Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 1, 1802).djvu/394

362] nine, but, according to Dr., twelve, are indigenous: the following three are the principal:

1. The Secalinus, or Smooth Rye Brome-grass; the Polymorphus of ; which is not rare in Norfolk, and grows near Edwin's Ford, Caermarthenshire, among the winter corn; with panicle expanding, husks naked, seeds distinct, awns shorter than the blossom, not quite straight; it flowers in July. Cattle are fond of this grass, the seeds of which are prevalent among rye, in a considerable proportion, and when ground with the latter for bread, not only render it blackish, but produce a narcotic or stupifying effect.—From its flower-bundles, as informs us, a beautiful green dye may be easily extracted.

2. The mollis, or Soft Brome-grass, Lob-grass or Oat-grass, is mostly found growing in corn-fields, though sometimes in meadows, pastures, hedge-banks, and even on walls: panicle rather upright; leaves very soft and woolly; awn about the length of the blossom; flowers in May and June.— affirms that this plant affords a very agreeable fodder to all kinds of cattle, and that it deserves to be cultivated on sandy lands, as being well adapted to consolidate the soil. But its merits and demerits, in an agricultural view, are not sufficiently ascertained. Mr. says, that it is a troublesome weed in corn-fields, and therefore disliked by farmers; while it is of little value in pastures and mowing grounds, where it generally sheds its seed before the time of mowing, and produces very few root-leaves.

3. The pinnatus (Festuca pinnata, L.) or Spiked Heath Brome-grass, is found growing on heaths, and fields of a calcareous soil, particularly in Yorkshire, Oxfordshire, and Kent: its straw undivided, spikets alternate, nearly sitting; cylindrical, somewhat awned: it flowers in July.—This grass is much relished by cattle of every description, but especially by sheep and goats.

It deserves to be remarked, with respect to the different species of brome-grass, that, though they may be allowed to grow in meadows and pasture-grounds, their seeds should not be suffered to mingle with corn. To extirpate this noxious weed from rye and wheat-grounds, the farmer will find it his interest to employ (as is frequently done on the Continent) young people, or even children, in early weeding. Such an expedient should be particularly adopted, when the crop of a promising field of wheat is intended for seed-corn; as, by this precaution, not only the land may be cleared of the pernicious roots, but the farther propagation of this weed will be effectually prevented. Lastly, the seeds of brome-grass, when mixed with corn, render it much lighter, and consequently of less value to those who purchase and sell grain by weight.  BRONZE, a metallic compound of and, to which zinc and other substances are sometimes added. It is hard, brittle, sonorous, and specifically heavier than the metals of which it is composed.

M., in his memoir concerning the ductility of metals, observes, that in bronze the colour of the copper is totally disguised by that of the tin, even though the proportion of the former be four-fifths to that of the latter. This compound is much more fusible than