llX IIORTLS UHAMlNEUr? WOBU 1! N E N SIS. 



The proportional value which the grass of the latter-math 

 bears to that at the time of flowering, is as 3 to 6 ; and to 

 the grass at the time the seed is ripe, as 3 to 10. 



In regard to early growth, this grass stands next to the 

 meadow fox-tail, cock's-foot, and tall oat. The herbage is 

 more nutritive than that of either of these grasses. It will 

 appear remarkable, that the grass of the latter-math should 

 contain more nutritive matter than the grass at the time of 

 flowering ; but this is owing to the property it possesses, of 

 sending forth a succession of flowering culms till the frost 

 arrests it; and hence the trivial names, yer/?7/s and serotma, 

 fertile and late -flowering meadow-grass, quoted above. 

 M. Host mentions, that it is natural to moist pastures and 

 the banks of rivers ; and Schrader remarks also, that in 

 Germany it grows in meadows, vineyards, marshes, walls, 

 and elsewhere, not unfrequently. I have found it to grow 

 on almost every kind of soil ; but it attains to the greatest 

 perfection in a rich moist one. Hares and rabbits are very 

 fond of it. It is one of those rrrasses that thrive best when 

 combined with others : it will not make a superior turf of 

 itself, but it adds much to the value of a sward from its 

 luitritive qualities and powers of early and late growth. As 

 it perfects an abundance of seed, it may be easily propa- 

 gated. 



By comparing its produce of nutritive matter, from one 

 acre, with those of the cock's-foot, meadow-foxtail, and 

 sweet-scented vernal grasses, it will be found superior to 

 foxtail in the proportion of 5 to 3, and only inferior to the 

 cock's-foot in the proportion of 7 to 5. 



Sir Humphry Davy has shown that its nutritive matter 

 consists of mucilage, 65 ; saccharine matter, or sugar, 6 ; 

 extractive matter, 7=78. 



From these facts and observations it will appear, that the 

 fertile meadow-grass deserves a place in the composition of 

 rich pastures, and ranks with the superior grasses of irri- 

 gated meadows. 



It flowers in the beginning of July, and the seed is ripe 

 towards the end of the month. 



