164 VEGETABLE SUBSTANCES. 



until the leaves which sheath the stem came off; it 

 was then moistened in a solution of pearlash and 

 soap, and in order to whiten it was subjected to the 

 fumes of sulphur. 



In consequence of the attention of agriculturists 

 being called to this subject, many inducements were 

 held out to further the promotion of so desirable an 

 object. The Highland Society offered several pre- 

 miums in 1825 and 1826, for encouraging the home 

 manufacture in imitation of Leghorn plat. Several 

 candidates appeared for the reward. Among these 

 Messrs. Muir, of Greenock, gave a detailed account of 

 their manner of cultivating and preparing the straw, 

 which is very similar to that already described. After 

 various experiments, however, they were induced to 

 confine themselves wholly to the use of rye-straw, 

 dwarfed by being grown on poor land in the Ork- 

 neys, and not suffered to attain to sufficient maturity 

 for the production of good seed. 



The English grasses which have been found ap- 

 propriate to this purpose are extremely numerous. 



Among these are the florin, the yellow oat, and the 

 brown-bent grass, the botanical names of which are 

 Agrostis stolonifera, Avenaflavescens, and Agrostis 

 canina ; the ray or darnel, usually though impro- 

 perly, called rye-grass (Loliumperenne) ; this is very 

 commonly sown in England with clover, and in a 

 rich soil grows to be four feet high ; the sweet- 

 scented vernal grass, or Anthoxanthum odoratum; 

 Purple Melica grass, or Melica ccerulea ; Meadow 

 fox-tail grass, or Alopecurus pratensis ; Cat's-tail 

 grass, or Phleum pratense; Crested dog's-tail grass, 

 or Cynosufus cristatus ; this last, after the red 

 wheat of Tuscany, was considered the best material 

 for the purpose ; Sheep's fescue grass, or Festuca 

 ovina ; Common mat grass, or Nardus stricta. 



Mr. Cobbett has observed that the circumstance 



