48 



H. Davy has shewn, that 82 parts of the nutritive matter of this grass, consist of 72 parts «,,, 

 cilage or stareh, four parts saccharine matter, and six parts of bitter extractive matter, and a 

 peculiar substance which has'an acrid taste, more soluble in alcohol than in water. The pow. 

 erful creeping roots of this grass, its tender nature, and the great deficiency of foliage in the 

 spring, are demerits which discourage the idea of recommending it farther to the notice of the 



Agriculturist. 



It comes into flower about the end of April, and perfects the seed about the third week of 



June. It perfects few seeds, seldom more than two In a panicle. But few grasses prop 

 more quickly by the roots. 



agate 



tloleim avenaceus. Tall Oat-like Soft-grass 



Specific character: Bisexual floret superior, mostly awn 



or unisexual floret, with 



a jointed awn; culm with smooth joints; root knobbed, or bulbous. 

 Obs, — In the works of Linnaeus, Curtis, and Host, this grass is found under the name of 

 Avena elatior; under this name it was also received in the first account of the results of 

 these experiments. The jointed and twisted awn, from the back of the blossom, wliicfi 

 caused it to rank with the avence, is frequently wanting altogether, wliich is evident in 



r 



the next following specimen. It was thought to agree better with the Iwici in structure; it 



has in consequence been referred to that genus by Scopoli, in the Flora Carniolica; and by 



Dr. Smithj, in the Flo. Brit, and English Botany; indeed., it appears to belong to neither of 



these justly, but ^rves to form the connecting link between the avence, hold, and f/ra. 



Eng. Bot. 813; Host. t. 49, Avena elatior; Curt. Lond. Avena elatior. 

 Native of Britain, Perennial. 



Experiments. — -At flie time of flowering, the produce from a clayey loam, is, 



4 



tir. qr. oz. lbs. 



Grass, 25 oz. The produce per acre m - „ . 272^50 ^ 17015 10 



80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry i- - 30 



102081 = 6380 10 



11635 



10C34 12 = 664 10 



The produce of the space, ditto - - 150 



The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying 

 64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter ^ 2 2 



The produce of the space, ditto »- - 15 2t 



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

 Grass, 24 oz. The produce per acre - . „ , 26l360 = 16335 



80 dr, of grass weigh, when dry '■^23 



The produce ofthe space, ditto - . .134 i^ ^ '^ " 91^76 0= 5717 3 



'J'he weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying 



64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter ^ l 



10617 13 



The produce of the space, ditto '--60\ " " ^^^^ ^^ ^ ^^^ ^ ^^ 



The produce of latter-math is, 

 Grass, 20 OZ. The produce per acre . ^ , ^ ^ 217800 = 13612 8 



64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter •* 1 1 , , aqk^ 14 __ 260 13 ^^ 



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



ceeding one-haif. of its value, is 



409 6 ^ 



\ 



y 



