312 HORTUS GRAMINEUS WOBURNENSIS 



greater bird's-foot trefoil is superior to that of the perennial red 

 clover, on tenacious or moist soils, and on drier, and on richer 

 soils of the first quality ; but the produce is inferior, in the pro- 

 portion of nutritive matter it contains, as 5 to 4. The nutritive 

 matter of this species contains more bitter extractive and saline 

 matters than that of the former, which was before shewn to be in 

 excess when compared with the clovers, and these with the proper 

 natural grasses. The nutritive matter is extremely bitter to the 

 taste. It does not appear to be eaten by any cattle when in a 

 green state ; but when made into hay with the common grasses, 

 I have offered it to sheep, oxen, deer, and the llama, or South 

 American sheep, and they all ate it without reluctance, and rather 

 with desire. 



It does not seem to perfect so much seed as the former species ; 

 but this is abundantly remedied in its propagation by the creep- 

 ing or stoloniferous roots, which it spreads out in all directions, 

 and thus it soon covers a large space of ground. But the stems 

 rise not in considerable number; they are thinly scattered over 

 the surface. In moist clayey soils it would doubtless be a most 

 profitable substitute for red clover ; but the excess of bitter ex- 

 tractive and saline matters it contains, seems to forbid its adop- 

 tion without a considerable admixture of other plants. 



It flowers about the third week of June, and the seed is ripe 

 about the end of the following month. 



AVTZNA pratensis. Meadow Oat-grass. 



Specific character : Panicle erect, with very short simple 

 branches ; florets about five, longer than the calyx ; partial 

 stalk all over hairy ; leaves involute, finely serrated, naked ; 

 sheaths smooth. Sm. Engl. Fl. i. p. 154. Refer. Fig. 1. 

 Calyx, with unequal valves. 2. Perfect Floret. 3. Germen 

 and Stigmas. 



Obs. Culms perfectly smooth, erect, straight, round, upper- 

 half naked, and scored ; panicle equal, erect ; florets 4-5, 

 somewhat compressed, terminating one imperfect ; husks of 

 the calyx acuminate, compressed, rough on the keel, three- 

 nerved, inner husk the smallest ; outer husk of the corolla 

 acuminate, five-nerved, with an awn from below the middle 

 longer than the husk, knee-bent, inner valve smaller. E. Bot. 

 1204 ; Host. t. 51 ; Flo. Ger. 385 ; Wither. Arr. ; Hort. 

 Gram. Fol. 201. 



