SECRETARY'S REPORT. 



81 



on cacli side at its base, awnless, two shining palcce, closely 

 inclosing the smooth, flattened grain ; stamens three. 



Specific description : panicle very slightly branched, clnstered, 

 somewhat spreading when old, but not so much' generally, as 

 appears in Fig. 82 ; glumes wingless, rudimentary florets hairy, 



stem round, smooth, erect, from two 

 to seven feet high, leaves five or six in 

 number, broad, lightish green, acute, 

 harsh, flat, ribbed, central rib the most 

 prominent, roughish on both surfaces, 

 edges minutely toothed, smooth, stri- 

 ated sheaths. Flowers in July. Grows 

 on wet grounds by the sides of rivers 

 and standing pools, best suited to 

 somewhat tenacious soils. 



A beautiful variety of this species 

 is the Ribbon or Striped Grass of 

 the gardens, familiar to every one. 

 The reed canary grass grows in the 

 ntmost luxuriance at the State Farm, 

 at Westborough, and produces a large 

 and early crop. It will bear cutting 

 two or three times in a season, but if 

 liot cut early, the foliage is coarse. 

 Cattle are not fond of it at any stage 

 of its growth, but if cut early and 

 well cured, they will eat 

 it in the winter if they 

 can get nothing better. 

 For some experiments 

 with this hay in compari- 

 son with others, see p. 61. 

 This grass is common 

 in low, rich soils where 

 the water is either stand- 

 ing or sluggish, and is not 

 iinfrequently produced by 

 transplanting the roots of the striped grass into suitable soils. 

 In one instance within my knowledge, it came in and produced 

 an exceedingly heavy crop, simply from roots of ribbon grass 

 11* 



Fig. 82. Reed Canary Grass. 



Fig. 83. 



