190 



Aira cristata. Crested Hair-grass. 



r 



Poa cristata. Crested Meadow-grass. Host. ii. p. 54, t. 75. 



Specific character: Panicle, spike-like; husks acuminate; flowers longer than the calyx; leav 



ciliated. • 



Obs. — This grass was formerly ranked by Botanists under the genus Poa, but has since li 



referred to that of Aira, to which it is more closely allied by its two-flowered calyx a rl 



acuminate glumes ; culms from a foot to a foot and a half high, round, striated a llttl 



e 



pu- 



bescent towards the top, erect from the lower jomt upwards, under that decumbent' 

 leaves linear, acute, flat, roughish at the margin, and ciliated ; sheath-scale very short 

 more or less ciliate ; panicle erect, cylindrical, but tapering on each side ; spike-stalk 

 bescent, smooth towards the top, and furnished with a few hairs; calyx acuminated 



pu- 



com- 



pressed, keeled, terminated by an awn-like point. 

 Native of Britain. Root perennial. E. Bot. t. 648. 

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



dr. qr. 



Grass, 16 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 dryino- 



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* 

 The produce of the space, ditto 



oz. 



174240 



36 ? 

 115 OtV S 



7S40S 



lbs. 



10890 



4900 8 



-5989 8 



2 

 8 



5445 



340 



40 ^ 

 80 5 



108900 

 54450 



6806 4 



3403 2 



The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying 



The weight of nutritive matter vvhich is lost by leaving the crop till the seed be ripe, is 



3403 2 

 127 10 



The produce of this species, and the nutritive matter it affords, are ecjiial to tliose of the 

 Festuca ovina at the time the seed is ripe ; they equally delight in dry soils, tliougli the Aira 

 crutata will thrive m ell, and remain permanent in soils of a moist and clayey nature, which is 

 different with the Festuca ovina. The greater hulk of the produce of the Aira cristata, in pro- 

 portion to Its weight, makes it of inferior value to the Festuca ovina. In some parts of the coun- 

 try it grows on dry pastures plentifully, where it appears to be hut sparingly eaten by cattle, 

 particularly if the pasture be not over-stocked. 



•T^^v _ • \ Tl 1 



f Festuca ovinaj 



(^Lolium percnnej 



'< 



(Avena flavescens); crested dog's-tail, (Cijnosums cristatiis) 



(Hordeum pratense); flexuo.e hair-grass, aira flexuoscO 



cattle to the Crested Hair-grass. The nutritive ninttn f .1 • ^-^ i ri • • 



. . ^ , ^ ^ ^iULiuive matter of this p-rass differs but little in its com- 



nosition troTn thn«f^ nf ^rUc. ol^^,.^ . :•- , ^ 



/' 



onlym iiavmg less bitter extractive matter nnrl ^ . i : ^^ i i c r. • , 



f ,.> r 1 ^ "^^'^^ tasteless miicilao-e; but the soft hairy 



toliage of the grass appears at once the cause of tt,:. ^- ri • 



T^ ^ , ^/ *^ ^^ this dislike in cattle to eat it. 



It flowers about the first week in July nnd tl.. j- • i i i • • ta 



•'"'J, ana the seed is ripe about the beginning of August. 



