46 



Hdlcus odoratus, (repens). Sweet-scented Soft-grass. 



Specific character: Panicle mostly flowering on one side; fruit-stalks smooth ; bisexual 

 floret awnless ; male, or unisexual floret, furnished with a short awn. Holcus repens, 

 Host. vol. iii. p. 3, t. 3; Holcus odoratus, Flo. Dan. t. 963; Holcus horealis, Flo. Germ. 



r 



p. 252. 



0^5.— Botanists have made two species here, which I include in one, as I can perceive no 

 difference in their structure, habits, or agricultural merits, sufficient to separate them. The 

 nectary is the only part wherein these plants vary from each other in a sensible degree, but 

 what may be accounted for from the circumstances of soil and situation. If they are to 



' remain distinct species, they are artificial in no ordinary degree. 



Root creeping. Perennial. Native of Germany; grows in moist meadows, 



Experiments, — At the time of flowering, the produce is, 



dr. qr, 



oz. 



152460 



lbs. 



9528 12 



20 2 

 57 If 



3 



9067 14 



2441 11 14 



7087 2 



34 S 



10124 4 



632 12 4 



435600 



27225 



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 - 4 



The produce of the space, ditto - - 14 



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

 Grass, 40 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 - - . _ _ . 17696 4 



64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter 

 The produce of the space, ditto - - 



The produce of latter-math is, 

 Grass, 25 oz. The produce per acre 

 64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter 



28 



224 



152460 



9528 12 



52 



35732 13 



2233 4 13 



4 1 



272250 

 1 8079 1 



17015 10 

 1129 15 1 



The weight of nutritive matter which is lost by taking the crop at the time of flowering', ex- 



ceeding one-half its value, is ----.___ V ^^^^ ^ 



9 



The proportional value in which the grass of the seed crop exceeds that at the time of 

 flowering, is as 21 to l?. The grass of the latter-math, and the grass at the time of flowering, 

 are of equal proportional value. 



Though this is one of the earliest flowering grasses, it is tender, and the spring produce of 

 herbage is very inconsiderable, the flowering straws rising up in a manner destitute of leaves. 

 This deficiency of produce is much to be regretted, as the nutritive qualities of the grass are 

 greater than in most of the early spring grasses : it sends forth but a few flower straws, which 

 are of a slender structure, compared to the size of the leaves. This accounts, in a great measure, 

 for the equal quantities of nutritive matter afforded by the grass at the time of flowering, and 

 that of the latter-math. The grasses which flower about the same time as tins species, are. 



scented vernal-grass, 



( Sesleria cwrulea) ; Alpine meadow-grass, (P 



and the sweet- 



')■ In no Instance, that I have observed, was 



this grass eaten by the hares and rabbits which preyed upon many of the other grasses. 



Sir 



