136 HORTUS GRAMINEUS AVOBU H N EN SI S. 



sixty ; but as many of these had been merely trans- 

 planted into his experimental ground, and not submitted 

 to the test of reproduction by seed, their permanency, 

 or their characters as to being permanent or only acci- 

 dental varieties, had not been determined. The labours 

 of this gentleman have been rewarded by the discovery 

 of that valuable variety vv^hich bears his name ; and fur- 

 ther important results may be expected from his talents 

 and perseverance. Another valuable variety has been 

 introduced very lately into practice, by Mr. Holdich, 

 the late able and ingenious Editor of the Farmer's 

 Journal, which he naiued '' the Russell ray-grass," on 

 account of the original plant from which he raised the 

 first stock of seed having been pointed out to Mr. Hol- 

 dich by the Duke of Bedford. Mr. Stickney, a cele- 

 brated cultivator in Holderness, has likewise introduced 

 into practice a variety, said to have great merit, and 

 which passes under his name. There are other varieties 

 said to be valuable in practice, sold under the names of 

 Dixon's and Ruck's ray-grass. All the varieties have a 

 strong tendency to vary in their form when sown on 

 different soils. The annual species are common only 

 to land under cultivation : they will be found under 

 the head of " Plants adapted for the Alternate Hus- 

 bandry." 

 On this interesting subject, the comparative value of these 

 new varieties, I have much satisfaction in being able to 

 quote the authority of that eminent agriculturist, Francis 

 Blaikie, Esq. : he considers these new varieties as decided 

 improvements on the common, and on the Pacey's ray-grass. 

 Since writing the above, I am informed by the Rev. C. Lord, 

 that in some parts of Berkshire an excellent variety of ray- 

 grass is in use, under the name of church -bennet, or church 

 bent-grass. 



Root perennial, fibrous. 



Experiments. — On the 16th of April, the produce of the 

 improved Pacey's ray-grass from a rich brown loam is 

 4,083 lbs. per acre. 



