147 



the continental lands of Europe, where its comparatively greater pro- 

 ductive character is not understood. Hence the exaggerated accounts 

 given by French and G-erman agricultural writers concerning certain 

 kinds of the species before us, one of which, supposed to have been 

 introduced into "Western Europe from Russia, was named by the 

 former orge eSleste, on account of its vast superiority over the old 

 winter-sown barley previously in use among French farmers. This, an 

 evidently near ally to the old Siberian, is by some botanists regarded 

 as a probably distinct species, though only separable from the ordinary 

 winter barley, by the grain being loose in the husk, whence they style 

 it Hordewm gymno-hexastichum. 



The rows of grain in this species are sometimes, owing to partial 

 abortion, only four, hence Linnaeus and Wildenow were led into an 

 error and have recorded another species so distinguished, under the 

 title of H. vulgare. 



Annual. Flowers in July, or earlier, according to the season or time 

 of sowing. 



Certain varieties of this grain are known by the name of black 

 barleys, in consequence of the dark hue of the husk ; the same is the 

 case with the varieties of the oat, and such are regarded generally as 

 more hardy than the paler kinds, though without any apparent founda- 

 tion for the belief. 



HoRDEUM PRATENSE. Meadow Barley Grass. Plate CXXII. 



Glumes aU setaceous, rough, (never ciliated). Lateral spikelets im- 

 perfect. Outer palea of the fertile middle flower with an awn equal to 

 it in length. 



Hordeum pratense, Hudson. E. B. 409 : ed. 2. 175. Generally 

 adopted by British botanists. H. murinum, 0. Lmrumis. H. 

 nodosum, Koch. 



Not an uncommon grass in moist meadows and pastures, in most 

 parts of England, except in the extreme western counties of Cornwall 

 and Devonshire. In Scotland and Ireland it occurs but rarely, as 

 though its introduction had been accidental. In situations favourable 

 to its growth, it is among the taller grasses of the meadow, the flower- 

 ing-stems attaining the height of eighteen inches to two feet, or more. 

 Leaves narrow, linear, flat, hairy on both sides, roughish to the touch ; 

 ligule very short. Spike dense, compact, an inch and a half to two 

 inches long, nearly cylindrical. Fertile flower of the central spikelets 

 with an awn about equa,l to it in length; lateral spikelets barren, their 

 flowers being either abortive or stameniferous only ; glumes of all three 

 bristle-shaped, rough. Lateral barren spikelets pedunculate, central 

 fertile one sessile. 



Perennial. Flowers in June and July. 



The meadow barley grass is in rich moist soil, highly productive 

 yielding an early crop of very nutritive foliage, apparently well-relished 



