HORTUS GRAMINEUS WOBURNENSIS. 135 



The proportional value which the grass of the latter-math bears to 

 that of the seed crop, is nearly as 13 to 9 ; and the proportional 

 value or nourishment contained in the autumn grass, exceeds that 

 of the first grass of the spring, as 9 to 7. 



Sir H. Davy has shewn, that the nutritive matter of the grass at 

 the time the seed is ripe, consists of mucilage, or starch, 43, 

 saccharine matter 4, and bitter extract and salt 3 = 50. The 

 leaves, or first growth of the spring, afforded me of mucilage 40, 

 saccharine matter 1, bitter extractive 9 = 50. The bitter extractive 

 is here much greater in the leaves than in the culms and leaves 

 combined, which is the case with all the grasses I have made trial 

 of, though in different proportions. This grass constitutes a part 

 of the herbage of pastures on almost every kind of soil, though it 

 only attains to perfection in those that are deep and moist. The 

 chief property that gives merit to this grass is its early growth, 

 though, in this respect, it is inferior to several other species which 

 are later in flowering. It thrives best when combined with many 

 different species, and is therefore a true permanent pasture grass. 

 It does not appear to be particularly liked by cattle, though eaten 

 in pastures in common with others. Mr. Grant, of Leighton, laid 

 down a field of considerable extent, one-half of which was sown 

 with this grass and white clover, the other half with meadow-fox- 

 tail and red clover. The sheep would not touch the sweet-scented 

 vernal and white clover, but kept constantly on the fox tail-grass, 

 though the dwarfish nature of the sweet-scented vernal had occa- 

 sioned an unusual degree of luxuriance of the white clover, with 

 which it was combined. This would indicate that it is not, when 

 single, or when combined with but two or three different species, 

 very grateful to cattle. The chemical examination of its nutritive 

 matter shews that it does not abound in saccharine matter, but 

 chiefly in mucilage ; and the insoluble extract is in a greater pro- 

 portion than in many other grasses. Its merits, however, in respect 

 to early growth, continuing to vegetate and throw up flowering 

 stalks till the end of autumn, and its hardy and permanent nature, 

 sufficiently uphold its claim to a place in the composition of all 

 permanent pastures. The superior nutritive qualities of its latter- 

 math are a great recommendation for the purpose of grazing, the 

 stalks being of but little utility, as they are generally left un- 

 touched by the cattle, provided there is a sufficiency of herbage. 



It is said to give to new-mown hay that delightful smell which 

 is peculiar to it ; if it is not the sole cause of that pleasant smell, 





