79 
Prof. Buckman replied that there were a few other characters to be 
relied upon ; e. g. in the outer envelope, whether the calyx and uvule were 
equal or unequal, and so also of the calyx and corolla. The presence or 
absence of an awn, and its variations in length, also furnished character- 
istics. Many of these matters were very difficult t'o explain orally, though 
they could very readily be learnt in the fields, and, to a practised eye, the 
general look of a grass was generally enough to determine the species, 
without going into a minute analysis of the various parts. 
A Visitor said that he represented a large body of working farmers, 
amongst whom two notions were prevalent — first, that the soil of old 
pasture contained the seeds, or germs, of all grasses, and secondly, that 
the bad ones might be improved into good, and made the stronger of the 
two. 
Prof. Buckman said that he did not believe in the actual conversion 
of one grass into another, e. g. that Italian rye-grass could ever be 
' converted into ' couch grass, Triticum referens, but he considered that if 
the two were left growing in the same place, as they could not co-exist, 
the couch-grass would become the master in the struggle. 
The Visitor wished still to know whether a poor grass might be so 
altered by cultivation as to deserve a special name, whether, in fact, if 
good grasses failed to come up, the bad might be converted into good. 
Prof. Buckman referred to the wide importance of the subject thus 
opened up. He held that — as it was so long before a good pasture could 
be laid down, it was desirable to use every means, such as judicious 
manuring, before breaking it up, a proceeding which should only be re- 
sorted to in extreme cases. Bad grasses were readily expelled, and good 
gained the ascendancy, very readily under favourable conditions. 
Mr. Leipner enquired how many British grasses were serviceable for 
meadows, and how many were actually pernicious ? 
Prof. Buckman said that though 12 were useful, the bulk of meadow 
grass consisted of only six or eight species — and that the meadow was better 
in proportion as other plants besides grasses were kept out. Very few 
grasses were absolutely poisonous. 
Mr. Ravis enquired why the grass on Durdham and Clifton Downs 
was so very fine aud short ? 
Prof. Buckman said tha species was Festuca ovina; the leaves were 
very small, and could often be cut. Their size was probably owing to 
their upland situation, as different geographical positions exercised great 
influence on grasses generally. F. ovina was a form of which some 
botanists put down three or four species, but the speaker believed he had 
obtained them all from a single position. 
Mr. Grundy enquired if there was any good mode of extirpating 
daisies from a lawn ? 
Prof. Buckman had had practical experience in the matter, but, being 
fond of them, did not remove them from his own lawn. They were a 
