62 



Holms menaceus, var. Muticiis. Awnless tall Oat-like Soft-grass 



Var. — Flowers without awns. 



0^*.— This variety is smaller in every respect than the preceding ; leaves very short ; rpot 

 slightly bulbous ; panicle much contracted ; glumes pencilled at the apex with purple. 

 Flowers a week later than the awned variety ; in all other respects it is the same. 



Native of Scotland. Curt. 



Experiments, — At the time of flowering, the produce from a rich clayey loam, is, 



Grass, 18 oz. The produce per acre 

 80 dr. of grass weigh when dry 

 The produce of the space, ditto 



dr. qr. 



oz. 



lbs. 



28 

 100 3f 



196020 



68607 



^^251 4 

 4287 15 



The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying 

 64 dr, of grass afford of nutritive matter 

 The produce of the space^ ditto 



The produce of latter-math is. 

 Grass, 5 oz. The produce per acre 

 64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter 



79G 







3 2 

 15 3 



10719 13 



66*9 15 13 



1 



54450 

 850 12 



3403 2 

 5S 2 12 



This variety is much later, in respect of producing herbage in the spring, and incomlno- 

 into flower, than the awned variety. It seldom perfects any good seed. It appears to be much 

 inferior in point of produce, as the following comparison will manifest : 



664 

 ^65 



Holcus avenaceus, var. aristatus, or awned variety, affords of nutritive matter fror 

 the produce of one acre, at the time of flowering - - _ ^ . 

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



The Holcus avenaceus, var. muticus, or awnless variety, as above, affords of nutritiv 

 matter from the produce of one acre, at the time of flowering 

 The produce of latter^math, ditto - - ^ ^ - - , . 



The weight of nutritive matter in which the produce of one acre of the awned variety 

 of the tall oat-like soft-grass exceeds that of the awnless variety, is - ■- 



lbs. 



m 



\ 



rn 



53 



207 



t 



The latter-math produce is very inconsiderable, and hut little nutritive. The nutritive matter 

 contains a little more saccharine matter, in proportion to the other ingredients, than what is con- 

 tained in the nutritive matter of the awned variety. Hares give a decided preference to the 

 awnless variety. If this grass had merits which entitled it to a place among the superior 

 grasses, it could not be cultivated with advantage, on account of its deficiency of seed, and im- 

 patience of being transplanted by parting the roots. It can only be offered, therefore, as a bo- 

 tanical curiosity. 



It flowers a week later than the awned variety, 



j! 



