132 



The 



viviparous heads form the chief part of the above weight of produce, the fohage being very in- 

 considerable, and the culms small. The quantity of nutritive mafter it contains is greater than 

 that afforded by an equal weight of the grass of the Festuca ovina, which appears to be entirely 

 OAving to the number and rudiments of young plants contained in the spikes of the Festuca vivi- 

 para. The nutritive matter contains less sugar, and more bitter extractive, than the nutritive 

 matters of the Festuca ovina, Festuca duriuscula, and Festuca Camhrica. 



This grass can only be propagated by parting the roots, or by planting the young plants 

 formed in the ear. This might easily be effected by either means, were the grass of sufficient 

 value to be cultivated ; but from the trials that have been made of it here, it appears to have no 

 excellence that can recommend it to the notice of the Agriculturist. It is natural to alpine situ- 



ations. 



* « 



Festuca rubra. Creeping Fescue^ Purple Fescue. 



Specific character : Panicle spreading ; florets w^ith long aw^ns; root creeping. Flo. Ger. 329. 

 ' Obs. — There are tvv^o varieties of this species ; one with narrow bristle-shaped root-leaves, and 

 the other with broader leaves. It has much affinity to the Festuca duriuscula^ from which 

 it is distinguished by the leaves, which are broader and longer ; the branches of the panicle 

 are also longer ; the sheaths of the leaves are always more or less pubescent ; but the essen- 

 tial and unerring distinction is the creeping root, which, in the broader-leaved variety, is 

 nearly as strong as that of common Couch-grass; in the smaller-leaved variety the root is less 

 powerfully creeping. The resemblance which exists between the Festuca duriuscula, Fes- 



r 



tuca glabra^ Festuca Cambrica, and Festuca rubra, is very great ; but the difference, with 

 regard to agricultural merits or value, is not great, except what arises from the creeping root 

 of the latter; the distinction here, in this instance, of most concern to the Agriculturist. The 



I n 



name, purple, (rubra), as applied to denote such a property of this grass, is certainly very 

 erroneous, the other species having this colour at the time the seed is ripe, in common and 

 in a much greater degree than this one. The awned variety of the Festuca ovina is most de- 

 serving of the name rubra. 



Native of Britain. Perennial. 



Ewperiments. — At the time of flowering, the produce from a light sandy soil, is. 



34 

 102 



Grass, 15 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 aiford of nutritive matter 



The produce of the space, ditto r - 



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

 Grass, \6 oz. The produce per acre 



dr. '■qr. 



or, 



163350 



lbs. 



10209 6 



69423 12 



4338 15 



5860 7 



1 2 

 5 U 



3828 8 



9.S9 4 



80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry 

 The produce of the space, ditto 



- SQ 

 -115 OA 



174240 

 78408 



The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying 



ff 



10890 

 4900 8 



5989 8 



