140 



species of Fescue. It has great affinity to the Testuea hromoides. The inner valve of th 

 blossom is fringed towards the top ; the awns are longer than those of the Festuca hromoides. 



Native of Britain. 



Experiments.-— Ax the time of flowering, the produce from a siliceous sandy soil, is. 



dr. qr> 



Grass, 14 oz. The produce per acre 

 80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry 

 The produce of the space, ditto 



OK. 



15Si460 







lbs. 



9528 12 







24 



67 0? 



45738 



The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying • 

 64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter 

 The produce of the space, ditto 



2858 10 

 6670 2 



) 



1 2 



I-" 



o 



1 



3573 4 



223 5 4 



^1 I ' 



This grass is found on walls and dry barren places. As soon as tlie seeds are ripe, they fall 

 out of the husks, and vegetate quickly after, without any covering of earth ; the plants are of 

 the finest green colour, which they retain during the winter. This circumstance seems to have 

 led some to suppose it a biennial, or two-year lived plant. The seeds being numerous, the 

 young plants form a turf of the most beautiful dark green colour, in this respect surpassing every 

 other grass. As soon as the weather is sufficiently warm in the spring for the growth of grasses 

 in general, this property declines, and before the period of coming into flower, it is invariably 

 attacked with the rust disease, which renders its produce of little value, were it even afforded 

 in sufficient quantity to induce its propagation. 



The above details shew the whole produce of one year, which is very inconsiderable. The 

 chief effi^rt of annual plants is to perfect their seed ; when cut before the time of flowering, 

 and at any time before the seed be perfected, the roots push up fresh shoots, which flower and 

 perfect seed in a much less space of time than the primary culms that are previously taken away. 

 If the first shoots are sufiered to remain, the secondary or dwarf shoots seldom appear, unless 

 when a continuance of dry weather is succeeded by much rain during the time of inflorescence, 

 which gives a new inxpulse to the vegetative powers. Hence, in attempts to eradicate these un- 

 profitable annual grasses from pastures, by mowing them before they perfect their seed, (to 

 which only they owe their conti«uance of existence), it is absolutely necessary that the mowing 

 should be often repeated during the season, otherwise the intention will be completely frustrated. 



It flowers in the first week of July, and the seed is ripe about the last of the same month. 

 Bii^ds appear to be very fond of the seed,. 



Hordeiim murimim. Wall Barley-grass^ Way-bennet. 



Specific 



intermediate florets fringed. Curtis, 325 ; E. Bot. 1971 ; Host. t. 53 ; Wither. Hh Bye- 

 ffrass, &c. 



grass, 



Obs. 



-Root fibrous, annual, supporting a number of culms ; culm from half a foot to a foot 

 and a half high, procumbent at the base, afterwards erect; spike-stalk brittle, flexuose, 

 compressed, rough on the margin ; flowers placed in two rows, imbricated, roundish, in- 



jermedjate flower nearly sitting, bisexual; lateral florets tinisexual, or neuter. Flo. Ger. 

 404; Wither. Arr. 171, , , 



