234 



Agrostis stolonifera angustifolia* Smaller-leaved Creeping; Bent. 



Var, 3. — Panicle densely crowded with florets ; florets small ; inner valve of the calvx 

 outer serrulated ; corolla without any rudiment of an awn. 



Obs.—Thi^ is the most common variety of the Creeping Bent on damp tenacious clayey soils 

 and in moist woods. It may readily be distinguished from the other varieties by its s 11 

 oblong crowded panicle of a whitish colour. The stolones are closely pressed to th 

 ground, and are almost covered by the leaves, which are more numerous and short 

 than in any of the other varieties of this grass. The joints are small, of a slight brown 



. colour. 



Native of Britain. Root perennial. 



Experiments. — At the time the seed is ripe, the produce from a bog soil, is 



oz- lbs. 



261360 = 1Q33^ q 



dr. qr, 



Grass, 24 oz. The produce per acre 



80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry - - 56 



The produce ofthe space, ditto - - 172 3f^ ' " " '^'^7612 0= 7350 12 



The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying - - w , _ 3^3^^ ^ 



64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter - 3 



The produce of the space, ditto - - 18 ^ ^ " " ^^^^^ ^ ^ "^^^ ^^ 



■ 



At the beginning of December, the produce from the same soil, was, 

 Grass, 2o oz. The produce per acre . - - - «. 272250 0=17015 



80 dr. of grass, weigh when dry - ^ 40 > 



The produce of the space, ditto - - 200 ^ " "" 136125 = 8507 8 



The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying 



64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter - 3 2 



8507 8 



The produce of the space, ditto . - 21 3jS " " 14888 10= 930 8 



The weight of nutritive matter afforded by the produce of one acre of the larger-leaved 

 variety of Fiorin exceeds that of the present variety in the proportion of 4 to 3. 



The value of the lesser variety does not increase, after the time the seed is ripe, in the same 

 proportion as in the larger variety. 



|. lbs. 



The Agrostis stolonifera latifolia, mown in December, afforded of nutritive matter '• - 1435 



The Agrostis stolonifera angustifolia, mown at the same time, afforded only ^ - 930 



Which shews that the value of the variety latifolia exceeds, in December, that of the angustifolia 

 in the proportion nearly of 1 1 to 7. I 



From the above details it is evident this common variety stands next in value to the larger 

 leaved variety of Creeping Bent. It appeared, from all the observations I could make on this 

 grass while growing in natural pasturesf to be entirely neglected by cattle while any of the supe- j 

 rior pasture grasses presented a sufficiency for a bite. I have examined pastures, in which this 

 grass abounds from the beginning of the season till the end, but never could observe that any 

 part of this variety of Creeping Bent was touched by oxen, horses, or sheep ; and the lowest or 

 moister parts of the pasture, where this grass had exclusive possession, were neglected by the 

 cattle ; the rest of the pasture was eaten closely. Though the 



particular 



temporary acceptance or rejc^ 



