32 THE GRASSES 



hay is about 16 per cent. A comparison of the relative 

 values of these grasses in the hay and pasture state cannot 

 but be interesting, and may be instructive. It must never 

 be forgotten, however, that the presence or absence of a 

 large amount of water in a grass is not always to be ac- 

 cepted as conclusive proof of its value, since the same spe- 

 cies of grass grown on an upland meadow, and under irri- 

 gation, will differ in the amount of water which it contains 

 quite as widely as any two species grown under the same 

 conditions. Again, the amount of water found in the same 

 grass will vary widely at different stages of growth, from 

 the first shooting up of the leaves to the ripening of the 

 seeds. This fact is strikingly illustrated in the common 

 old field broom sedge, which, when young, is eaten quite 

 greedily by some cattle, but when the stem begins to shoot, 

 nothing will eat it. This table, therefore, like all the oth- 

 ers, is to be used, not as a standard of absolute values, but 

 as an approximation and guide in forming estimates. 



The following table will be found useful, being a report 

 to the Higland Society by Mr. Stirling, of Glenbervie : 



Column I. contains the scientific names. 



Column II. contains the common name. 



Column III contains the average weight of the seed per 

 bushel in pounds. 



Column IV. contains the' average number of seeds in 

 one ounce. 



Column V. shows, in inches, the depth of cover at. which 

 the greatest number of seeds sprouted. 



Column VI. shows, in inches, the depth of cover at which 

 only about half the number of seeds sprouted. 



Column VII. shows, in inches, the least depth of cover 

 at which none of the seeds sprouted. 



