246 



Poa aquatica. Water-meadow Grass. 



F 



Specific character : Panicle spreading equally, much branched; spikets linear, 5-9 flowered; 

 florets obtuse, distant, with seven nerves ; root creeping. 



Obs. — ^The creeping roots terminate in jointed culms ; fibrous roots numerous. Culms very 

 high, from three to six feet. Leaves straight, broad, smooth on every part except the edges 

 and keel ; sheaths a little compressed, striated, smooth ; scales short, obtuse. Panicle very 

 large, upright, branches pressed tovrards the main stalk before and after flow^ering. 



Native of Britain. Root perennial. 



Experiments.— Al the time of flow^ering, the produce from a strong tenacious clay, is, 



dr. qr. 



oz. 



lbs. 



■ 48 

 1785 2tV 



Grass, 186 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 2 

 The produce of the space, ditto - - 116 1 



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



Grass, 180 oz. The produce per acre 



2025540 



126596 4 



- 1215324 



75957 12 



50638 8 



79122 



4945 2 



1960200 



122512 8 



40 

 - 1440 



80 dr. of grass weigh, when dry 



4 



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 



980100 



61^56 4 



61256 4 



70 gr. 



- 3150 



7 J 465 10 



4466 9 



478 9 



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



X 



At the time of flow^ering, therefore, the produce contains more nutritive matter than at the 

 time the seed is ripe, in the proportion nearly of 19 to 17. 



This grass is common on the banks of rivers, and frequent on the margin of standing pools. 

 On the banks and little islands of the Thames, where it is generally mow^ntw^ice in the year for 

 hay, it affords abundant crops of valuable winter fodder. Mr. Curtis informs us, that in flat 

 countries, which do not admit of being sufficiently drained, it is almost the only grass for hay 

 and pasturage. In the Fens of Cambridgeshire, Lincolnshire, &c. immense tracts that used to 

 be overflowed and produce useless aquatic plants, and still retain much moisture, though drained 

 by mills, are covered with this grass, which not only affords rich pasturage in summer, 

 forms the chief part of their winter fodder. Its powerful creeping roots make it a dangerous 

 and troublesome plant in ditches, where, with other aquatic plants, it soon chokes them up 

 the Isle of Ely they cleanse the ditches of these weeds by an instrument called a bear, which is 

 an iron roller, with a number of pieces of iron, like small spades, fixed in it. This is drawn up 

 and down the river by horses walking along the bank, and tears up the plants by the roots, 



but 



In 



which float, and are carried down the stream. In the Bath Aoricultural Papers, the Water- 

 meadow Grass, we are informed, " in its native soil, the Fens of the Isle of Ely, grows to the 

 height of six feet. It is usually cut when about four feet high ; when dry they birfd it in 

 sheaves ; it generally undergoes a heat in the rick, which improves it. It is excellent fodder for 

 milch-cows; horses are not fond of it. The inhabitants there call it fodder, by way of eminence, 



