404 HORTUS GRAMINEUS WOBURNENSIS. 



Produce per Acre, 

 dr. qr. Ibs. 



The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying 4794 3 

 64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter 13? 21400 

 The produce of the space, ditto 



The common millet, in its natural state, seems to be confined to 

 woods as its place of growth. It will thrive and grow, however, 

 when transplanted to open exposed situations. It is remarkable 

 for the lightness of the produce in proportion to its bulk. The 

 foliage comes pretty early in the spring, but appears, from the 

 above results, to be but little nutritive. Birds are remarkably 

 fond of the seeds ; so much so, as to raise a doubt whether, for 

 the sake of the seed only, it could be cultivated to advantage on 

 the farm. But in covers, where game is preserved, there cannot 

 be a better grass encouraged ; it will save the corn fields. About 

 the beginning of August is the best season for sowing the seed. 

 The surface of the ground, near the roots of the bushes, should be 

 lightly stirred, and the seeds scattered over it and raked in ; a few 

 of the decaying leaves that cover the ground should be afterwards 

 thrown over it. 



It flowers in the second week and latter end of June, and the 

 seed is ripe in the middle of July and beginning of August. 



AGROSTIS Mexicana. Mexican bent-grass. 



Specific character : Panicle oblong, heaped ; calyx and corolla 



acuminate, and nearly equal. 



Obs. Culms numerous, from one to two feet high, according 

 to the nature of the soil it grows in, branched, erect ; leaves 

 smooth; sheath-scale truncated; panicle pale green, tinged 

 with purple, according as it is produced in full exposure to 

 the sun, crowded with scabrous florets ; calyx-valves unequal, 

 shorter than the corolla ; corolla-valves nearly equal, hairy at 

 the base. Linnaeus observes, that it is very difficult to dis- 

 tinguish this species. 



Native of South America. Root perennial. Introduced into 

 England by Mr. Gilbert Alexander, in 1780. Hort. Kew. i. 

 p. 150 ; Linn. Mant. 31. syst. 111. 



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

 rich black siliceous sandy soil incumbent on a tenacious sub- 

 soil, is 



