292 HORTUS GRAMINEUS WOBURNENSIS. 



bearing bent. Straw long, tough, bleaches equally of a fine 



white 



Agrostis a/ha, white bent. Straw tough, and bleaches 

 well. 



Agrostis stricta, upright bent. Straw very tine, straight, 

 and tough. 



Agrostis repens, creeping-rooted bent. Straw long and 

 equal, bleaches well, though not so fine as some others. 



Poa nemoralis angustifolia, narrow-leaved wood meadow- 

 grass. Stravif very equal, fine, and tough, but not so long 

 between the joints as some others. 



Agrostis stolonifera aristata, awned runner-bearing bent. 

 Straw long, equal, and bleaches very white, but works rather 

 soft and flat in the plait. There are many other species of 

 the perennial grasses, which afford fine straw, which might 

 be added to the above list ; but those named above have 

 been submitted to careful trials, and are found to possess the 

 properties stated. Any number of tnese species which come 

 into flower at the same period, and which aifect similar soils, 

 might with advantage be sown together for the reasons 

 already mentioned. There is scarcely a fibrous-rooted 

 species of grass, that can be cultivated singly without much 

 time and attention, in weeding or keeping out other grasses 

 from combining with it in the soil : whereas, by sowing a 

 mixture of those species which possess in common the pro- 

 perties above mentioned, they will keep possession of the soil, 

 and render weeding almost unnecessary : and after the crop 

 straw is taken, the grass or sward will be found more 

 nutritious and productive for depasturing with sheep, than 

 if it consisted of one species of grass only. 



The results of all the experiments made here, prove, that 

 the period of flowering is the best stage of growth at 

 which to cut the straw for plait, in imitation of that of 

 Leghorn. This material always exhibits a bland surface, 

 unlike the glossy shining surface of an English bonnet made 

 of the ripe straw of oats. On comparing the appearance of 

 culms cut when in flower, with others cut at the time the 

 seed is ripe, and after they have each been bleached, the 

 former have a bland surface resembUng the Leghorn, and the 



