GRASSES. 



The proportional value which the gras?, at the 

 time the seed is ripe bears to that of the time of flow 

 ering, is as U to 4 The projwrtioiial v1i]ua.j<Ti\;(!)i 

 crop, is nearly as 13 to 9; ami the proportional value 

 or nourishment contained in the autumn grass exceeds 

 that of the first grass of the spring as 9 to 7. 



The nutritive matter of this grass consists of the 

 following vegetable principles in every ItiO parts ot 

 the soluble extract, viz: 



Mucilage or siarch. 

 Sugar, or saccUarim 

 liitter extraclire, oi 



; matter - -- ^ 



100 



The first growth of the herbage in spring affords 



ucilage or starch.. ^0 



onic, or bitter e-xtractive matter ._ -: 1° 



150 



The ton;" 'I" '^■(^jjin w the summer produce, or in 

 larger proportion^^ iioweriiig or S3ed culms, and the 

 fl\iu1itity of sugar is less. This grass gives the new- 

 mown iuiy that delightful odor which is peculiar to 

 it. It constitutes a portion of the herbage on pas- 

 tures on almost evL'iy kind of soil, although it attains 

 to p3rfection on those only that are deep and moist. 

 It thrives best and is most productive and permanent 

 wlien combined with other species of grasses, and it 

 is therefore a true permanent pasture grass. V/hen 

 sown by itself this grass is not a profitable grass." Mr. 

 Grant, of Leighton, laid down a field of considera- 

 lile e.vtent with this grass, and another adjoining field 

 with the meadow foxtail [Alupecurus pratensis). A 

 portion of clover seed wa-s sown in each case — white 

 clover with the former, and rod clover with the latter 

 grass. Both fields were open at the same time to 

 sheep. The stock gave a decided preference to the 

 meadow foxtail. Wo saw the trial conducted on a 

 large scale, and every impartiality, by Mr. Guant, 

 antl the conclusions agreed with the results of our 

 own trials — that the sweet-scented vernal is a useful 

 ingredient in pastures on a deep, moist soil, but is 

 unfit to be cultivated by itself 



The superior quantity of nutritive matter con 

 tained in the crop at the season of the seed being 

 ripe, instead of at the time of flowering (generally 

 supposed to be the period when grasses contain the 

 most nourishment) is so far f. wise provision of boun- 

 tiful Providence, inasmuch that from the circumstance 

 of this grass flowering in April and May, its crop 

 could not be taken at that period without saoriGcing 

 the greater number of different grasses not then in a 

 state of inflorescence; as it is when the seed of the 

 sweet-scented vernal is ripe, the greater number ol 

 the superior pasture grasses are in various stages 

 of inflorescence. The season of coming into flow- 

 er is generally about the middle of April, • and 

 the seed is ripe in May, or early in June. The seed 

 is furnished with an awn which ejects it from the 

 husks almost immediately that it is perfected, and 

 this seed is therefore rarely found in wliat are termed 

 hay seeds, being shed long before the ordinary peri- 

 od of hay harvest 



ROUND-PANICLED COCK'S-FOOT GBASS— Dactylis Olom- 



ERATA. (Fig. 2.) 



Specific character of distinction. — Panicle distinct- 

 ly branched, flowers in dense globular tufts, directed 

 to oue side, corolla, somewhij^ awncd, five-ribbed, 

 taper-pointed. Native of Britain. 



Dissections. — Fig. 1. Spikelet magnified; 2. Flo- 

 ret magnified; 1. Nectary natural size. 



On a rich, sandy loam, the produce of this grass, 

 about the middle of April, is — ^^ ^^^_^ 



II.J. - - ..«.. luua ; --. "r. *. Wo!) 



NutiiUve matter - ---. ''IS' 



At tbe time of flowering the produce is gra-ss or green food 27.905 



Or.l.ar ,..- l'.«59 



Nutritive matter cilto... „''??? 



At tlie time the seed is ripe the produce ot grass is 2o.6« 



ilr when made into hay --- ^''^'^ 



Nutritive matter ditto --- Xibi 



The weight of nutrUNe matter in which the crop 

 at the time tto »oed is ripe exceeds that of the flow- 

 grinfl- """Op is as seven to five nearly. 



The seed of cock's-foot is light, and the culms are 



