70 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



Festuca oviiia — Sheep's Fescue; 



Dactylls glomerata — Orchard Grass. 



These grow in tufts when sown thin, if the land be poor ; but it 

 can be prevented by close pasturing, fine harrowing and rolling, 

 which take away all mosses and decaying grasses prejudicial to the 

 formation of a good turf. Rolling presses the whole together and 

 makes the soil firmer, a matter of much consequence in maintaining 

 a fine, close sward. 



Aquatic or Water Grasses are those which grow by the margin 

 of rivers, in brooks and ditches or around the edges of ponds. These 

 are not generally of any agricultural value, yet as sometimes seen 

 in open meadows they give indication of a wet or swampy soil, and 

 that draining is needful. Among the more common of these water 

 grasses are, 



Arundo phragmites — Common Reed Grass ; 



Phalaris arundinacea — Reed Canary Grass ; 



Poa Jluitans — Floating Meadow Grass ; 



Alopeciirus geniculatus — Floating Foxtail Grass ; 



Zizania aquatica — Wild Rice. 



Of these, the wild rice is sometimes cultivated at the South, and 

 the floating foxtail in Europe. 



Marine Grasses. Under this head come the grasses which in- 

 habit our salt marshes, the contiguity of salt water or marine mud 

 being requisite for their growth. Of these, the following will serve 

 as examples : 



Anunophila arwidinacea — Beech Grass or mat weed ; 



Spartiiia striata — Salt Marsh Grass; 



Poa maritima — Goose Grass ; 



Jiincus bulbosus — Black Grass. 



Meadow Grasses. By far the greater number of valuable grass- 

 es may be arranged under this head. They are those which supply 

 us chiefly with hay, as also pasturage for cattle. Occurring as these 

 dOj over the country, under widely differing circumstances of climate, 

 elevation, soil and modes of farming, an attentive study of them 

 should enable us, upon examination of any district, to arrive at facts 

 regarding the nature and value of any tract of ground with almost 

 as much certainty as though we had long resided upon the soil, and 

 had drawn our conclusions from what is called "practical experi- 

 ence;"' and yet, though one maybe termed " scientific," and the 



