290 HORTUS CRAMINEUS WOB U R N K N SIS. 



W. P. Taunton, Esq., of Bristol, communicated a speci- 

 men of wheat cultivated in Italy for the Leghorn plait ; this 

 proved to be a specimen of the triticum spelta, or spelt-wheat. 

 Mr. Taunton states, that in Italy the wheat cultivated for 

 the straw is cut over twice or thrice, or is eaten down by 

 cattle, so as to render the culms which afterwards spring up 

 very slender. The long Italian summer allows of that mode 

 of culture, which this climate will not permit. The straw of 

 Mr. Cobbett's wheat proved too coarse for Leghorn plaits, 

 but would have answered for the split-straw manufacture. 

 The straw of the fine varieties of oats was also too coarse, 

 though clean and of a good colour. The expense attending 

 the culture of grain for the straw merely, and the difficulty 

 of raising it of the required degree of fineness for the 

 Leghorn plait, without increased labour and expense in 

 picking, seem to forbid the adoption of that mode of obtain- 

 ing straw in this country for that particular purpose, moie 

 particularly when the perennial grasses offer culms or straw 

 of a finer quality than is seen in any Italian plait, and 

 which may be obtained at comparatively a very small expense. 

 There are many species of perennial grasses adapted to 

 supply fine and beautiful straw, the principal of which have 

 already been noticed ; but as several of these species of 

 grasses affect soils of a different nature, it may be useful to 

 mention the diiferent soils peculiarly adapted for the growth 

 of certain species, that those who may be locally circum- 

 stanced as to a particular soil, and who may be disposed to 

 encourage the introduction of so valuable a manufacture 

 among the females of the labouring classes, may be saved 

 the temporary disappointment caused by cultivating a grass 

 not adapted to the soil, or not calculated to afford the finest 

 straw for the intention. 



Heath, or black siliceous Moor-soil. 



Fesiuca ovina, sheep's-fescue grass. Straw very fine and 

 clear. 



Festuca duriuscula, hard-fescue grass. Straw long, equal, 

 and clear ; but coarser than the sheep's-fescue. 



