HOKTUS GRAMINEUS WOBURNENSTS. 207 



be no plants of the leguminous order, that, in point of liabits, 

 would so well supply their place as the common and greater 

 bird's-foot trefoil. They are, however, greatly inferior to 

 the clovers. The white clover is superior to the common 

 bird's-foot trefoil in the quantity of nutritive matter it 

 affords, in the proportion of 5 to 4. It is much less produc- 

 tive of herbage, and is much more difficult of cultivation, 

 the seed being afforded in much smaller quantities. The 

 produce of the greater bird's-foot trefoil is superior to that of 

 the perennial red clover, on tenacious or moist soils, and on 

 drier, and on richer soils of the first quality ; but the produce 

 is inferior, in the proportion of nutritive matter it contains, 

 as 5 to 4. The nutritive matter of this species contains 

 more bitter extractive and saline matters than that of the 

 former, which was before shown to be in excess when com- 

 pared with the clovers, and these with the proper natural 

 grasses. The nutritive matter is extremely bitter to the 

 taste. It does not appear to be eaten by any cattle when 

 in a green state ; but when made into hay with the common 

 grasses, I have offered it to sheep, oxen, deer, and the llama, 

 or South American sheep, and they all ate it without reluct- 

 ance, and rather with desire. 



It does not seem to perfect so much seed as the former 

 species ; but this is abundantly remedied in its propagation 

 by the creeping or stoloniferous roots, which it spreads out 

 in all directions, and thus it soon covers a large space of 

 ground. But the stems rise not in considerable number ; 

 they are thinly scattered over the surface. In moist clayey 

 soils it would doubtless be a most profitable substitute for 

 red clover ; but the excess of bitter extractive and saline 

 matters it contains, seems to forbid its adoption without a 

 considerable admixture of other plants. 



It flowers about the third week of June, and the seed i» 

 ripe about the end of the following month. 



AVENA pratensis. Meadow Oat-grass. 



Specific character : Panicle erect, with very short simple 

 branches ; florets about five, longer than the calyx ; 



