276 HORTUS GRAMINEUS WOBURNENSIS. 



rity; the produce is highly nutritive, but comparatively de- 

 ficient in quantity. 



Nerved meadow-grass (poa nervata) is productive, very 

 nutritive, and affords an abundance of early foliage ; but it 

 does not attain to its full productive powers in two years. 



Narrow-leaved meadow-grass (poa aiigustifolia) is greatly 

 superior to the smooth-stalked meadow-grass in early 

 growth, produce, nutrient properties, and reproductive 

 powers ; but, unfortunately, it possesses a strong creeping 

 root, which exhausts the soil, and renders it inadmissible 

 on arable lands. 



Wood meadow-grass (poa nemora/is) soon arrives at 

 maturity, and springs early ; the spring herbage is likewise 

 very nutritive, and produced in considerable quantity. The 

 after-grass in the autumn is, however, very inferior. 



Flat-stalked meadow-grass {poa compressa) affords much 

 nutritive matter, and continues to vegetate from spring till 

 autumn ; but its deficiency, with regard to weight of produce, 

 puts it out of the question for the purpose of alternate 

 cropping. 



Darnel-like fescue (festuca loliacea). This grass pos- 

 sesses all the valuable properties of ray-grass, and few of 

 its defects. It would, doubtless, be the best substitute for 

 that species in alternate cropping ; but, unfortunately, it 

 does not perfect a sufiiciency of seed. 



Cock's-foot ( dactylis g/omerata ), though not possessing 

 every excellence in a degree superior to those species now 

 mentioned for the alternate husbandry, nevertheless, it 

 appears to have a greater variety of merits for this purpose 

 than almost any other grass. It soon arrives at maturity ; 

 it bears cropping well, is very productive, and its nutritive 

 powers are considerable. It is much less impoverishing to 

 the soil than ray-grass, and when ploughed in affords a 

 greater quantity of vegetable matter to the soil. It has 

 been objected to cock's-foot, that it rises in tufts, and is apt 

 to become coarse. But the objections will apply to every 

 grass that is not sown sufficiently thick to occupy with 

 plants every spot of the ground, and that is not afterwards 

 sufficiently stocked to keep the surface in a succession of 



