HORTUS GRAMINEUS WOBURNENSIS. 413 



from seed in a very short space of time. It is very early and pro- 

 ductive in the spring, and during the whole season grows rapidly 

 after cropping, and the culms are succulent. The produce, how- 

 ever, is very deficient of nutritive matter, which contains an excess 

 of the bitter extractive and saline principles. 



Yellow oat-grass {Avena Jlavescens) arrives soon at perfection ; 

 the produce is tolerably nutritive, but deficient in quantity. 



Rough-stalked meadow-grass {Poa trivialis) early attains to 

 maturity ; the produce is highly nutrient, but likewise deficient 

 in weight. 



Smooth-stalked meadow-grass {Poa pralensis) is early, and 

 rather nutritive, but comparatively unproductive. The creeping 

 roots unfit it for introduction on arable lands. 



Crested dog's-tail {Cynosurus cristatus) is backward in arriving 

 at maturity. The produce is very nutritive, but wanting in 

 weight. 



Fertile meadow-grass {Poa fertilis) soon attains to maturity ; 

 the produce is highly nutritive, but comparatively deficient in 

 quantity. 



Nerved meadow-grass {Poa nervata) is productive, very nutri- 

 tive, and affords an abundance of early foliage ; but it does not 

 attain to its full productive powers in two years. 



Narrow-leaved meadow-grass {Poa ongustifolia) is greatly supe- 

 rior to the smooth-stalked meadow-grass in early growth, produce, 

 nutrient properties, and reproductive powers ; but, unfortunately, 

 it possesses a strong creeping root, which exhausts the soil, and 

 renders it inadmissible on arable lands. 



Wood meadow-grass {Poa nemoralis) soon arrives at maturity, 

 and springs early ; the spring herbage is likewise very nutritive, 

 and produced in considerable quantity. The after-grass in the 

 autumn is, however, very inferior. 



Flat-stalked meadow-grass {Poa compressa) affords much nutri- 

 tive matter, and continues to vegetate from spring till autumn ; 

 but its deficiency, with regard to weight of produce, puts it out of 

 the question for the purpose of alternate cropping. 



Darnel-like fescue {Festuca loliacea). This grass possesses all 

 the valuable properties of rye-grass, and few of its defects. It 

 would, doubtless, be the best substitute for that species in alter- 

 nate cropping ; but, unfortunately, it does not perfect a sufficiency 

 of seed. 



Cock's-foot {Dactylis glomerata), though not possessing every 



