154 



Relative Productiveness of Grasses. 



Estimate of the relative productiveness (quantity of 

 grass produced in one season) of various species of 

 Grasses, when grown on soils and under conditions best 

 suited to the different species, arranged in the order of 

 their productiveness : — 



Name of Species. 



Estimated 

 per centage of 

 productiveness 



Dactylis glomerata (Cocksfoot) - - - 

 Festuca elatior ( lull Fescue) . - - 



Avena elatior {Tall Oat Grass) - - - 

 Phleum pratense ( Timothy) . - - 



liolium italiciim {Italian Ryegrass) 

 Lolium pererme {Perennial Ryegrass) - 

 Festuca pratensis {Meadow Fescue) 

 Alopeciirus pratensis {Meadow Foxtail) 

 Poa trivialis {Rough-stalked Meadow Grass) 

 Avena flavescens ( Golden Oat Grass) - 

 Poa pratensis {Smooth- stalked Meadow Grass) 

 Festuca duriuscula {Hard Fescue) 

 Anthoxanthum odoratum {Sweet Vernal) 

 Cynosurus cristatus {Crested Dogstail) 

 Poa nemoralis ( Wood Meadow Grass) 

 Festuca ovina tenuifolia {Fine-leaved Fescue) 



100 

 100 

 100 

 75 

 75 

 70 

 70 

 70 

 60 

 55 

 55 

 50 

 50 

 45 

 45 

 40 



The recorded weights of the produce of small trial 

 plots of grasses, made for the purpose of ascertaining 

 their relative productiveness, show such diversity of 

 results (probably owing to the smallness of the plots 

 and the varying conditions of soil, climate, &c.) that they 

 cannot readily be made use of for practical purposes. 

 As, however, a general idea of the weight of herbage 

 produced in one season's growth by each of the grasses 

 used in laying down land to grass is necessary to the 

 proper selection of seeds of the most profitable kinds, 

 the above estimate is submitted, and, while absolute 

 accuracy is not claimed for it, yet it may probably be 

 accepted as presenting a fair view of the relative 

 amount of grass each species is capable of producing 

 when grown under the most suitable conditions of soil, 

 climate, moisture, &c. 



