HORTUS GRAMINEUS WOBURNENSIS. 315 



Produce per Acre, 

 dr. qr. Ibs. 



The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying 4900 8 

 64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter 337 ^g g Q 

 The produce of the space, ditto 11 13 



At the time the seed is ripe, the produce is 

 Grass, 13 oz. The produce per acre - 8848 2 



80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry - 32 7 3539 4 Q 

 The produce of the space, ditto - 83 0^ 5 



The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying 5308 14 

 64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter 307 *** -.Q \ 

 The produce of the space, ditto 933 



The weight of nutritive matter which is lost by 



leaving the crop till the seed be ripe, is 63 14 



The grass, at the time of flowering, contains more nutritive 

 matter than at the time the seed is ripe, in the proportion 

 of 15 to 12. 



This grass, though said to be partial to dry chalky soils, I have 

 always found most prevalent on good rich meadow ground ; it 

 thrives under irrigation ; and there are but few pastures in which 

 it is not to be found ; dry sandy heaths, and moist sour soils, are 

 uncongenial to it. The Rev. G. Swayne observes, that in moist 

 meadows it produces a considerable quantity of hay, but is not 

 to be recommended as one of the best grasses for the Farmer. 

 The best grasses, in my opinion, continues Mr. Swayne, are the 

 Alopecurus pratensis, Poa trivialis, Dactylis glomerata, Cynosurus 

 cristatus, Festuca duriuscula, Festnca pratensis, Festuca hybrida, 

 Avenaflavescem, and above all, the Lolium perenne. If Gardeners 

 and Farmers are so careful, as we know they are, in raising the 

 seeds of their turnips and cabbages, surely some of their care is 

 due to the cultivated grasses.* I have observed this grass to con- 

 stitute the principal herbage of one or two pastures that were 

 considered excellent for sheep. I have been informed, likewise, 

 that in some pastures in Norfolk this grass forms the principal 

 herbage ; and the proprietors of the lands in question are famed 

 for their superior breed of sheep. Though this proves nothing 

 positive with respect to the merit of the grass, nevertheless, it 

 offers satisfactory reasons to conclude that the grass is not hurtful 



* Withering^ Arr. ii. p. 172, Ed. 4. 



