The Herbage of Old Grass Lands. 
417 
from Deorfcun gave, of grasses, Lolium perenne, Holcus lanatus, 
Festuca duriuscula, Agrostis alba ; of clovers, Trifolium repens ; 
and of weeds, Ranunculus repens. Prunella vulgaris, Crepis 
tectorum, and Achillea Millefolium. Two turfs from Glynd Hill 
yielded, the one, Poa pratensis, Medicago lupulina, and Achillea 
Millefolium ; the other, Avena flavescens, Festuca ovina, Festuca 
duriuscula, Agrostis vulgaris, Trifolium repens, Hieracium Pilo- 
sella, and Thymus Serpyllum. A turf from Short Heath afforded 
Aira prsecox, Festuca bromoides, Poa annua, Agrostis vulgaris, 
and the rush, Juncus campestris. A turf from Mount Cabron pro- 
duced Avena flavescens, Festuca duriuscula, Medicago lupulina, 
and three weeds — Rumex Acetosa, Caucus Carota, and Poterium 
Sanguisorba. A turf from Ringmer Down yielded, of grasses, 
Avena flavescens, Festuca duriuscula, Festuca ovina, and Poa 
pratensis ; of leguminous plants, Trifolium repens, Ornitliopus 
perpusillus, and Lotus corniculatus ; and of weeds, Linum 
catharticum, Scabiosa Columbaria, Hypoch^ris radicata, Crepis 
tectorum, Juncus campestris, Hieracium Pilosella, and Thymus 
Serpyllum. 
These eight turfs were all taken from sheep-fed land, and 
the following statement shows the number of turfs each species 
of grass and leguminous plant occurred upon : — Grasses. — 
Festuca duriuscula 5, Agrostis vulgaris 4, Avena flavescens 4, 
Poa annua 3, Poa pratensis 2, Festuca ovina 2, Holcus lanatus 2, 
Agrostis alba 1, Dactylis glomerata 1, Cynosurus cristatus 1, 
Lolium perenne 1, Aira praecox 1, and Festuca sciuroides 1 ; 
there being in all 12 species of grasses detected. 
Leguminous Plants. — Trifolium repens 5, Medicago lupulina 
2, Ornithopus perpusillus 1, and Lotus Corniculatus 1. 
These results may probably be relied upon as showing the 
botanical composition of native down sheep pastures a century 
ago. As is well known, the short, sweet natural herbage of these 
downs differs much from the richer, greener, and more succulent 
vegetation met with in prime old pastures and meadows. Since 
Curtis's time, and since that of Sinclair, very little exact obser- 
vation seems to have been directed to the botanical composition 
of our grass lands, though within recent years Sir John Lawes 
has had several pastures submitted to botanical analysis. 
It will probably prove convenient, and save the reader trouble, 
if I at once enumerate the plants to which I shall have occasion 
to refer in the following pages. Accordingly, in the subjoined lists 
will be found the names of the gramineous, leguminous, and mis- 
cellaneous species of which mention will be made, and for facili- 
tating reference they are arranged in alphabetical order and not 
in botanical order. Any one who has had occasion to read French, 
VOL. XXrV.— S. S. EE 
