138 



64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter 

 The produce of the space, ditto 



At the time the seed is ripe, the produce is 

 Grass, 14 oz. The produce per acre 

 80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry 

 The produce of the space, ditto 



dr. qr. 



3 



10 2 



OZ. 



7146 9 



lbs. 



446 10 



; 



32 

 89 



152460 

 60984 



9528 12 



3811 8 



The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying 

 64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter 



5717 4 



1 2 

 5 1 



3573 4 



223 5 4 



The produce of the space, ditto 



The proportional value, in which the grass at the time of flowering is inferior to that at the time the seed 



F 



is ripe, is as 2 to 1. 

 The produce of latter-math, is. 

 Grass, 7 oz. The produce per acre 

 64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter ^ 12 



76250 

 1786-10 



4764 6 

 111 10 10 



as 



The proportional difference between the flowering and seed crops of this grass, is directly 

 the reverse of that of the Poa trivialis; and it affords one out of many proofs that might be 

 brought forward, of the value of the cuhns in grasses intended for hay. The culms at the time 

 of flowering are of a very succulent nature j but from that period till the seed be perfected, 

 they gradually become dry and wiry ; nor do the root-leaves sensibly increase in number or in 

 size, but a total suspension of increase appears in every part of the plant, the roots and seeds 



J 



excepted. The straws or culms of the Poa trivialis are, on the contrary, at the time of flower- 

 ing, weak and tender; but as they approach the period of ripening the seed they become firm, 

 though still succulent. This economy in the growth of the Poa trivialisy is nearly the same 

 in all the early flowering grasses, as they contain more nutritive matter after the time of flower- 

 ing than before, or at that period of growth: the latter flowering grasses, with few exceptions, 

 afford more nutritive matter just after flowerings than when the seed is perfected. Whatever 

 the cause may be, it seems probable that the weak influence which the sun at that early season 

 of the year has upon these grasses, compared to that at Midsummer, must have a share in the 

 cause of this difference of nutritive powers in grasses at the same stage of groAvth. 



The Festiica glauca is a native of alpine situations, but thrives better when cultivated on 

 lower ground, than most other species having the same origin. Its merits, however, though 

 they do not appear sufiiciently great to entitle it to the first place among the superior grasses 

 for light soils, yet on account of its hardy nature, and jproperty of forming a thick turf, as well 

 as being nutritive, prevent it from being rejected altogether as of no value. 



Flowers in the second week of June, and the seed is ripe about the first week of July. 



Festiica myiirus. Wall-fescue^ Capon's-tall Grass. 



i£ 



r valve very minute; awns long 



) 



rough; sheaths of the leaves very long, hiding the lower portion of the culm. With 



Flo. Ger.; E. Bot. 1412; Host. t. 93. 



Obs. — Root annual. 



The flowers have only one stamen, which distinguishes it from all other 



