240 IIOIITUS GKAMINEUS WO B U K N R N SI S. 



agrostis alha, and dach/h's g/owctala, in Lhe Wobiirn collec- 

 tion of grasses, which, for the strcnoth and beauty of the 

 tints in the leaves, are equal, if not superior, to those of the 

 striped-leaved reed-grass. 



It comes into flower about the first and second weeks of 

 July, and the seed ripens about the middle of August. 



FESTUCA elatior, var. sterilis. Barren-seeded Tall Fescue. 



Specijic character : Panicle directed on one side, upright • 

 spikelets mostly awned, the outer one cylindric. 



Obs. — It greatly resembles \h.Q fe&tuca pratensis. It is 

 larger in every respect ; flowers eight or ten days later. 

 The panicle of the pratensis is upright at first, afterwards 

 drooping ; while the panicle of the elatior is drooping at 

 first, and afterwards upright: spikelets of a green and 

 purple colour, cylindric, generally awned ; leaves rougher 

 and less pointed than those of ihefestuca jyratensis. 



Native of Britain. Root perennial, fibrous. 



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

 a black rich loam is 51,046 lbs. per acre. 



The produce of latter-math is 15,654 lbs. per acre. 



The grass, at the time of flowering, affords more nutritive 

 matter than that of the latter-math in the proportion of 5 to 4 ; 

 but the grass of the latter-math contains more nutritive 

 matter than that at the time the seed is ripe, in the propor- 

 tion of 4 to 3. 



A tenacious clay is, therefore, best fitted for the produc- 

 tion of this grass; as, notwithstanding the plentiful supply 

 of manure, the produce from the loam which had the advan- 

 tages of it scarcely exceeds that from the clay. I know of 

 no grass of this class adapted for clays that holds out such 

 fair promises to repay the farmer. "The garden, farm, and 

 cottage system, for bettering the moral condition of the 

 labouring classes of society," which has been planned, and 

 is now carrying into execution, by that eminent and benevo- 

 lent individual, William Allen, Esq., would derive benefit 

 by adopting the culture of this and several other highly pro- 

 ductive grasses, in such moist spots of the soil as are pccu- 



