HO11TUS GRAMINEUS WOBURNENSIS. 229 



left untouched by cattle : in the spring, however, they were gene- 

 rally eaten, and the protection they had afforded to the under 

 grasses was evident in the superior early growth of the herbage 

 where the stolones had most extended; after this the creeping 

 bent was hardly to be recognized till the other grasses had again 

 exhausted themselves towards the end of the autumn. The plant, 

 in this state of combination, takes but little from the soil. 



In comparing the produce and nutritive powers of different 

 grasses, to arrive at a knowledge of their relative value, it is abso- 

 lutely necessary, for the truth of comparison, that the produce of 

 one whole season be taken, and not one crop singly, except 

 in instances where the produce consists but of one crop only. 

 Accordingly, the produce of florin may be compared with that of 

 the cock's-foot grass (Dactylis glomerata), meadow fescue (Festuca 

 pratensis), and the meadow foxtail (Alopecurus pratensis), when it 

 will appear inferior to the two former species, and superior to the 

 latter. On referring to former details it appears, that 

 The Agrostis stolonifera, var. latifolia, larger creeping-bent, 



Ibs. per Acre in one Year. 



From the produce of one season, taken in Decem- 

 ber, affords of nutritive matter 1435 

 The Dactylis glomerata, cock's-foot grass 

 From the produce of early herbage in the 



spring, affords of nutritive matter - 358 

 From the produce at the time of flowering, 



affords of nutritive matter - 1 089 }> \ 728 



From the produce of latter-math, affords of 



nutritive matter - 281 



The Festuca pratensis, meadow-fescue 

 From the produce of early herbage in the 



spring, affords xf nutritive matter - 382 *\ 

 From the produce at the time of flowering, / 



affords of nutritive matter - 97 \ 1719 



From the produce of latter-math, affords of k 

 nutritive matter 380 J 



The Alopecurus pratensis, meadow-fox-tail 

 From the produce of early herbage, affords 



of nutritive matter 483 



From the produce at the time of flowering, 



affords of nutritive matter 478> 1216 



From the produce of latter-math, affords of 

 nutritive matter - 255 



