300 HORTUS GRAMINEUS WOB U RN ENST S. 



is similar to that of the fertile or bisexual floret, but 

 much smaller ; it is always abortive. Seed with a 

 shining hardened coat, which was formerly the corolla. 



Native of Britain, Perennial. 



Experiments. — About the middle of April the produce 

 from a clayey loam is 4,7b'4 lbs. per acre. 



The proportional value in which the first grass of the 

 spring is inferior to that at the time of flowering, is as 16 to 

 9 ; and the grass of the flowering crop exceeds that of the 

 seed crop in the proportion of 16 to 11. 



The produce of latter-math is 6,806 lbs. per acre. 



The grass of the latter-math is therefore of inferior value 

 to that of the spring, to that at the time of flowering, and 

 to that at the time the seed is ripe. 



This is a very common grass, and grows on all soils, from 

 the richest to the poorest. It attains to the greatest degree 

 of luxuriance on light moist soils; particularly on those of a 

 peaty nature. Cattle prefer almost any other grass to this ; 

 it is seen in pastures with full-grown perfect leaves, while 

 the grasses that surround it are cropped to the roots. 



The numerous downy hairs which cover the surface of the 

 whole plant render the hay that is made of it soft and 

 spongy, and in this state it is disliked by cattle, particularly 

 by horses. Sir Humphry Davy has shown that its nutritive 

 matter consists entirely of mucilage and sugar; and that 

 the nutritive matters of the grasses most liked by cattle have 

 either a sub-acid or saline taste ; and observes, that the 

 taste of the nutritive matter of the holcus lanatus is similar 

 to that of gum Arabic ; and this grass might probably be 

 made more palatable to cattle by being sprinkled over with 

 salt. This may be done at so little expense and trouble 

 at the time the hay is carried, that it cannot be too earnestly 

 recommended to the notice of those gentlemen who may 

 have much of this grass in their meadows or pastures. 

 The late Duke of Bedford made trial of this grass on a large 

 scale : the results proved that it was a very inferior grass 

 for pasture or for hay. Its merits consist in being produc- 

 tive and easy of cultivation. But it is disliked by cattle, 

 is not an early grass, and when once in possession of the 



