200 



proportion of nutritive matter it contams, as 5 to 4. The nutritive matter of tliis species contains 

 more bitter extractive and saline matters than that of the former/which was before shewn to be 

 in excess when compared to the Clovers, and these to the proper natural grasses. The nutritive 

 matter is extremely bitter to the taste. It does not appear to be eaten by any cattle when in a 

 green state, but when made into hay with the common grasses, I have offered it to sheep, 

 oxen, deer, and the Llama, or South American sheep; and they all ate it without reluctance, 



and rather with desire. 



It does not seem to perfect so much seed as the former species ; but this is abundantly re- 

 medied in its propagation by the creeping or stoloniferous roots, which it spreads out in all di- 

 rections, and thus it soon covers a large space of ground. But the culms rise not in conside- 



^ 



rable number ; they are thinly scattered over the surface. In moist clayey soils it would doubt- 

 less be a most profitable substitute for Red Clover; but the excess of bitter extractive and saline 

 matters it contains, seems to forbid its adoption without a considerable admixture of other plants: 

 It flowers about the third week of June, and the seed is ripe about the end of the following 



L 

 \ 



month. u 



I 



•i 



1 



Anena pratensis* Meadow Oat-grass. 



Specific character: Panicle spike-like; spike generally 5-flowered; flowers longer tlian tlie 

 calyx; leaves ronghish, narrow, doubled together. 



0-&5,-- ^Culms perfectly smooth, erect, straight, round, upper half naked, and scored. Panicle 

 equal, erect. Florets 4-5, somewhat compressed, terminating one imperfect. Husks of 

 the calyx acuminate, compressed, rough on the keel, three-nerved, inner husk the smallest. 

 Outer husk of the corolla acuminate, five-nerved, with an awn from below the middle 

 longer than the husk, knee-bent, inner valve smaller. E. Bot. 1204; Host. t. 51; Flo. 

 Ger. 385 ; Wither. Arr. 



Native of Britain. Root fibrous. ■ Perennial. 



* 



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



1 



dr. 



qr, 



oz. 



44 



Grass, 10 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 - 2 



i 



The produce of the space, ditto - - 5 



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 



108900 



lbs. 



6806 4 



29947 8 



3828 8 



1871 11 8 

 4934 8 8 



9.m 4. 8 



152460 



24 

 67 



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 

 The weight of nutritive matter which is lost by 

 one-third part of its value -. • 



1 



- 3 2 



2382 3 



9528 12 



2858 10 



6610 2 



148 14 3 



- 



90 6 5 



