16 



Poa pratemis. Smooth-stalked Meadow-grass 



Specific character : Panicle spreading ; spikets. 



character: Panicle spreading; spikets, five-flowered, smooth. Straw erect, round. ■ 



Root, creeping, perennial. 

 Obs.—Thk grass is distinguished from the Poa trivialis, smooth-stalked meadow-grass, by ;^ 

 ■ strong creeping roots, sheaths of the straw being smooth ; whereas in the P. trivialis, the 



sheaths are rough to the touch: the sheath scale is blunt; in the Poa trivialis it is pointed. 



the leaves are blunt; those of the P. trivialis are acuminate. E. Bot. 1073 ; Hort. Kew 



i. p. 155 ; Curt. Lond. 

 Native of Britain. 

 Experiments. — At the time of flowering, the produce from a clayey loam rich with tbe veo-c- 



table matter of active peat^ is 



dr. qr. oz. lbs. 



Grass, 15 02. The produce per acre, is - - ... 163350 = 10209 6 



45942 3 = 2871 6 3 



80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry - ^ 22 2 



The produce of the space, ditto - -^ 67 2 



The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying - - . _ 7337 ^5 13 



4466 9 = 279 2 9 



64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter - 13 



The produce of the space, ditto - ^ 6 $-h 



At the time the seed is ripe, the produce is. 

 Grass, 12dr. Boz. The produce per acre is, - _ _ 136125 = 8507 13 



80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry - - 32 

 The produce ofthe space, ditto - - 80 ^, " " ^^^^^ °= ^^^^ ^ 



The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying 

 64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter - 12 



5104 11 



The produce of the space, ditto '- . 4 2tV S " " ^^^^ ^™ 199 G Q 



The weight of nutritive matter which is lost, by leaving the crop till the seed be 

 ripe, being nearly one-fourtV of its value, is - - _ 



The produce of latter-math is. 

 Grass, 6oz. The produce per acre ^ >■ .. « 



79 12 9 



65340 = 4083 12 



64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter - 1 3 - _ 1786 10= 111 JO 



The proportional value in which the grass of the latter-matli exceeds that of the grass at tlie 

 time the seed is ripe, is as 7 to 6. The yalne of the latter-math and seed crop are equal. This 

 grass is therefore of least value at the time the seed is ripe ; ^ loss of more thnn one-fourth part 

 of the whole crop is sustained, if not cut till that period ; the'cul.ns are then dry, and the root 

 leaves m a sickly decaying state ; those of the latter-math, on the contrary, are green and suc- 

 culent. This species sends forth flowering straws but once in the season, and these being the most 

 valuable part of the plant for the purposes of hay, and considering the superior value of the latter- 

 math over that ofthe seed crop, it will appear from these properties to be well adapted for per- 

 manent pasture. There are, however, many other grasses highly superior to this one: it comes 

 early m the spnng ; but the produce is inconsiderable, compared to many other grasses ; te 

 strong creepmg roots exhaust the soil very much: after Midsummer the herbage is slow in 



growth after bemg cropped. It is the property of ill ... ■ t, I and 



,1 1 ^ . , ^, ^^ i^^i^^'^^y*^^ all creeping roots to scourge the soil, an" 



^ advtr T ""': "" '" "'•'*"'"' ■» *' P'-« of *-. with an »q«a. p,«P«' 



«pay .he labou. wth .nterest. As the chief property .k,, ^ ,,,„, „ .^^ „,,, , e.l, 



