on Permanent Meadoio Land. 
257 
cent. The highly nitrogenous artificial manures appeared to be 
very adverse to its growth, nor did it succeed much better with 
farm-yard manure. As, however, this grass is a very early one, 
it is possible tliat, at the time of cuttinjj, some of it would be past 
the stage at which it would be recognised in our samples. 
The general result was, that the growth of the Sweet-scented 
Vernal-grass was much discouraged by such manures as greatly 
increased the amount and proportion of the Graminaceous hay- 
plants as a whole. Whether this is of consequence in any other 
point of view than that of fragrance, and whether in this one it 
is of real practical importance, is, perhaps, a question. 
5. — Agrostis vulgaris — Common, or Creeping-rooted Bent-Grass, 
or Black-switch, Sfc. 
This grass is said to flourish most on dry soils, to be a trouble- 
some weed on arable land, to be disliked by cattle, and also by 
sheep, excepting sometimes in winter. It is, in fact, reputed as 
useless, and is recommended to be discouraged as much as 
possible. The time of flowering is May. 
This grass amounted, in culm, to nearly 5 per cent, in the 
produce without manure. The proportion was, however, very 
much reduced under every one of the manured conditions. This 
result is certainly not to be regretted, if the characters of the 
grass are fairly given, as above. However, the detached leaf 
and undeveloped stem set down in the Table as " middling," was 
supposed to consist chiefly, and that set down as " coarse " 
more or less, of Bent-grass ; and if this estimate be correct, it 
would appear, that there Avas a considerable proportion of this 
grass in this undeveloped condition on most of the plots ; though 
it would be least in amount where either the farm-yard manure 
or the mixtures of mineral manure and ammoniacal salts were 
employed. Fortunately, then, a grass having such a bad cha- 
racter as is attributed to the creeping-rooted Bent-grass seems to 
meet with the desired discouragement in those manures which 
develop more freely its more valuable congeners. 
6. — Briza media — Common Quaking- Grass. 
This grass is reputed to thrive best on poor soils, to afford a 
small yield, not to be liked by cattle, and to be discouraged by 
manuring. It flowers in June. 
The Quaking-grass amounted to 2 per cent, in the sample of 
the produce from the unmanured land. It was only found in 
two cases in the manured produce, and then in even less pro- 
portion than in the unmanured. In the most highly-manured 
produce none whatever of it was to be found. The reduction 
or entire exclusion by manuring, is consistent with the character 
VOL. XX. S 
