94 



On soils of an inferior quality, it might be cultivated to advantage instead of Rye-grass; Lu 

 for soils of the best quality, it does not as yet uphold a sufficient claim, the av.ns of the spik, 

 being objectionable. It flowers about the first and second week of July, and the seed h 

 generally about the end of July, and beginning of August. 



npe 



I 



JSromus erectus. Upright Perennial Brome-grass. 



Sj)eayic character : Panicle upright, ending abruptly ; spikets oblong, hairy, awned, about 



5 florets in each; culms straight, leaves hard. 

 0^*.— The awns are a continuation of the keel of the blossom, thus forming the connecting 



odward). Corolla with a large knot at the base, 



(W^ 



hairy, outer valve ribbed and keeled ; awn shorter than the blossom ; anthers of a beau- 

 tiful saflron colour. (Withering). E. Bot. 471 ; Host. ; 



With 



Native of Britain. Root fibrous. Perennial. 



Experimejits. — ^At the time of flowering, the produce from a rich sandy soil, is. 



dr. qr. 



oz. 



Grass, 19 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 



206910 



lbs. 



12931 14 



S6 



136 



93109 8 



5819 5 8 



7112 8 8 



2 3 



- 13 



The produce of the space, ditto 



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

 Grass, 16 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 - 2 



The produce of the space, ditto ^ ^ 8 



^\ 



8890 10 



555 10 10 



174240 



10890 



46 ^ 

 147 0?S 



100188 



6261 12 



4628 4 



5445 



340 5 



The weight of nutritive matter, in which the produce of one acre, at the time of flowering,^ 

 exceeds that at the time the seed is ripe, in the proportion nearly of 5 to 3, is, 



215 5 3 



h 



Mr. Curtis has remarked of this grass, that it is peculiar to chalky soils, and that its 

 appearance in a wild state, is much less favourable than M^hen cultivated in a garden. I have 

 found it on rather low-lying sandy soils, as in some parts of Woburn-park, where it appeared 

 as luxuriant as when cultivated in the grass-garden. But the fact is, the culms rise to a consi- 

 derable height, and the root-leaves are but few in number, though growing to some length; 

 the grass, by this means, appears to be much more productive than it really is. It seems to 

 be but little relished by cattle, the leaves being rough with hairs. I have not had an opportu- 

 nity to examine it while growing on chalky soils in a natural state, nor to submit it to experi- 

 ment on a soil of that nature ; however useful, therefore, it may be found hereafter on chalky 

 soils, it is evident, from the above details, that it is but little adapted for the best pasture land, 

 It flowers rather early, but the foliage is comparatively late in growth. 



I 



i 



