116 HOKTUS GUAMINEUS W O BU R N F, N S IS. 



most of the grasses that have come under examination are 

 inferior to this now spoken of. Before the middle of April, 

 the leaves attain to more than twelve inches in length, and 

 are tender and succulent. In the month of May, likewise, 

 when the flowering culms make their appearance, it is not 

 subject to the disease that affects the foregoing species ; the 

 bad effects of which were manifested in the great deficiency 

 of produce in the crop at the time the seed was ripe, being 

 one-half less than at the time the grass is in flower. Though 

 the disease begins in the straws of the nevioralis, the leaves 

 suffer most from its effects, being, at the time the seed is 

 ripe, completely dried up. The culms therefore constitute 

 the principal part of the crop at the time the seed is ripe, 

 and they contain more nutritive matter in proportion than 

 the leaves. When the grass of the nemoralis is cut before 

 the time of flowering, the disease makes but small progress, 

 or does not make its appearance if the grass is kept closely 

 cropped. The poa nemoralis has also the property of sending 

 up flowering straws till a late period of the season, and when 

 cut only thrice in the season, the latter-math is consi- 

 derable. 



The property of early growth in the spring, which this 

 grass, poa angustifolia, possesses, recommends it for the 

 purpose of permanent pasture. It sends up flowering culms 

 successively for several weeks. In this it differs from the 

 poa pratensis, which produces culms only once in the season. 

 The root is as powerfully creeping as that species, but for 

 which, it might rank with the most valuable grasses. It 

 contains more nutritive matter than the poa pratensis or 

 poa trivialis. Its spring produce is nearly double that of 

 either of these grasses ; and it is perfectly exempt, as before 

 observed, from the disease that detracts so much from the 

 merits of the poa nemoralis, var. angustifolia, which nearest 

 approaches to this species, in the superiority of early and 

 abundant herbage in the spring. It flowers towards the 

 end of May, and the seed is ripe about the third week 

 of June. The culms are most valuable for the manufacturer 

 of the finest straw-plait, in imitation of the celebrated 

 Leghorn, 



