218 
JOURNAL OF THE PLYMOUTH INSTITUTION. 
sward of the south-west. In arable lands in some upland counties 
it becomes a detestable weed, known to the rustics as " Black 
Couch." That harsh and hungry grass, Festuca pratensis, is 
certainly not abundant in our pastures. From its drought-resisting 
properties, Meadow Fescue has been strongly recommended. The 
Spiked Fescue, Festuca loliacea, was long supposed to be a hybrid 
between Festuca praiensis and Lolium perenne, manifesting a 
certain similarity in spike and foliage to both ; and it is noted for 
non-perfection of seed. Few grasses outrival the Spiked Fescue 
for quantity and quality, and our farmers may wish for it more 
abundantly in their pastures. 
This brings us to another and still more important grass, which I 
have found very shy of the pastures of Cornwall; namely, the 
Sheep's Fescue, Festuca ovina* I believe it rarely forms any con- 
siderable share of our upland feeding-grounds. The chalky hills 
of England are the favoured habitats of Festuca ovina, and no 
doubt that will account for its general absence from our enclosures. 
Eeside the Fescues already named, there is one that should not 
be passed over lightly. Though rarely intruding into our pastures, 
it is perhaps the most conspicuous tenant of the hedgeside, indeed 
it is there universal, and certainly of some use in affording a share 
of winter forage to out-door cattle. This is the Hedge or Wood 
Fescue, F. Sylvatica of Hudson, Withering, Eelham, Sibthorp, 
Martyn, Dickson, and Knapp • whilst in the Transactions of the 
Linncean Society we find it classed as Bromus sylvaticus. De Can- 
dolle has made it a Triticum, and in Grey's " Natural Arrange- 
ment " it finds a place as Brachypodium Sylvaticum. 
Perennial Darnel, Eay or Eye grass, Lolium perenne of the 
Species Plantarum, is found in every pasture in the two counties, 
and as an early sweet grass it is, and long has been, a favourite with 
the farmer. It was the first grass cultivated as a field crop in this 
country, and for a long time the only grass seeds bought and sold 
were those of perennial Eye. From Norfolk county it went broad- 
cast over the kingdom, and farmers little thought they were buying 
the seeds of a weed growing in every pasture. 
There are only two grasses more of this family, Lolium temu- 
lentum, and its close congener, Lolium arvense, both common in 
South Wales, and both, I believe, rather uncommon in Devon and 
Cornwall. 
* This grass is abundant all over Britain in rough pasture land. — Ed. 
