42 





The produce of latter-matli is, 



Grass, 10 oz.- The produce per acre 

 64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter 



dr. qr 



I ^ per acre 



oz. 



108'900 

 , 2552 5 



lbs. 



6806 



1 



159 8 5 



The grass of the latter-math is therefore of inferior value to that of the spring, to that at 

 the time of flowering, and to that at the time the seed is ripe. 



This is a very common grass, and grows on all soils, from the richest to the poorest. It 

 attains to the greatest degree of luxuriance on light moist soils; particularly on those of a peaty 



Cattle prefer almost any other grass to this ; it is seen in pastures with full grown 

 perfect leaves, while the grasses that surround it are cropped to the roots. 



The numerous downy hairs which cover the surface of the whole plant, render the hay 

 that is made of it soft and spongy, and in this state it is disliked by cattle, particularly by 

 horses. Sir Humphry Davy has shewn, that its nutritive matter consists entirely of mucilage 

 and sugar ; and that the nutritive matters of the grasses most liked by cattle, have either a sub- 



nature. 



Hi 



IS 



^^ 



similar to that of gum Arabic; and this grass might probably be made more palatable to cattle by 

 being sprinkled over with salt. This may be done at so little expence and trouble atthetimetlie 

 hay is carried, that it cannot be too earnestly recommended to the notice of those gentlemen 

 who may have much of this grass in their meadows or pastures. The late Duke of Bedford made 

 trial of this grass on a large scale: the results proved that it was a very inferior grass for pas- 

 ture, or for hay. Its merits consist in being productive, and easy of cultivation. But it is dis- 

 liked by cattle: is not an eai^ly grass; and when once in possession of the soil, can hardly be 

 again rooted out. There being so many grasses superior to this in every respect, it cannot sup- 



r 



port any claim to a place in the composition of the best permanent pastures. It produces a pro- 

 fusion of seed, which being light, is easily dispersed by the winds; and though a late flower- 



T 



ing grass, the seed ripens sooner than that of most others, and before hay-harvest begins, 

 is generally perfected, The question is, therefore, how to get free of it: hard stocking, 

 and never suffering it to run to seed, will at least prevent it from spreading farther, 

 ploughing up the pasture, and taking not less than a five years' course of crops, and tl 

 returning the land to other grasses, will be found the best remedy. Flowers and ripens tlie 

 geed in July. 



But 



len 



Molciis mollis^ Creeping Soft-grass, Couch-grass. 



Specific character: Boot creeping, panicle regular, bisexual floret inferior, awnless: unl- 



sexual or male floret awned, avs^n incurved, protruding out of the calyx. 

 Obs.— The creeping root of this species of soft grass, at once determines it to be distinct from 



He 



H. lanatus 



are in dense tufts. The avrn in the hnatus is hid in the calyx ; but in the moHis it pro- 

 trudes out of the calyx ; it is also tvristed and knee-bent, like that of an Avena. The pani- 

 oh oi the lanatm is generally of a reddish purple colour, tinoed with green, or, when 



