1248 
MESSRS. J. B. LAWES, J. H. GILBERT, AND M. T. MASTERS, 
Festuca loliacea, which is hardly more than a variety of F. pratensis, has only been 
found in the samples from two plots, and, like Festuca elatior, in quite insignificant 
quantity. 
As compared with Festuca ovina, which is one of the most prevalent grasses on the 
plots, F. pratensis is rapidly and greatly diminishing. This may possibly arise from 
the fact that F. pratensis is not so hardy as F. ovina, is less sturdy in habit, has a less 
branched root-growth, fewer stolons, a greater evaporating surface from its broader 
leaves, which, together with its less extensive root-development, may afford a reason 
why F. pratensis does not resist drought so well as F. ovina. 
Bromus mollis. 
This grass is annual or biennial; all the other grasses on the plots being perennial. 
Its roots are stiff, wiry, not much branched, but sometimes very deeply penetrating. 
On plot 14 (nitrate and mineral), the roots were discovered at a depth of 4 to 5 feet, 
having lost their wiriness and become fleshy. Small tubers were also observed on the 
root-fibres at the depth of 9 inches, and more; the tubers measuring sometimes as 
much as a quarter of an inch in length. The culms are 1 to 3 feet high, and generally 
die away after seeding or cutting, when new growth, but not so highly developed, is 
formed from the stock. If constantly mown or fed off, it generally disappears. It 
flowers early, so that its seeds ripen before cutting, and many seedlings are produced. 
The endowments favourable to it are its deeply rooting powers, which enable it to 
withstand drought, the tubers probably aiding as a store; also its abundant and early 
production of seed, which enable the plant to diffuse itself freely when circumstances 
are propitious. 
The following table shows its predominance. 
Table XLIX. — Relative predominance of Bromus mollis. 
Bromus mollis 
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. 
r i . . . 
2 
3 
21-92 
10-55 
Plots s 
1 2 . . . 
2 
1 
, , 
17-77 
16-39 
2 
2 
1 
, , 
18-04 
17-69 
42 TO 
8-02 
[l5 . . . 
6-27 
r First . . 
0 
1 
1 
0 
A 
j 
Total i 
Second. . 
3 
1 
0 
0 
> 3 
4 
1 
1 
I 
[Third . . 
0 
1 
0 
0 
J 
