HORTUS GRAMINEUS WOBURNENSIS. 241 



liavly fitted for the growth of tliese species, and less fitted 

 for the growth of proper pasture grasses. It is one of the 

 earliest grasses, with regard to the production of foliage early 

 in the spring. It is nutritive, and very productive. It is 

 true, the produce may be denominated coarse when com- 

 pared to the Jestuca pratensis, a/opeciirus pratensis, and other 

 of the superior grasses ; but where is a grass to be found 

 that produces a great weight of crop that is not in some de- 

 gree coarse ? This objection, however, as before observed, 

 may be overcome by reducing the hay to chaff" and mixing- 

 it with clover-hay. The nutritive matter contains but little 

 bitter extractive or saline matter, whereas the clover con- 

 tains an excess. It does not perfect much good seed, and 

 can only therefore be propagated by parting and planting 

 the roots. 



The present variety flowers in the second week of July; 

 the seed is universally, according to all my observations, af- 

 fected with the disease termed clavus, and consequently un- 

 fertile. 



FESTUC A eZa^/o?', vdn-./ertilis. Fertile-seeded Tall Fescue. 



Obs. — Differs from the common variety of tall fescue, in 

 having the panicle somewhat drooping; spikelets six- 

 flowered, more ovate and flat ; the larger husk of the 

 calyx often awned, and the awn is fixed on the apex 

 more in the manner of that of a bromus than a fescue. 

 Leaves smoother, and of a less dark green colour. I 

 found this grass on a moist part of a field belonging to 

 Mr. Westcar, at Creslow, Bucks, growing in company 

 with the barren-seeded variety. Fig. 1 . Spikelet, mag- 

 nified. 2. Corolla. 3. Germen, styles, and nectary. 



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

 a black sandy loam, incumbent on clay, is 54,450 lbs. 

 per acre. ' 



This grass, which is nearly allied to the common Jestuca 

 elatior, perfects an abundance of seed, though not entirely 

 free from diseased portions, and is therefore not liable to the 

 objection which takes so much from the value of that variety. 



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