374 HORTUS GRAMINEUS WOBURNENSIS. 



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

 about the middle of September. 



FESTUCA sylvatica. Slender Wood Fescue-grass. Sm. Engl. 

 Fl. i. p. 149. 



Bromus sylvatica. Wood Brome-grass. E. Bot. 729; Hort. 

 G. Fol. 273. 



Festuca gracilis. Slender Wood Fescue. Flo. Ger. i. p. 343. 



Specific character : Spike nodding ; spikelets distant, somewhat 

 erect, awned ; awns longer than the husks. 



Obs. — This species appears to be nearly allied to the Festuca 

 piiinata, but the distinction is nevertheless obvious : in this 

 the spike-stalk is nodding, in that erect; the awns of the 

 F, pinnata are shorter than the blossom ; those of the F. syl- 

 vatica are longer. The root of the former is creeping, but 

 this grass has a fibrous root. 



Native of Britain. Root perennial. 



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

 rich siliceous sandy loam is — 



Produce per Acre, 

 dr. qr. lbs. 



Grass, 30 oz. The produce per acre - - 20418 12 



80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry - 32 7 81 67 8 



The produce of the space, ditto - 192 3 



The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying 12250 4 



64 dr. of grass aiford of nutritive matter 2 0^ <^oo i n 

 The produce of the space, ditto - 15 5 



The general appearance of this grass, and that of the next fol- 

 lowing species {Bromus pinnatus), promise but little to reward the 

 labours of the experimentalist. Its natural place of growth is in 

 woods and damp shady places. Oxen, horses, and sheep, refused 

 to eat this grass when offered to them. During deep snows and 

 severe frosts I have observed hares and rabbits crop the extremi- 

 ties of the leaves. It is very subject to be affected with the rust 

 disease at the time of flowering. Birds appear to neglect the 

 seeds, till every other resource fails. 



Flowers in the second week of July, and the seed is perfected 

 about the first week of August. 



