GRASSES OF MAINE. 7 



Of the thousancls of grasses, but one, bearded darnel, {solium 

 temulentwm) is known to be poisonous. 



History or the Grasses. 



Americans have the honor of discovering that the natural 

 grasses may be tamed, and the crop greatly increased and 

 quality improved, by saving the seed. When the Puritans 

 left England in 1620, clover as a cultivated grass was un- 

 known there, and not till after a century did the English 

 farmers sow the seed, and then only the chaff from their barn 

 floors. Yellow clover was introduced in 1659. Perennial 

 rye grass was first grown in 1677. This rye, or "ray" 

 grass as it was called, was the first species of perennial grass 

 ever sown artificially in England. It is now the leading 

 ffrass in France. In 1700 white clover was introduced. At 

 the close of the American Revolution, timothy was carried to 

 England by the returning English soldiers. Orchard grass 

 wag carried to the mother country from Virginia in 1764. 

 The sowing of grass seed was not practiced in Scotland until 

 1792. In the early settlement of the Northern Atlantic States, 

 the. colonists foraged their cattle upon the wild indigenous 

 grasses, such as white clover, red-top, wire grass, Indian 

 grass, secretary grass, and foul meadow. Foul meadow was 

 found growing in abundance around Massachusetts Bay, as 

 early as 1629. It grew wild at Madawaska before that place 

 was settled by the Acadian French. Timothy, the herds- 

 grass of New England, is said to have received its name from 

 Timothy Hanson of Maryland, who brought it from North 

 Carolina in 1770. According to some, it was first discovered 

 in a swamp by one Hurd of New Hampshire. In England 

 it received the name of Phleum pratense, or "meadow cat's 

 tail." Where it originated is unknown, as it is nowhere 

 found in a positively indigenous state. When red clover 

 was introduced is not known. It was cultivated in Pennsyl- 

 vania as early as 1770. Blue grass {Poa jpratensis), is no 

 doubt a foreigner, although it is said to have been found here 

 in the days of the Indians. 



