32 HORTUS GRAMINEUS WOBURNENSIS. 



tillage lands that have come under his observation : Drank is the 

 provincial name of the scaly brome-grass. To these high autho- 

 rities I may add the results of my own observations, which agree 

 perfectly with the above, as regards the annual bearded rye-grass ; 

 and that I have found the Bromus mollis and Alopecurus agrestis, 

 with the Bromus secalinus, as the most prevalent weeds (of the an- 

 nual grass kind,) in corn fields; these, therefore, may be con- 

 sidered the darnel of the British farmer. 



A perfect knowledge of the various periods of the year in which 

 the different species of grass ripen their seed, is of the utmost im- 

 portance in obtaining those seeds suited to the soil, and which the 

 farmer may require for his own use. By saving his grass seeds on 

 his own farm, the farmer will obtain his seed pure, of the best 

 quality, and at a trifling expense. For this important purpose a 

 small space of ground only will be required ; which, besides the 

 valuable grass seeds, for the supply of the farm, will be found to 

 afford good hay, and also late and early pasture. 



Average periods at which different species of Grasses ripen their 

 seed: drawn up from the details of Ten Years' practical Obser- 

 vation and experiment. 



I. APRIL. 



Poa annua, annual meadow-grass, from the 10th to Winter frosts. 



II. JUNE. 



th th 

 Anthoxanthum odoratnm, sweet-scented vernal grass, from 10 to 20 



Bromus mollis, soft annual brome-grass, - 12 20 



Aira caryophyllea, silver-hair hair-grass, - 15 20 



Anthoxanthum amarum, bitter vernal-grass - - 15 20 



Eriophorum vaginatum, sheathed cotton-grass, - 18 20 



angustifolium, narrow-leaved cotton-grass, 20 30 



Melica uniflora, one-flowered melic-grass, - 18 24 



Milium vernale, spring millet-grass, - - 18 25 



Poa alpina, alpine meadow-grass, - 18 24 



angustifolia, narrow-leaved meadow-grass, 18 24 



Sesleria carulea, blue meadow-grass, - - 18 24 

 Alopecurus pratensis, meadow fox-tail-grass, - - 30 

 Holcus odoratus repens, sweet-scented soft-grass, (abor- 

 tive generally), - - 20 

 Festuca ovina hordeiformis, barley-like fescue, - 20 to July 20 



