ilO NOTES. 



•and tliis is the only grass I have tasted that has tlie fine flavor of 

 liay. This flavor seems to be the same that is found in \\'ood- 

 derowffe, or Asperula, in Meliot, and in tlie Tonquin bean ; and 

 althougfh 1 believe sheep and cattle refuse the liaulm or straw, yet 

 its herbage is what they are particularly fond of. I have reason 

 to think that this grass, and the Crested Dog's Tail Grass, or 

 (.'vnosurus, are both called Old Pasture Grasses, by the farmers 

 of Essex, and are by experience, found to fatten cattle better 

 than all others. It may be distinguished ])y having onlv two 

 stamens." 



Calamagrostis Arenariu, another ])lant lu this Class, grows 

 only on the very driest sand, upon the sea shore, and prevents 

 the wind from dispersing it over the adjoining fields, which is 

 not unfrequently the case where the plant is wanting. Manv a 

 fertile acre has been covered with sand, and rendered useless, 

 which might have been prevented by sowing the seeds of this 

 plant. The Dutch have profited by a knowledge of this fact ; 

 and Queen Elizabeth, on this account, j)rohibited the extirpation 

 of it. « JVithering's Hot. 



If the seed of the Briza Media, or Cow-quakes, be carefully 

 dissected in a microscope with a fine lancet, the young plant will 

 be found with its roots and leaves pretty perfectly formed. 



Mr. Sivuitie. 



In 1768, Mr. Charles ^liller, made experiments on the sowing 

 of wheat, and dividing the root, by which means were produced 

 in one year, from one grain, 21,109 ears, which yielded three pecks 

 and three quarters of clean com, weighing forty-seven pounds and 

 seven ounces ; and the number of grains, calculated by the number 

 in one ounce, might be about 576,840. Vid. Phil. Trans, v. 58. 



