HORTUS GRAMINEUS WOBITRNENSIS. 179 



. This species of fescue is very much like the rye-grass in appear- 

 ance ; it likewise affects the same kind of soil as rye-grass. Some 

 Botanists have supposed it to be a hybrid, the joint produce of the 

 Lolium perenne (rye-grass), and Festuca fluitans (flote fescue) ; but 

 the time when the rye-grass (Lolium perenne) comes into flower, is 

 nearer to that in which the meadow fescue (Festuca pratensis) is in 

 flower, than the flote fescue ; the soil and habits of the two former 

 grasses are likewise more similar. 



From the above details, it appears that this species of fescue is 

 much superior to rye-grass in point of produce. The following 

 comparison of the quantity of nutritive matter afforded by the pro- 

 duce of one acre, will shew the degree of superiority. 



Lolium perenne, common rye-grass, affords 



Produce per Acre. 

 Ibs. Ibs. 



Of nutritive matter, from the produce 



of one acre, at the time of flowering 305 11 15 

 Of nutritive matter, from the produce 



of one acre, at the time the seed is 



r>An t> 



ripe - 643 6 



Of nutritive matter, from the produce 



of latter-math 53 2 12. 



Festuca loliacea, darnel-like fescue, affords 



Of nutritive matter, from the produce of one acre, 

 of the flowering, seed, and latter-math crops, as 

 above 1385 4 7 



The weight of nutritive matter, in which one acre of 

 the darnel-like fescue exceeds that of the Lolium 

 perenne, or common rye-grass, is - 382 15 5 



Or in the proportion nearly of 4 to 3. 



This grass likewise springs earlier than the rye-grass, and im- 

 proves by age, which is not the case with common rye-grass, as it 

 decreases in value, with respect to produce and early growth, after 

 the fourth year of its being sown, while the darnel-like fescue im- 

 proves in these properties after that period of growth. Unfortu- 

 nately, however, this grass does not perfect its seed, the flowers ge- 

 nerally proving abortive ; which renders its cultivation, or rather, 

 propagation, inconvenient and expensive. By parting the roots, and 

 transplanting them, it might readily be propagated ; but its merits 

 hardly warrant the practice. In rich meadows this grass is very 



