190 COLONSAY 



barren places; and its creeping roots render it useful for 

 binding dry, sandy slopes. 



H. lanatus, L. Yorkshire Fog; Woolly Soft Grass. 

 Common on impoverished soils. Per., July. It should be 

 regarded as a weed rather than a proper ingredient of 

 pastures, and every means used for its extirpation. Stock 

 are not fond of it either in the green state or dried as hay ; 

 the latter being spongy and unfit for horses. 



A vena, L. 



Cultivated varieties of Oat have sprung from A. sativa 

 (the Common Oat). The Yellow Oat (A. flavescens, L.) is 

 a desirable constituent in pastures and meadows, being 

 valuable both for grazing and hay. 



A. pubescens, Huds. Downy Oat-grass. In the vicinity 

 of the limestone rock, Uragaig. A lime-loving plant, pro- 

 ducing but scanty herbage. Per., June. 



A. pratensis, L. Perennial Oat. Coirce Fiadhain, C. 

 Recorded by Mr Grieve. 



Arrhenatherum, Beauv. 



A. elatius, Mert. and Koch. False Oat-grass. Kiloran 

 meadows. Per., July. The herbage is said to be bitter 

 and not much relished by cattle. It will grow in shaded 

 woods and plantations. 



A. elatius, b bulbosum, Presl. Goin-Fheur. A weed of 

 sandy fields, with knotted roots which, in winter time, are 

 burrowed for and eaten by rabbits. 



Sieglingia, Bernh. 



S. decumbens, Bernh. Decumbent Heath-grass. Hilly 

 pastures, Dun Ghaillionn. Per., July. 



