116 



thatthe latest mouthful ofherbage, and sometimes the earliest in those pastures, is principally ^ 



afforded by this grass. 



There has been much prejudice existing against the different species of Agrostis in general- 

 but let the proprietor of a rich ancient pasture, divest a part of it of this grass entirely, and the 

 value of the plant will be demonstrated in the comparative loss of late and early herbage. In these 

 pastures, late in the autumn, I have observed the stolones extend to a considerable length, and 

 left untouched by cattle : in the spring, however, they were generally eaten, and the protection 

 they had afforded to the under grasses, was evident In the superior early growth of the herhage 

 where the stolones had most extended; after this, the Creeping Bent was hardly to he 

 nized, till the other grasses had again exhausted themselves towards the end of the autumn. Tl 

 plant, in this state of combination, takes but little from the soil. 



w 



In comparing the produce and nutritive powers of dilFerent grasses, to arrive at a knowledoe 

 of their relative value, it is absolutely necessary, for the truth of comparison, that the pro. 

 duce of one whole season be taken, and not one crop singly, except in instances where the pro- 

 duce consists but of one crop only. Accordingly, the produce of Fiorin may be compared with 

 that of the cock's-foot grass, CDactyhs glomerata), meadow fescue, (Festuca pratensis), diTA\}[i^ 

 meadow-foxtail, fAiopeczirus prafensisj, when it will appear inferior to the two former species, 

 and superior to the latter. On referring to former details it appears, that 



^ 



J 



K 



The Agrostis stolo7iifera, var, latifolia, larger creeping bent, 



recop'- 



le 



lbs. per Acre in one Year, 



From the produce of one season, taken in December, affords of nutritive matter 



f ' 



The Dactylis glomerata, cock's-foot grass, 



rrom the produce of early herbage in the spnng, affords of nutritive matter ' 



From the produce at the time of flowering, affords of nutritive matter 



From the produce of latter-math, affords of nutritive matter , - - 



The Festitca prateiisis, meadow fescue, 



From the produce of early herbage in the spring, affords of nutritive matter 



From the produce at the time of flowering, affords of nutritive matter 



From the produce of latter-math, affords of nutritive matter ^ » * 



The Alopeciirus pratensis, meadow-foxtail, 



\ 



I 



From the produce of early herbage, affords of nutritive matter 

 From the produce at the time of flowering, affords of nutritive matter 

 From the produce of latter-math, affords of nutritive matter 



1435 



358 



10895- 1728 

 281 



382 



957 V 1719 

 380 



483 



- 478 V 121$ 

 255 



The Cock's-foot grass, under the circumstances described, is therefore superior to the larger 

 variety of the Creeping Bent, in the proportion, nearly, of 11 to 9. 



The meadow fescue, (Festuca pratemis), is also superior to Fiorin, in nearly the like pro- 

 portion as Cock's-foot. 



The meadow foxtail-grass, (Alopemrus pratensis), is inferior to Fiorin, in the proportion, 

 nearly, of 7 to 6. 



J 



Though the quantity of nutritive matter afForded by a grass in one whole season, is the chief 

 property by which its comparative value can be determined, yet the particular season or seasons 

 in which it is produced, the nature of the soil on which it can be cultivated to most advantage, 

 and the superior facilities its pecuhar habits of growth afford for its propagation, as also for reap- 

 ing its produce, are points which must necessarily be taken into the account by the Agriculturist. 



