aristata, Poa trivialis, 

 and Alopecurus pratensis, which grew in company with it, were 

 closely eaten down. Birds are fond of the seeds, and generally 

 strip the panicle ere the seeds are all perfected. Schreber informs 

 us, that it is cultivated in several parts of Germany for the sake 

 of the seeds, which are esteemed a delicacy in soups and gruels. 

 When ground into meal, they make bread very little inferior to 



