HORTUS GRAM1NEUS WOB U HNENS1S. 143 



sheaths are rough to the touch : the sheath-scale is blunt, 

 in the Poa trivialis it is pointed : the leaves are blunt, those 

 of the P. trivialis are acuminate. E. Bot. 1073. Hort. Kew. i. 

 p. 155. Curt. Lend. 

 Native of Britain. 



Experiments. At the time of flowering, the produce from a 

 clayey loam rich with the vegetable matter of active peat, is 



Produce per Acre, 

 dr. qr. Ibs. 



Grass, 15 oz. The produce per acre, is 10209 6 



80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry 22 2 ^ 



The produce of the space, ditto 67 2 3 



The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying 7337 15 13 



64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter 13) 



The produce of the space, ditto 6 2 1 3 



At the time the seed is ripe, the produce is 

 Grass, 12 dr. 8 oz. The produce per acre 8507 13 



80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry 32 "i 



The produce of the space, ditto 80 3 



The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying 5104 11 

 64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter 12") 

 The produce of the space, ditto 4 2 T \ 3 



The weight of nutritive matter which is lost by ^ 



leaving the crop till the seed be ripe, being v 79 12 9 



nearly two-sevenths of its value, is 

 The produce of latter-math is 



Grass, 6 oz. The produce per acre 4083 12 



64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter 13 111100 



The proportional value in which the grass of the latter-math 

 exceeds that of the grass at the time the seed is ripe, is as 7 to 6. 

 The value of the latter-math and seed crop are equal. This grass 

 is therefore of least value at the time the seed is ripe a loss of 

 more than one-fourth part of the whole crop is sustained, if not 

 cut till that period ; the culms are then dry, and the root leaves 

 in a sickly decaying state ; those of the latter-math, on the con- 

 trary, are green and succulent. This species sends forth flowering 

 straws but once in the season, and these being the most valuable 

 part of the plant for the purposes of hay, and considering the su- 

 perior value of the latter-math over that of the seed crop, it will 

 appear from these properties to be well adapted for permanent 

 pasture. There are, however, many other grasses highly superior 



