128 HORTUS GRAMINEUS WOBURNENSIS. 



I have never been able to obtain any seed from this grass, 

 that when sown would vegetate, though in general it appears 

 good to the eye. I have tried it on three different soils, but 

 without success. It thrives best on a rich deep loam, and, 

 next to that, on a clayey loam : when cultivated on a sandy- 

 siliceous soil the produce is very inferior; on this account it 

 is introduced in this place. It might be propagated to any 

 extent by parting the roots ; but its merits, as will appear 

 from the above details, do not warrant any recommendation 

 to that effect, but rank it with the inferior grasses. 



It flowers in the third week of June, and the seed is per- 

 fected about the third week of July. 



TRITICUM caninum. Bearded Wheat-grass. 



Specific character; Calyx- valves somewhat awned, with 

 three or five ribs ; florets four, awned ; leaves flat ; root 

 fibrous. 



Ols. — This differs essentially from the common couch- 

 grass (agropyrum repens), in having the root fibrous ; 

 the awns are also much longer than those of the awned 

 variety of common couch. Native of Britain. Root 

 fibrous. Perennial. 



Experiments. — At the time of flowering, the produce from 

 a sandy loam is 12,251 lbs. per acre. 



The crop, at the time of flowering, is of greater proportional 

 value than that at the time the seed is ripe, nearly as 

 6 to 5. 



The produce of latter-math is 3,062 lbs. per acre. 



It appears that this grass is of considerable value, more 

 particularly as it affords herbage early in the spring, in a 

 degree superior to ray-grass, sweet-scented vernal, and nearly 

 equal to the meadow fox-tail. It produces a sufficiency of 

 seed, which vegetates quickly ; and the plants soon arrive 

 at perfection in almost every kind of soil, except in such as 

 are tenacious or retentive of moisture. If to these valuable 

 properties it added late growth, or a proportional supply of 

 latter-math, it would rank high among the superior grasses ; 

 but in this it is deficient, as are most of the grasses which 



