1838] 



FARMERS' REGISTER 



671 



91475 14= 5717 3 14 



which afiiects the whole plant; the consequence 

 of which is manifest in the great deficiency of 

 produce in the crop at (lie time the seed is ri|)e, 

 beinii; one-half less than at the time of the flow- 

 ering of the grass. Thongii this disease begins 

 in the straws, the leaves sufier most from its efiecis, 

 being at the time the seed is ripe completelj' dried 

 up: the straws, therefore, constitute the principal 

 part of the crop for mowing, and they contain 

 more nutritive matter in proportion than the leaves. 

 This grass is evidently most valuable ior perma- 

 nent pasture, lor which, in consequence of its su- 

 perior, rapid, and early growth, and the disease 

 beginning at tlie straws, nature seems to have de- 

 signed it. The grasses which approach nearest 

 to this in respect of early produce of leaves, are 

 the Poaferiilis, Dadylis glomcrata, Phhmnpra- 

 iense, //lopecurus pratensis, ylvena eliator, and 

 Jiromus littoreus, all grasses of a coarser kind. 



XXII. jlvcna eliator. Curtis, 112. Engl. Bot. 



813. — Holcus avenaceus. 

 Tall oat-grass. Nat. of Britain. 



At the time the seed is ripe, the produce is — 



oz. or lbs. per acre. 

 Grass, 24 oz. The produce 



per acre . . . 261360 0=16.335 

 80 dr. of grass weigh when -j 



dry . . 28 dr. f 

 The produce of the space, t 



ditto . . 1.34. 1§ -J 

 The weight lost by the pro- 

 duce of one acre in drying 

 64 dr. of grass atibrd of nu- ^ 



tritive matter 1 dr. f 



The produce of the space, C 



ditto . . 6 J 



The produce of latter-math is — 

 Grass 20 oz. The produce 



per acre . . 217800 0=13612 



64 dr. of grass afford of nutri- 

 tive matter 1.1 dr. . 4253 14= 265 13 14 

 The weight of nutritive matter which is 

 afforded by the crop of the latter-math 

 exceeding that afforded by the grass of 

 the seed crop in proportion nearly as 26 



to 25 10 9 2 



This grass sends forth flower-straws during the 

 whole season : the latter-math contains nearly an 

 equal number with the flowering crop. It is sub- 

 ject to the rust, but the disease does not make its 

 appearance till afier the period of flowering: it af- 

 fects the whole plant, and at the time the seed is 

 ripe the leaves and straws are withered and dry. 

 This accounts for the superior value of the latter- 

 math over the seed crop, and points out the pro- 

 priety of taking the crop when the grass is in 

 flower. 



XXIII. Poa eliator. Curtis, 50. 



Tall meadow-grass. Nat. of Scotland. 



At the time of flowering, the produce from a 

 rich clayey loam is — 

 Grass, 18 oz. The produce 



per acre . . 196020 0= 12251 4 



80 dr. of grass weigh when 



10617 12 2 



40S3 12= 255 3 12 



8 



dry . . 28 dr. ( 

 The produce of the space, ( 



ditto . . 100..3fj^> 



64 dr. of grass afford of- 



nutritive matter 3.2 ( 

 The produce of the space, ( 



ditto . 15.3 - 



60607 0= 42S7 15 



10719 13= 669 15 13 



oz. or lbs. per acre. 

 The weight lost by the produce of one 



acre in drying . . . 3617 15 3 



The botanical characters ol this grass arc al- 

 most the same as those of the jlocna eliator, dif- 

 lering in the want of the awns only. It has the 

 essential character of the Hold (Florets male, 

 and hermaphrodite: Calyx husks two valved,^ 

 with two florets,) and since the Jlvcna eliator is 

 now relerred to that genus, this may with cer- 

 tainty be considered a variety of it. 



XXIV. Festuca duriuscula. Engl. Bot. 470, 

 VV. B. ii. p. 153. 



Hard fescue-grass. Nat. of Britain. 



At the time of flowering, the produce from a 

 light sandy loam is — 

 Grass, 27 oz. The produce 



per acre . . 294030 0= 18376 14 



80 dr. of grass weigh when n 



dry . . 36 dr. ( 



The produce of the space, ( 132313 8= 8269 9 (h 



ditto . . 194.1I-' 



The weight lost by the produce of one 



acre in drying . . . 10106 4 8 



64 dr. of grass afford of-\ 



nutritive matter 3.2dr.( in04 Ti 12' 



The produce of the space, ( ^'^"^"^ '^^~ ^""^ ^^ ^^ 



ditto . . 23.2p 



At the time the seed is ripe, the produce is — 



Grass, 28 oz. The produce 



per acre 

 80 dr. of grass weigh when 



dry - - 36 dr. 

 The produce of the space, 



ditto - - 201. 2|.^ 

 The weight lost by the produce of one 



acre in drying - - 10481 



64 dr. of grass afford of -j 



nutritive matter 1-2 dr. f 

 The produce of the space, t 7146 9= 446 



ditto ■ - 10.2 dr. ^ 

 The weight of nutritive mattei which 



is lost by leaving the crop till the seed 



be ripe exceeding one-half of its 



value - - . - 558 5 3 



The proportional value which the grass, at the 

 time the seed is ripe, bears to that at the lime of 

 flowering, is as 6 to 14, nearly. 



The produce of latter-math is 



Grass, 15 oz. The produce 

 per acre - - 163350 0= 10209 6 



64 dr. of grass afford of nu- 

 tritive matter 1.1 dr. 3190 4= 199 6 4 



The proportional value which the grass of the 

 laitar-math bears to that at the time of flowering,^ 

 is as 5 to 14, and to that at the time the seed is 

 ripe, 5 to 6. 



The above particulars will confirm the favorable 

 opinion which was igiven of this grass when 

 speaking of \he festuca hordiformis, and P. gla- 

 bra. Its produce in the spring is not very great, 

 but of the finest quality, and at the time of flow- 

 ering is considerable. If it be compared with 

 those affecting similar soils, such aa Poa pratensis, 

 Festuca 'ovina, S^'c, either considered as a grass 

 for hay, or permanent pasture, it will be found of 

 greater value. 



XXV. Bromus erectus. Engl. Bot. 471. Host, 

 G. A. 



304920 0= 19075 8 0' 



137214 0= 8575 14 C 



10 0' 



10 9 



