18 



growth, it will be of use to compare the merits of two other grasses which possess this prope^y 



of early growtli in common with it. 



Anthoianthum odoratum. Sweet-scented vernal-grass, at the time of flowering, affords of' 



of nutritive matter - - - - ' 



At the time the seed is ripe, affords of nutritive matter - - - - 



The produce of latter-math affords of nutritive matter " " 



lbs. per Acre. 



122 



311 

 230 



672 



Poa pratensis. Smooth-stalked meadow grass, as above, affords of nutritive matter 



The weight of nutritive matter, by which the produce of the sweet-scented vernal exceeds that of the 



smooth-stalked meadow-grass, is therefore - " , ' 



Poa trmalis. Rough-stalked meadow-grass, at the time of flowering, affards of nutritive matter 233 

 At the time the seed is ripe, affords of nutritive matter . - ^ 



The produce of latter-math affords of nutritive matter - , *- . •• 



Poa pratensis. As before -■__----- 



The weight of nutritive matter, in which the produce of the Poa trivialk exceeds that of the Poa 

 pratensis, is --w -,--■* 



590 



82 



336 



223 



792 



590 



202 



Besides this superiority of produce, the AntJioxantJmm odoratum^ and Poa trivialis, liave 

 fibrous roots, which impoverish the soil in a far less degree. The Poa pratensis cannot therefore 

 justify its claim to a place in the composition of the best natural pastures, and on this account 

 should be carefully avoided, as an unprofitable plant for that purpose. It flowers in the bcffin- 

 ning of June, and ripens the seed in the beginning of July. 



f , 



Poa ct^rulea, Short blue Meadow-grass, 



7 



¥' 



Panicle diiFuse ; spikets oval, generally 3-flowered ; husks acute, con- 



nected by a villus ; sheath scale very short, obtuse. 

 0Z»5.— This grass is so nearly allied to the Poa pratensis, that the discriminating characters 

 are hardly sufficient to make them distinct species. This grass has generally three florets 

 in each calyx ; the Poa pratensis has five : the panicle is more compact, the culms are 

 shorter, and somewhat glaucous ; the leaves are much shorter and broader than those of 

 the Poa pratensis. The sheath scale in the Poa ccErulea is obtuse ; that of the P. pratam 

 is blunt. It may be distinguished at some distance from the Poa pratensis, by its de- 

 licate sky-blue or glaucous colour. The root, like that of the Poa pratensis, is powerfoUy 

 creeping. 



Native of Britain. E. Bot. 1004 ; Hort. Kew. i. 155, Poa humilis; E. Bot. Poa suhcceruh. 

 E^penments.- At the time of flowering, the produce from a clayey loam enriched with hog 



earth, is 



% 



Grass. 11 oz. The produce per acre 

 80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry 

 The produce of the space, ditto 



The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying 

 64 dr. of grass afFord of nutritive matter ^ 2 



The produce of the space, ditto - ,5 



tlr, qr, 



oz. 



- 119790 



24 



- 52 3^ 



35937 



3743 7 



lbs. 



7486 



2246 



5240 13 



233 15 7 



