The Natural History of British Grasses. 531 



watercourses and wet stretches in which this grass has been 

 abundant. 



BrizA — panicle lax; locnstce of from six to eight very 

 tumid florets ; glumes equal, rounded, and Avith the whole 

 flower quite smooth. 



Briza media — quaking-grass — is so called from tlie restless- 

 ness of its pendulous flowers, which are comparatively heavy, 

 and balanced on delicate rounded pedicels. Though a beautiful 

 species, it is of no use agriculturally ; however, as it grows for 

 the most part in poor, stiff, undrained clajs, it may always serve 

 by its presence or absence as an indication of condition. If present 

 in quantity, we may predicate a stiff unmitigated clay, such as are 

 found in the lias shales, Oxford clay, forest marble, and London 

 clays, and especially where not visited by local deposits, undrained, 

 or otherwise badly cultivated ; these formations will be found to 

 afford too much of this species, and far too little of those of a 

 better quality. If, however, the soil be merely wet, and not of 

 a decidedly stiff description, less of the quaking-grass will occur, 

 but the specimens will be far larger in size, and equally useless 

 as food. 



This grass is not touched by cattle, and, therefore, its culms 

 may be observed late in the season, usually accompanied by 

 those of the Cynosurus cristatus. At any time it yields little 

 to even the scanty bulk of the hay from its favourite habitats, 

 and its short leaves render it useless for pasture, 



DactyLIS — panicle yvith the primary branches long ; pedicels 

 short, so that the flowers are clustered in bunches ; glume 

 of two unequal valves arranged obliquely ; glumel pointed, 

 almost awned. — P. 



Dactylis glomerata is too well known to need further descrip- 

 tion, especially as we have but a single native species to consider ; 

 its agricultural capabilities render it an important one to the 

 farmer, as it yields a very large bulk both of culms and long 

 leaves to the hay crop, and a no less proportion of aftermath ; 

 and though somewhat rough, coarse, and woody in its culms, 

 especially if left too long Ijcfore cutting, vet it presents for the 

 most part a highly nutritious and bountiful supply to the rick ; 

 it is, moreover, remarkable for its quicknofs of growth after 

 mowing;, as in a few days its liglit-green succulent leaves will be 

 seen considerably overtopping the surrounding turf ; and if at 

 this time cattle be turned into the field, they invariably make a 

 first attack upon the young cocksfoot. 



JSinclair, in speaking of this grass, says, " Bv ^ avious tests 

 to which tlic leaves and stems were submitted at difi'ercnt periods 



