63 DOWNY OAT GRASS. 



CHAPTER XIX. 



DOW]N T Y OAT GRASS. 



Trisetum Puhescens Generic Character. 



Spikelets 2 ; several flowered, often in a contracted 

 panicle ; the lower palet compressed keeled, of about" 

 the same membranaceous texture as the glumes, bear-, 

 ing a bent or flexuous (rarely twisted) awn below the ; 

 sharply two- toothed or two-pointed apex (whence 

 the name from tris, three, and seta, a bristle): other-; 

 wise nearly as in Avena. Gray. Flowers in June, 

 and ripens seeds in July. 



WAY'S ANALYSIS 

 100 parts taken green from the field July llth. 



Water 61.50^ 



Albuminous, or flesh forming principles 3.07 ; 



Fatty matters '. 92. 



Heat producing principles, starch, sugar, gum, etc 19.16 



Woody Fibre 13.34 



Mineral matter, or Ash 2.01 



100. OO' 

 100 parts of the grass dried at 212 Q Fahr 



Albuminous, or flesh forming principles 7.97 



Fatty matters 2.39 



Heat producing principles, starch, sugar, gum, etc 49.78 



Woody Fibre 34 64 



Mineral matter, or Ash 5.22 



Downy Oat grass, Trisetum Pubescens, better 

 know r n as Avena Pubescens, A Yel. Trisetum Pub- 

 escens. Is generally found growing on dry, rocky 

 soils, also on chalky ones in England. It is only of 

 late years that it has received much attention. It is 

 now considered a good permanent grass to be sown 

 on medium lands, on account of its hardiness and 

 audits being but a slight impoverisher of the soil. It 



