SECRETARY'S REPORT. 



69 



corapressod, with the flat side towards the rachis ; ghiraes uearlj 

 equal and opposite, nerved, lower palea like the glumes convex 

 oil the back, awiied from the tip, upper flattened, stamens 

 three ; mostly annuals, but others are perennials, to which the 

 couch grass belongs. The specific characters of couch grass are, 

 roots creeping extensively, stem erect, round, smooth, from one 



to two or two and a half feet 



high, striated, having five or six 



flat leaves with smooth, striated 



sheaths ; the joints are smooth, 



the two uppermost very remote, 



loaves dark green, acute, upper 



one broader than the lower ones, 



roughisli, sometimes hairy on the 



inner surface, smooth on the lower 



half. Inflorescence in 



spikes. Flowers in 



June and July. In- 



\^^ troduced from Europe. 



(Figs. GO and 61.) 



This plant is gen- 

 erally regarded by 

 farmers as a trouble- 

 some weed, and ef- 

 forts are made to get rid of it. Its 

 long, creeping roots, branching in 

 every direction, take complete pos- 

 session of the soil and impoverish 

 it. When green, however, it is 

 very mucli relislied by cattle, and 

 if cut in tlic blossom it makes a 

 nutritious hay. Dogs eat the 

 leaves of this grass and those of 

 one other species for their medici- 

 nal qualities in exciting vomiting. 

 I have seen acres of it on the Con- 

 necticut River meadows, where it 

 had taken possession and grew 

 luxuriantly, and is called wheat grass, from its resemblance 

 to wheat. It goes in different parts of the State by a great 



Fig. ea. 



Fig. 60 Couch, or Twitch Grass. 



