72 



dr. qr. oz. 11,5, 



• 



733 12 12 



The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying - - " " , • " 9000 14 q 



64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter - 3 0/ ^ i o — 



The produce of the space, ditto - - 17 1 5 



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

 Grass, 22 oz. The produce per acre - - - . - 239580 = 14973 12 



8235 9 



80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry - ■ 44 > iqi^'/^o ^ 



The produce of the space, ditto - - 193 2t 3 



The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying . - - ^ 6733 3 q 



64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter - 5 0} 



m. . C • - - 1^717 3 == 1169 13 S 



ihe produce of the space, ditto - - 27 2 ) 



The weight of nutritive matter, in which the crop at the time the seed is ripe, exceeds that at 

 the time of flowering, is - ^ - -■" " -3 



r 



The nutritive matter contained in the grass at the time the seed is ripe, exceeds that in the grass at the time 

 of flowering, in the proportion of 5 to 3. ' 

 The produce of latter-math is. 

 Grass, 7 oz. The produce per acre - r - - - 76230 := 4764 Q q 



64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter - 12 per acre - 1786 10 = 111 10 10 



On the 6th of April, the produce is, 

 Grass, 8 oz. The produce per acre - - - - 



87120 = 5445 



SUC' 



64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter -53 - - 5104 11 = 319 oil 



The proportional value whicli tlie grass of the latter-math hears to that at the time of flower- 

 ing, is as 6 to 3; and to the grass at the time the seed is ripe, as 10 to 3. 



V 



In regard to early growth, this grass stands next to the Meadow -foxtail, Cock's-foot, and 

 TalJ Oat. The herbage is more nutritive than that of either of these grasses. It will appear 

 remarkable, that the grass of the latter-math should contain more nutritive matter than the grass 

 at the time of flowering, but this is owing to the property it possesses, of sending forth a 

 cession of flowering culms till the frost arrests it; and hence the trivial names, fertilis, and 

 serotina, fertile, and late -flowering Meadow-grass, quoted above. M. Host* mentions, that 

 it is natural to moist pastures and the banks of rivers ; and Schrader remarks also, that in Ger- 

 many it grows in meadows, vineyards, marshes, walls, and elsewhere, not unfrequently. I 

 have found it to grow on almost every kind of soil ; but it attains to the greatest perfection in a 

 rich moist one. Hares and rabbits are very fond of it. It is one of those grasses that tkive 

 best when combined with others : it will not make a superior turf of itself, but it adds much to 

 the value of a sward, from its nutritive qualities, and powers of early and late growth. As it 

 perfects an abundance of seed, it may be easily propagated. 



By comparing its produce of nutritive matter from one acre, with those of the Cock's-foot 

 Meadow-foxtail, and Sweet-scented Vernal Grasses, it will be found superior to Foxtail in 

 proportion of 5 to 3, and only inferior to the Cock's-foot in the proportion of 7 to 5. 



Sir Humphry Davy has shewn that its nutritive matter consists of mucilage 65 ; saccharine 

 matter, or sugar, 6 ; extractive matter 7 = 78. 



From these facts and observations it will appear, that the Fertile Meadow-grass deserves 

 place in the composition of rich pastures, and ranks with the superior grasses of irrigated mea- 

 dows. 



It flowers in the beginning of July, and the seed is ripe towards the end of the month. 



^ 



* Nic. Thorax Host icones et Descriptiones Graminum Austrlacorura. 



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