514 The Natural History of British Grasses. 



bability renders it not only more palatable but also more nutri- 

 tious than seeds or artificial hay. 



Its bulk is small, so that it adds but little weight to the rick, 

 and its short leaves are incapable of affording much aftermath ; 

 still its fragrance entitles it to a place in all mixtures of grasses 

 in laying down permanent pasture, 



B. — Stamens, 3. Style, 1, 



ISTaedus — glume absent, glumel of two valves, sinke uni- 

 lateral. — P. 



N. striata — heath-grass — occurs on damp heaths or marshy 

 places, and is readily distinguished by its slender unilateral spike 

 with flowers all pointing one way. Of no agricultural value, 

 except as indicating the nature of its soil. 



C. — Stamens, 3. Styles, 2. 



t Floivers spiked. 

 AlOPECURUS — glumes nearly equal, united at the base; 

 glumel of a single valve, awned from below ; spike com- 

 pact. 



1, A. pratensis — meadow foxtail — spike cylindrical, blunt at 

 the apex, about 2 inches in length. — P. 



2, A. agrestis — taper foxtail — spike cylindrical, pointed at the 

 apex, from 2 to 3 inches long. — A. 



3, A. geniculatus — floating foxtail — spike cylindrical, blunt at 

 the apex, about half the size of A. pratensis, — P, 



The Alopecurus pratensis is a common native grass, especially 

 in moist meadows and in deep rich pastures, for which situations 

 it is admirably adapted, as it yields a large proportion of hay 

 and a quick growth of aftermath ; it should always form part of 

 the grass for irrigated meadows, as it is very early and bears 

 cropping well, sending up culms and a plentiful supply of 

 herbage for the second or hay crop, after the first depasturing by 

 sheep. 



As a grass for self-cultivation, it may be stated that it grows 

 fast even on a medium soil and in exposed situations, and its 

 upright habit would point it out as no bad species to mix with 

 rye-grass in " seeds," whilst in laying down land for permanent 

 pasture it should always take a place with other grasses. 



The Alopecurus agrestis is sometimes called the hlach-hent, at 

 others hunger-weed^ terms expressive of the low estimation in 

 which it is held, and the poor agrarian land in which it delights 

 to grow. Sinclair says, " the appearance of the black-ljent among 

 wheat is a certain sign that the crop will be worthless." It is 



