/' 



166 



^ 



Avena pubescens. Downy Oat-grass. . 



^ 



Specific character : Panicle spreading equally on every side ; calyx 3-flowered, shorter than 

 the florets; leaves flat, dovi^ny. . 



OA*.— Root fibrous, inclining to stoloniferous ; culms numerous, erect, roundish, striated, 

 smooth, from six inches to a foot, and two feet high, according to the nature of the soil and 

 shelter; leaves flat, and rough on the margin, the other parts soft, with downy hairs; florets 

 purplish, and silvery white ; corolla bearded at the base, larger valve with an awn fixed 

 the middle, at first straight, afterwards jointed and bent back, longer than the valve. 

 E. Bot. 1640; Flo. Ger. 382; Host. 2, t. 40; Flo. Dan. t. 1203'; Wither. Arr. 



Native of Britain. Perennial, 



Experiments. — Attlie time of flowering, the produce from a sandy soil, is, 



at 



,dr. qr, 



oz. 



30 

 138 



Grass, 23 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 



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

 Grass, 10 oz. The produce per acre 

 80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry 



h 



The produce of the space, ditto 



250470 



lbs. 



J 5654 6 



93926 4 



5870 6 4 



9783 15 12 



1 2 



8 21 



\ - 



.5870 6 



366 14 6 



108900 



6806 4 



16 



32 



21780 



1361 4 



The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying 

 64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter ' ^ 2 

 The produce of the space, ditto ... 5 



5445 



3403 2 



212 11 2 



The crop, at the time of flowering, is therefore superior to that at the time the seed is ripe, in the pro- 



portion nearly of 5 to 3. 

 The produce of latter^math is, 

 Grass, 10 oz. The produce per acre 

 64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter 



2 



108900 

 3403 2 



6806 4 

 212 11 2 



The proportional value in which the grass of the latter-math is inferior to that at the time of 

 flowering, is as 4 to 3. The grass of the latter^math, and that at the time the seed is ripe, are 

 of equal proportional value, 



r 

 1 



The downy hairs which cover the surface of the leaves of this grass when growing on poor, 

 dry, or chalky soils, almost disappear when cultivated on richer soils. It has properties whicli 

 recommend it to the notice of the Agriculturist, heing hardy, and a small impoverislier of the 

 soil ; the reproductive power is also considerable, though the foliage does not attain to a great 

 length if left growing. Like the Poa pratensis, it seldom or never sends forth any flowering 



^ 



nent pasture on dry soils, that are sooner impoverished by the growth of plants than those that 

 are moist. Among the secondary grasses, therefore, I hardly know one whose habits promise 

 better for the purpose now spoken of. The nutritive matter it affords, contains a greater pro- 

 portion of the bitter extractive principle than the nutritive matter of those grasses that affect a 

 similar soil, which Jessens its perits in those respects, and must prevent its being employed in 



