30 REPORT — 1859. 



reported upon, maintain their induced characters most perfectly, and I have 

 become still more convinced of the little value to be placed in the specific 

 characters of these plants as laid down by botanists, while at the same time 

 I am fully aware how easy it is to make permanent varieties. In experiment- 

 ing upon these, however, it must be admitted that there are great difficulties 

 in the way, arising from the facility with which they become mixed with one 

 another, and altogether the trouble there is in keeping the plots clean; still the 

 changes in Oats and in the Poa aquatica cannot be vitiated on this account, 

 as their descendants are not like anything around them ; the Poa, indeed, is 

 altogether new ; we have no grass in the British Flora at all like the speci- 

 mens I now submit to the Section. This is, in fact, as much a new and 

 distinct species as the most specific of our well-known forms, and yet its 

 production is perfectly under control, and that not, as has been hinted, as 

 an isolated specimen, but in whole patches. 



Plots B 1 and C 1 are of this descendant fromPoa aquatica, and fine grasses 

 they are ; they have already been laid before the Section, with the seed9 

 whence they were derived in 1857; but these experiments, and all upon the 

 grasses, will be again repeated on a new patch of ground which is clearing 

 for the purpose ; and if I can but get good seeds, I anticipate a great deal of 

 new matter from this source. 



Plot D 1 is Poa aquatica from plants taken from the canal side; they are 

 growing very well; but even from growing in an unaccustomed habitat, they 

 are taking on immense differences, which I expect time will confirm ; I shall 

 therefore reserve any further description of this until another opportunity. 



Plots D 1 , E 1 , F 1 , were devoted to oat experiments as follows : — 

 D 1 . Avena fatua, var. saliva. Tartarean sort. 

 E l . Avena fatua, var. sativa. Potato sort. 



F 1 . Avena fatua, formerly sativa. Left wild as a permanent crop. 

 Of these, D 1 and E 1 have maintained their characters both iu my experimental 

 plots and in the extended farm cultivation to which they have been subjected 

 by Mr. Coleman, the Manager of the Royal Agricultural College Farm. 



Plot F 1 has presented all phases of reversion, just as may be observed in 

 the field on examining the offspring of ' shed' oats. 



PlotG 1 is occupied with a grass which has recently excited some attention, 

 it is the Holcus (Soi'ghuni) saccharatus : its seed was drilled early in April, 

 and duly thinned out as it advanced. Early in August it had stooled to 

 about five culms to each plant, of which the main or primitive one was the 

 largest; at this time I gathered some in order to try how the cows liked it; 

 but they uniformly refused it, which was not to be wondered at, when at this 

 time the whole of my plants possessed an intensely bitter taste. On the 1st 

 of September I again made trial with some of the more advanced shoots ; 

 they were devoured greedily, but now an immense quantity of sugar had 

 been developed, as the bases of these tasted quite as sweet as liquorice root. 

 This points to the circumstances that the juices of this plant may be rich in 

 saccharine matter at a later, though not at an earlier stage of growth ; if, then, 

 it is ever to be useful as a feeding grass, this must be attended to; but I 

 much doubt whether at any time in the cold climate of the Cotteswolds this 

 species of sugar-cane will yield so much sugar as in a warmer and less 

 exposed position ; at the same time, as a first trial, I consider this eminently 

 successful, and I should not wonder to see it more fully tried over a great 

 part of England next season. 



