ON THE MIXED HERBAGE OF PERMANENT MEADOW. 
1243 
Dactylis glomerata. 
This is a robust, free-growing grass, with strong, stout, fibrous roots, descending 
more or less vertically to a considerable depth, and together with other more horizon¬ 
tally disposed fibres matting the soil into, a dense ball. The root-hairs, under 
favourable circumstances, a,re numerous, long, and delicate. In some cases we have 
observed the root fibres protruding from the base of the tufts, and ascending for 2 to 3 
inches before they could find an outlet through which to descend to the soil. The 
stock is more or less tufted, especially so when well developed, as on the ammonia 
plots. The culms are 2 to 3 feet in height. The broad leaves vary greatly in colour 
and luxuriance, according to the manure. The plant flowers in June and is dicho- 
gamous. It makes growth by means of offsets from the base of the last year’s stems, 
early in spring, and again after cutting or browsing. Hence it is valued as a pasture 
grass, but if allowed to grow too old it becomes too woody, and is then of less value 
as food. It grows in almost any soil, but shows a preference for those which are 
rich, and is considerably different in habit and appearance on different soils ; the 
“ hummocky ” habit being specially noticeable where the food is abundant. 
The circumstances favouring the success of the plant are—its robust constitution, 
general luxuriance and power of adaption; its deeply-penetrating, abundant and 
greatly branched root fibres ; its densely tufted habit, and its growth after cutting or 
browsing. 
Table XL VII. shows its predominance. 
Table XL VII.—Relative predominance of Dactylis glomerata. 
Dactylis glomerata 
Was First, Second, or Third, 
among the total Grasses, as under. 
Yielded 5 per cent, and over, 
to the total Mixed Herbage, as under. 
1862. 
1867. 
1872. 
1877. 
1862. 
1867. 
1872. 
1877. 
Plots < 
Cl... 
2 . . . 
9 . . . 
! 10 . . . 
11-1 . . 
11-2 . . 
13 . . . 
_14 . . . 
3 
i 
i 
i 
i 
1 
1 
2 
3 
i 
l 
l 
3 
3 
1 
16-43 
5-58 
12-51 
24-16 
23*34 
27-88 
10-00 
6-43 
6- 51 
5-44 
39-31 
38-30 
20-29 
7- 28 
11-88 
39-28 
27-23 
43-05 
1407 
17-11 
13-38 
40*75 
12-48 
1 
r First . . 
4 
2 
3 
1 
1 
Total < 
Second 
0 
1 
0 
0 
r 7 
7 
4 
5 
1 
, Third . . 
1 
0 
1 
2 
J 
Thus, Dactylis was first on four plots in 1862, on two in 1867, on three in 1872, 
