196 THE LIFE AND WORK OF GEORGE DON. 
good crop. When I last visited my botanical arrangement at 
Forfar, | found that it had produced a thick crop from a foot to 
sixteen inches high. I must here observe, that in the second and 
third years the crop will be more abundant than in the first year 
after sowing; and then it will continue to produce for many years 
plentifully. An analogy between plants and animals may here be 
traced. It is observed, that the longer time an animal requires to 
arrive at maturity, the longer it remains in a perfect state; so, 
although the Poa nemoralis does not arrive at maturity the first year, 
yet it would amply repay the farmer for his trouble, as it would con- 
tinue to produce abundant crops for a number of years in succession. 
But even the first year after sowing, this grass will in general pro- 
duce a tolerable crop. Were I to compare this grass with the 
common rye grass, I should certainly give it the preference. The 
Lolium perenne arrives quickly at maturity, and fails proportionally 
sooner. Horses, cows, and sheep are equally fond of the Poa 
nemoralis; and I should not be surprised to see it, after trial, more 
cultivated than the rye grass as a hay crop; at least in some situa- 
tions. One great superiority which it possesses over the Lo/um, 
is the number of leaves it produces. It has generally sex or seven, 
whereas rye grass has only three. I have carefully examined a 
number of rye grass plants in various soils and situations, and three 
was the number of leaves I constantly found. From this it appears, 
that there are double the number of leaves produced on the Poa 
nemoralis which are produced on the Lolium perenne; and this 
alone, in my opinion, is a great recommendation: But this Poa 
also frequently branches in the stem, an advantage seldom met 
with in other grasses. It produces its seeds abundantly. It 
flowers in June, and ripens its seeds in July. 
2. Poa glauca’. This grass has never attracted the notice of any 
writer on agriculture. I first found it among the rocks on Ben 
Lawers, and in other high mountains of Breadalbane, in 1784. It 
has received the trivial name of glauca, from the blueish colour of 
its leaves and stalks. This grass I have cultivated at Forfar since 
the year 1793. I have found it to thrive well on the most barren 
soil. Indeed I am convinced there is no soil, however sterile, which 
would not produce this grass. It is easily cultivated, and forms a 
good stool for late pasture. Horses, cows, and sheep are fond of 
it. It is little inferior to Poa nemoralis, though no quite so tall. 
It affords more radical leaves, and is therefore preferable for 
pasture. It also flowers in June, and ripens its seeds in July. 
1 Glaucous meadow grass. 
