164 



Alopecurus agrestis 



Slender Foxtail-g 



ng 



F 



. Alopecurus myosuroides. Curt. Lond. 



Specif c character: Culm erect, roughish upwards; panicle like a spike, cylindric, buteodi 

 in an acute point ; husks of the calyx united to above the middle, acute, naked. 



0Z,5._this annual species of Foxtail-grass is distinguished from the perennial meadow fox- 

 tail, C^lopecurus prafensisj, by the total want of woolly hairs on the spike, so conspicu- 

 ous in that of the ^.praifew*?*. The husks of the calyx are united at the bottom, 



and 

 half-way up, which is a strong character of distinction.- The culms are ascending at the 



base, afterwards erect. Spike-like panicle, round, acute pointed, from two to four inches 

 long, according to the nature of the soil; of a leadish colour. Curt. Lond.; E. Bot. 848; 

 Host. 3, p. 9, t. 12; Wither. Arr. 



Native of Britain. Root annual, fibrous. 



Experiments, — At the time of flowering, the produce from a sandy loam, is. 



dr. qr, 



oz. 



lbs. 



31 



74 



Grass, 12 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 afford of nutritive matter 



The produce of the space, ditto 



130680 



8167 8 



50638 8 



3164 14 8 



5002 9 8 



^ 



1 3) 

 5 1 S 



3573 4 



223 5 4 



The above details shew this grass to be one of the most inferior species. The herbage it pro- 



* ■ 



duces is comparatively of no value vs^hatever. It appears to Lc left untouched hy every descrip- 

 tion of cattle. The seed is produced in considerable abundance, and is eaten by the smaller 

 birds, as w^ell as by pheasants and partridges. The Rev. G. Swayne observes, that it is a very 



r 



troublesome weed in many places among wheat, and execrated by Farmers, under the name of 

 Black Bent. I have always found it prevalent in poor soils, particularly such as had been ex- 

 hausted by avaricious cropping. It is most difficult to extirpate it when once in possession of 

 the soil, for it sends forth flowering culms during the whole summer and autumn, till frost 

 arrests it; so that it can bear to be repeatedly cut down in one season, without suffering essen- 

 tially by the process. Indeed it will be found a vain and, unprofitable labour to attempt the 

 removal of this grass by any other means than the opposite of that which gave it possession of 

 the soil; which is judicious cropping. 



To return land, in this state, to grass, in the hope of overcoming this unprofitable plant, will 

 be found of little avail : I have witnessed this practice; and the slender Fox-tail, instead of disap- 



th 



pearmg m tnese mstances, re-appeared with the scazrty herbage, and in greater health and abun- 

 dance. The soil must first be got into good heart, by very moderate and judicious cropping, 

 which mcludes the proper application of jnanure; a sldlful rotation of crops, and the most pointed 

 attention to the destruction of weeds, which last can ouly be efFected, in this sense, by adopting 

 the drill or row culture for the crops. After this, the land may be retiirned to grass for several 

 years with every prospect of success. 



It flowers in the first week of July, and successively till October. 



