66 



JPoa nemoralis. Wood Meadow-grass 



V 



Specific character : Panicle flowering a little on one side, diffuse ; spikets spear-shaped, mostly 



3-flowered. 

 Obs.-The sheath-scale is very short, and truncated ; straw rather compressed than otW 

 wise, vagina smooth, root stoloniferous. Hardly any grass varies more than this one, in the 

 number of florets contained in the calyx. In its natural place of growth, in woods under 

 the shade of trees, it contains only three florets, and, when long cultivated, in exposed 

 situations, the calyx is 4 and 5-flowered. The next following grass, though a distinct 

 species, resembles this in several of its agricultural merits. E. Bot. 1265 ; Host. t. 71; 



Flo. Dant. t. 749; Flo. Ger. 301. 

 Root fibrous. Perennial. 

 Experiments. — At the time of flowering, the produce from a brown loam, is. 



\ 



dr. qr. 



34 

 91 



Grass, 13 oz. 8 dr. 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 



The produce of the space, ditto 



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

 Grass, 7 oz. The produce per acre 

 80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry 

 The produce of the space, ditto 



oz. 



147015 







lbs. 



9188 



7 



62481 6 



3905 r 6 



5283 5 10 



4 

 13 2 



9138 7 



574 4 7 



76230 



4764 6 



32 



44 



3sw 



30492 



1905 12 



h 



The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying 

 64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter 



2858 10 



3 1 



5 



H 



3871 







The produce of the space, ditto 



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



241 15 



ing one-half of its value, is 



352 5 7 



This grass springs early, but the produce is inconsiderable, compared to that of many others 

 equally nutrient. It is seldom, or, according to my experience, never found in a natural state, 

 except in woods and under the shade of trees. Nevertheless, the seeds vegetate readily when 



r 



sown on exposed situations, and the plants grow freely, and attain to a greater size and 

 strength, than those in the woods and in the shade. It is singular, that before the period of 

 coming into flower, the plants that ai^e thus cultivated, are invariably attacked by the disease 

 termed rust, which pervades every part of the plant. In moist and cloudy seasons the disease 

 is much less severe, being chiefly confined to the leaves. I never could observe the least trace of 

 this affection in the plants of this species, while in their natural place of growth. The Tall Oat-like 

 Soft-grass, (Holcus avenaceus), which affects the shade, and is subject to the above disease, is 

 always free from this affection when growing in the shade. It is likewise precisely the case 

 ^N\\kt\ie Agrostis stohnifera, var. Sylvatica, or Wood stoloniferous Bent-grass. There are grasses 

 which are also peculiarly confined to woods or shady situations, but which continue free from 

 this disease when transplanted to exposed situations, as the Wood Millet-grass, (Miliim effusum); 

 hairy Wood Brome-grass, (Bromiis hirsutiis); and Tall Brome-grass, (Bromus gigaiiteus). There 

 exists no difference in the structure of those grasses subject to the disease, to distinguish them 



