IIORTUS (IRAMINEUS W OB li RN EN SI S. 203 



Native of Britain. Root perennial. 



Experiments. — At the time of flowering, the produce 

 from a sandy loam is 10,890 lbs. per acre. 



The produce of this species, and the nutritive matter it 

 affords, are equal to those of the festuca ovina at the time 

 the seed is ripe ; they equally delight in dry soils, though 

 the aira cristata will thrive well, and remain permanent, in 

 soils of a moist and clayey nature, which is different with 

 the festuca ovma. The greater bulk of the produce of the 

 aira cristata, in proportion to its weight, makes it of inferior 

 value to the festuca ovina. 



It flowers about the first week in July, and the seed is 

 ripe about the beginning of August. 



POA compressa. Flat-stalked Meadow-grass. 



Specific character : Panicle flowering on one side, rather 



dense; spikelets oval-oblong, five-seven -flowering ; 



flowers connected at the base by a complicated web of 



hairs ; culm compressed ; root creeping. 

 Native of Britain. Root perennial, creeping. 

 Experiments. — At the time of flowering, the produce 



from a gravelly soil with manure is 3,403 lbs. per acre. 



If the produce of this grass was of greater magnitude, 

 it would rank as one of the most valuable grasses, as it 

 produces foliage early in the spring, of stronger nutritive 

 powers than most other grasses. It has been recommended 

 as a grass to cultivate on poor soils ; but the produce is so 

 very deficient, that there are other grasses that might better 

 answer the end, as the meadow-barley oat, hard fescue, 

 and crested dog's-tail-grass. The roots, in some situations, 

 penetrate to a considerable depth, as in stony dry soils. 

 It grows in abundance on the walls which embank the ponds 

 in Woburn Park. 



Dr. Smith, in the English Botany, observes, that this 

 grass can scarcely be put to any agricultural use : the trials 

 that have been made of it here confirm that opinion. 



It flowers in the second week of July, and the seed is 

 ripe about the middle of August. 



