A 



Obs. 



36 



J^es«^«c« oi?m« ^ord^j/bnmV. Long-awned Sheep's Fescue, 



Specific character : Panicle compact, l^ranches sutdivided, upright. Spikets crowded, 6-10 

 flowered. Root-leaves thread-shaped, stem-leaves very long. 



-In the first account of the results of these experiments, this grass is received under the 

 name of Festuca hordiformis : though there are names received among Botanists, not less 

 incongruous than this one, yet I am happy to agree with the opinion of Mr. SowerLy, !„ 

 considering it a variety of the Festuca ovina. I am uncertain as to its native place of growth, 

 having never discovered it in any soil or situation in a wild state. The culms are strongly 

 marked with ribs. 



Root fibrous, perennial. Native of Britain. 



r 



Experiments,— Allh^ time of flowering, the produce from a sandy soil with manure, is, 



^ 



dr. qri 



oz. 



lbs. 



Grass, 20 oz^ The produce per acre 

 80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry 



The produce of the space, ditto 



24 



- 9Q 



217BOO 

 65340 



13612 8 



4083 12 



2 1 

 11 1 



The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying 



G4dr, of grass afford of nutritive matter 



The produce of the space, ditto r - - 



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

 Grass, 14 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 



9528 12 



- 7657 



478 



152460 



yo28 12 



- 32 



89 2^ 



60984 



3811 8 



5717 4 



The produce of the space, ditto 



The produce of latter-math, is, 

 Grass, 8 oz,. The produce per acre 

 64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter 



1 3 



- 6 Oi 



4168 13 



260 13 



87120 



1 3 per acre 



2382 



3 



5445 

 148 ]4 



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



one-half of its value, is 





217 12 



Th 



the seed is ripe, is as 9 to 7, and it exceeds the value of the latter-math grass in the like propor- 

 tion. The grass of the seed crop, and that of the latter-math, are equal in the quantity of nu- 

 tritive matter they contain ; a circumstance easily accounted for, as the culms at the time the 

 seed is ripe, are drier than in most other grasses at the same stage of growtli, and the produce 

 then consists almost entirely of leaves, similar to the latter-math produce. This species flowers 

 earlier than any other of the fescue species. Its nutritive qualities are nearly the same as tlio^e 



It IS superior to that species, and to most others, in the produce 

 of early herbage m the spring ; the herbage is very fine, tender, and sueculent. It is highly 

 superior to the Festuca ovina, of whieh it is considered a variety. It does not appear, however, 

 to possess any merit in a sufficient degree to entitle it to a place in the composition of the best 

 natural pastures, unless as a substitute for the Festuca duriuscula, which might be effected with 

 advantage on soils of a drier, or sandy mature. It flowers in the last week of May, and ripens 



of the Festuca duriuscula. 



the seed in June. 



