276 HORTUS GRAMINEUS WOBURNENSIS. 



produce them, it is therefore necessary, in ascertaining the 

 comparative value of a grass, that its merits and properties be 

 compared with those of such others only as affect a similar soil. 

 If we compare the Agrostis vulgaris with this species, it will be 

 found superior in the proportion nearly of 5 to 3. 



The Agrostis vulgaris (common bent), affords in one season, 



per acre 



Ibs. Ibs. 



Grass, at the time of flowering - 10209 j w h affordg f , 



Or, hay - 4594 V . ., . 501 



L I nutritive matters 

 Latter-math grass - 2722 ) 



The rock bent-grass, as above, affords in one season, a pro- 

 duce of 

 Grass, at the time of flowering - 9528 j ^ { ^ ^^ 



Or, hay - 4764 > , .;. 314 



J . rtrt _ rt i nutritive matter 3 



Latter-math grass - 2722 > 



This species being therefore inferior to the common bent in 

 most points, its value to the Agriculturist can be but little. The 

 only property that renders it worthy of notice is, the small degree 

 in which it impoverishes the soil : when cultivated on a poor, sili- 

 ceous, sandy soil, the produce, though inferior to the above, con- 

 tinued for six years without diminishing in the yearly quantity, 

 and without any manure whatever being applied : a circumstance 

 which was not manifested in any other species of grass. 



AGROSTIS nivea. Snowy Bent, Straw-coloured Bent-grass. 



Trichodium caninum, var. stramineis arista calicem vix excedente. 

 (Schrader.) 



Specific character: Panicle branches subdivided, diverging, 

 flexuose; calyx acute; corolla 1-valved, valve awned, awn 

 longer than the valve, protruding from the back, fixed a 

 little below the middle. 



Obs. This grass is evidently nearly allied to the Agrostis canina 

 of Sir J. E. Smith (Engl. Fl. i. p. 90.) ; the awn is shorter, 

 branches of the panicle almost smooth, culm more ascend- 

 ing. The whole plant, except the panicle when in flower 

 and seed, of a light straw colour. The branches are nume- 

 rous, and when in flower the panicle assumes that appear- 

 ance which it would have after a shower of snow, being then 

 almost white. The above characters have remained constant 

 after the third time raised from seed on different soils, (i. e.) 



