THE GRASSES— R.-S. MEADOW GRASS. 85 



Further experiments showed that, in the grass cut 

 when the seed was ripe, the loss in drying was smaller, 

 and the nutritive matter was more than douhled ; but 

 this was fully counterbalanced by the deficiency of 

 the aftermath. 



THE MEADOW GEASSES. 

 Rough-Stalked Meadow Grass. 



{Foa trivialis.) 

 Extra good seed weighs up to 26 lb. per bushel. 



Standard of germination, of H.M.'s Of&ce of Works, 

 75 per cent. 



Flowers third week in June, and ripens seed in the 

 middle of July. 



The roots fibrous, not stoloniferous ; flowers acute, 

 and connected hy a web. Lower palea five-veined — 

 the middle vein, only, having silky hairs, the marginal 

 veins smooth. 



Sinclair states that the superiority of this grass over 

 others of its species — its high nutritive qualities, and 

 the marked partiality which oxen, horses, and sheep 

 have for it — distinguish it as one of the most valuable 

 of those grasses which affect moist rich soUs and shel- 

 tered situations. He further adds, that it is unprofit- 

 able for any purpose on dry, exposed situations, and 

 advises its use exclusively for permanent pastures on 

 rich soils and in sheltered positions. When combined 

 with other grasses it gives almost double the produce 

 that it would give if grown on the same soil by itself, 

 which shows how beneficial shelter is to it. 



