90 HORTUS (;KAM1NKUS WOBURNENSIS. 



state, or in possession of their nutrient qualities, and those 

 culms and leaves which have been dried (if I may so express 

 it) by Nature when growing : the former retain all their 

 nutritive powers, but the latter very little, if any. In point 

 of early produce in the spring, this grass stands next to the 

 alopecurus inatensis (meadow fox-tail), and is superior in 

 this respect to the cock's-foot. 



It is eaten by horses, oxen, and sheep, but particularly by 

 the two first : its merits will be more clearly seen by com- 

 i)arino- it farther with the cock's-foot and meadow fox-tail. 

 As it is often three weeks later in flowering than the fox-tail 

 grass, the latter-math produce must be left out for the truth 

 of comparison, as regards its comparative value for hay ; and 

 as it is much slower in growth after being cropped than the 

 cock's-foot, it is likewise necessary to omit the latter-math 

 in a comparison of iheir produce. 



The meadow fescue constitutes a very considerable portion 

 of the herbage of all rich natural pastures and irrigated 

 meadows ; it makes excellent hay, and though a large plant, 

 the leaves or herbage are succulent and tender, and appa- 

 rently much liked by cattle, as they never form rank tufts, 

 which is the case vvitii the larger grasses. It does not 

 appear to arrive at its full productive powers from seed so 

 soon as either the cock's-foot or fox-tail grass, and though 

 essential for permanent pasture, is not by itself very well 

 adapted for the alternate husbandry, but should be combined 

 with cock's-foot, ray-grass, and rough-stalked meadow-grass. 

 Mr. Taunton's experience of this grass on a stiff clayey soil 

 proved, that a co|mous crop of seed-stalks may be obtained 

 the second year from sowing. Flowers in June, and ripens 

 the seed at the end of July and the beginning of August. 

 In the deep alluvial soils in Lincolnshire, this grass is not so 

 prevalent as in the clay districts. In the vale of Aylesbury 

 it constitutes a considerable portion of the most valuable 

 and fattening pastures of that rich grazing district. 



CYNOSURUS cristatus. Crested Dog's-tail grass. 



Specific character: Spike simple, linear; neuter spikelets 

 without awns. Fig. 1. Spikelets, showing the floral 



