1238 
MESSES. J. B. LAWES, J. H. GILBERT, AND M. T. MASTERS, 
and has maintained moderate prominence only on a few plots where there was 
generally a very limited degree of luxuriance among its associates; its nearer com¬ 
petitors have been Agrostis vulgaris , Festuca ovina, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Holcus 
lanatus, and A. jlavescens. 
Arena jlavescens. 
Arena jlavescens is a perennial, tufted grass, of rather weakly habit, with branched, 
fibrous roots, that do not descend deeply into the ground. The culms are few, slender, 
12 to 24 inches in height. It starts into growth early, and flowers in June and July, 
and sometimes again in the autumn. It is chiefly found in cool dry pastures, and 
fight soils. 
The favouring conditions for the growth of the plant may be said to be its hardiness, 
and power of producing fertile seeds before the first cutting, which gives it an 
advantage over A. pubescens ; but, on the other hand, its weak habit and absence of 
creeping shoots tell against it. 
The following figures show its position as to degree of prominence. 
Table XLIII.—Relative predominance of Arena jlavescens. 
Avena Jlavescens 
Was First, Second, or Third, 
among the total Grasses as under. 
Yielded 5 per cent, and over, 
to the total Mixed Herbage, as uuder. 
1862. 
1867. 
1872. 
1877. 
1862. 
1867. 
1872. 
1877. 
Plots ^ 
r 1 . . . 
2 . . -. 
4-1 . . 
7 . . . 
8 . . . 
1 9 . . . 
10 . . . 
11-1 . . 
14 . . . 
16 . . . 
18 . . . 
L 20 . . . 
3 
i 
i 
i 
3 
3 
3 
1 
6-02 
5-42 
9-08 
10-05 
5-28 
1837 
6-85 
5*88 
712 
14*86 
623 
11-62 
6-09 
6-94 
5-30 
5-67 
18-80 
5-75 
6-67 
5-30 
Total < 
f First . . 
Second 
1 Third . . 
l 
0 
1 
i 
0 
0 
2 
0 
3 
0 
0 
0 
}« 
4 
8 
2 
On only two plots did Arena jlavescens attain the first place ; once on the plot which 
had formerly received farm-yard manure, but which had then been nine years without 
manure; and three times on plot 16 with the smaller amount of nitrate of soda and 
the mixed mineral manure. In no case did it come second. It was only on four 
