126 



This, and several other experiments on rather a smaller scale, conducted with much 



Wilson 



•^are and 



asth 



^y g'o, 



the truth of the conclusions that had been drawn from the results of the experiments detailed i ' 



the foregoing pages. 



k H 



t , 



11. 



Of the 



Grasses, and other Plants, which 



Sandy, and Elevated Soils. 



natural to J) 



m 



The former class of grasses was distinguished by their superior size, the greater succulency 

 of every part of their structure, and hy their broad green leaves — all indicating the fertile nature 

 and sheltered situation of the soil that produces them ; and the following grasses are distin- 

 guished from these, by their dwarfish size, and the wiry appearance of every part of their struc- 

 ture, which sufficiently denote the poverty of their natural soil, 



Sheep's-fescue, (Festiica ovinaj; viviparus-fescue, (Festuca vivipara); purple-fescue, (Festim 

 rubra); pubescent-fescue, (Festuca dumetoriim); glaucous-fescue, (Festuca glaiica); wall-fescue 

 (Festuca myurus); wall-barley, (Hordeum murinum); fine-bent, (Agrostis vulgaris); brown- 

 bent, (Agrostis canina); lobed-bent, (Agrostis lohata); rock-bent, (Trichodium rupestre); snowy- 

 bent, (Trichodium nivium); purple-bent, (Trichodium caninum, var. muticum, which see under the 

 head of grasses natural to wet soils); tufted-leaved bent, (Agrostis fascicularis); waved hair- 

 grass, (Aira Jexuosa); feather-grass, (Stipa pennata); slender foxtail, (Alopecurus agrestis); 

 hairy oat-grass, (Avena pubescens); blue melic-grass, (Melica ccerulea); upright mat-grass, 

 (Nardus stricta); blood-coloured panic-grass, (Panicum sangidnde) ; green panic-grass, (Pan- 

 cum viride); barren brome-grass, (Bromus sterilis); crested brome-grass, (Bromus crislatus); 

 upright annual brome-grass, (Bromus dicmdrus); nodding brome-grass, (Bromus tectomm); 

 alpine meadow-grass, (Poa alpina); alpine foxtail, (Alopecurus cdpinus); blu 



e moor-^rass, ffo 



such 



leria ccBruka); crested hair-grass, (Aira crestata); panicled cat's-tail grass, (Phleumpanicidatmi); 

 reflexed meadow-grass, (Poa retrofexa); flat-stalked meadow-grass, (Poa compressa); upriglit 

 flat-stalked meadow-grass, (Poa compressa, var. erectaj; meadow-barley, (Hordeum pratense); 

 bird's-foot clover, (Lotus corniculatus); larger bird's-foot clover, (Lotus major); trefoil, or Non- 

 ' , (Medicago Lupulina); to which may be added, Hedysarum onobrychis, (sainfoin). The 

 following, belonging to this class of grasses, have already been brought under observation: 



Soft brome-grass,- (Bromus mollis); creeping soft-grass, (Holcus mollis); and white or Dutch 

 clover, (Trifolium repens). 



Dry, elevated situations, sandy heaths, and chalk lands, where the above grasses constitute 

 the prmcipal natural herbage, are less capable of being rendered fit for the production of supe- 

 rior grasses than peat-bogs, or waste lands that lie under circumstances favourable to irrigation. 

 Ihe latter only recpiire propCr draining, paring and burning, and the application of hot ma- 

 nure, as lime and sand, to fit them for the production of the best grasses, the staple or consti- 

 tution ot such soils being so. rich and good. But dry sandy soils require more labour and ex- 



