HORTUS GRAMINEUS WOBURNENSIS. 305 



Obs. This grass was formerly ranked by Botanists under the 

 genus Poa, but has since been referred to that of Aim, to 

 which it is more closely allied by its two-flowered calyx and 

 acuminate glumes ; culms from a foot to a foot and a half 

 high, round, striated, a little pubescent towards the top, erect 

 from the lower joint upwards, under that, decumbent ; leaves 

 linear, acute, flat, roughish at the margin, and ciliated ; sheath- 

 scale very short, more or less ciliate ; panicle erect, cylindri- 

 cal, but tapering on each side ; spike-stalk pubescent, smooth 

 towards the top, and furnished with a few hairs ; calyx acumi- 

 nated, compressed, keeled, terminated by an awn-like point. 



German, Kamm-Schmielen. 



Native of Britain. Root perennial. E. Bot. t. 648. Hort. 

 Gram. Fol. 191. 



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

 sandy loam is 



Produce per Acre, 

 dr. qr. Ibs. 



Grass, 16 oz. The produce per acre 10890 



80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry - 36 7 4900 8 

 The produce of the space, ditto - 115 T %3 

 The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying 5989 8 

 64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter 20} 040 r Q 

 The produce of the space, ditto 803 



At the time the seed is ripe the produce is 

 Grass, 10 oz. The produce per acre - 6806 4 



80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry - 40 } ^40Q o n 

 The produce of the space, ditto 80 ) 



The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying 3403 2 

 The weight of nutritive matter which is lost by leav- 

 ing the crop till the seed be ripe, is - 127 10 



The produce of this species, and the nutritive matter it affords, 

 are equal to those of the Festuca ovina at the time the seed is ripe ; 

 they equally delight in dry soils, though the Aira cristata will thrive 

 well, and remain permanent in soils of a moist and clayey nature, 

 which is different with the Festuca ovina. The greater bulk of the 

 produce of the Aira cristata, in proportion to its weight, makes it 

 of inferior value to the Festuca ovina. In some parts of the country 

 it grows on dry pastures plentifully, where it appears to be but 

 sparingly eaten by cattle, particularly if the pasture be not over- 

 stocked. "Rye-grass (Lolium perenne), sheep's fescue (Festuca 



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