HORTUS GRAMINEUS WOBURNENSIS. 239 



Experiments At the time of flowering, the produce from 



a bog soil is 6,806 lbs. per acre. 



The produce and nutritive properties of this grass appear 

 to be very inferior to the preceding species of cotton-grass. 

 The chief property that would give value to it, if its produc- 

 tive powers were greater, is its early growth, being one of 

 the earliest of the British grasses, flowering in April. The 

 foHage is equally early, growing in proportion with the 

 flowering culms ; but its produce of latter-math is very 

 inconsiderable. It is more frequent on moors of a drier 

 nature than moist bogs, though it is to be met with on most 

 of them. Sheep are said to be very fond of this grass, but 

 as far as I have had opportunity to observe, they only crop 

 the foliage in the spring, till the finer natural grasses afford 

 them a bite. It offers, therefore, no particular merit to 

 warrant a recommendation for the purposes of the agricul- 

 turist. 



It flowers about the third week of April, and the seed is 

 ripe about the third week of May. 



PHALARIS arundinaceus. Reed Canary-grass. 



Specific character: Panicle upright, with spreading 



branches ; flowers crowded, unilateral ; outer corolla of 



two bearded valves. 

 Native of Britain. Perennial. 

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



a black sandy loam incumbent on clay is 27,225 lbs. 



per acre. 



From these details of experiments, it appears that the 

 striped reed canary-grass is much more productive on a tena- 

 cious clayey soil than on a rich sandy loam. The striped 

 reed canary-grass has not yet been found in a wild state. 

 It is cultivated in gardens, for the beauty of its striped leaves. 

 The common wild variety, which grows by the sides of rivers 

 and standing pools, wants this distinguishing feature. It 

 grows to a greater height than the striped -leaved variety, 

 and does not appear to be eaten by cattle : but birds are 

 fond of the seeds. There are striped-leaved varieties of the 



