GRASS TRIBE 81 
are purplish-brown, varied with white, the leaves tapering to a sharp point. 
It is frequent in meadows and pastures, and among the short grass of downs, 
but wherever abundant it indicates a poor soil, and though a perennial, it 
disappears when the land is brought into better condition. It is too bitter 
to be a favourite fodder-grass, but cows, horses, and sheep will eat it. 
2, Small Quaking-grass (Bb. minor).—Panicle straggling; spikelets 
triangular, about 7-flowered ; empty glumes longer than the flowering glumes. 
This is an*annual species, with a very slender, erect stem from 1—2 feet 
high, and very numerous small pale-green spikelets. It is found in dry 
and sandy cultivated fields in the extreme south-west of the kingdom, and 
flowers in July. 
29. (37) Cock’s-FooT-GRass (Diéctylis). 
Rough Cock’s-foot (D. glomerdta).— Panicle branched, with oval 
clusters, which taper to a point; spikelets small and -densely crowded ; 
glumes membranous. Perennial. This large, rough, coarse-looking grass 
may be seen in flower during June, a few occasional clusters lingering on 
even through the autumn. It is common in every meadow, by roadsides, 
on moist or dry land, on hill or dale, but most luxuriant among trees and 
bushes, and well fitted for growing in orchards, or on moist shady spots. 
The erect, round, rough stem is from 1—3, or even 4 feet high, the upper 
part usually bearing its tufts oh spreading straggling branches; but some- 
times these are wanting, and the panicle consists of one tuft, usually tapering 
towards the summit, and often tinged with a delicate or more deep lilac tint. 
The leaves, which are long, flat, and narrowing to a point, are hard, rough 
on both sides, and of a rather dark bluish-green. This grass yields a very 
large amount of herbage, which has been found, both by chemical test and 
experience, to be highly nutritive and much liked by cattle, except when its 
leaves are very large and coarse. As it shoots up rapidly and plentifully, and 
produces a good aftermath, it is a valuable grass; but, owing to the coarse- 
ness of its stems, it has not been so well liked for hay by our farmers. 
Professor Buckman remarks of it: ‘‘ That it is capable of giving a large crop, 
my experiments fully prove, not only of culms, but also of aftermath ; the 
culms, however, are somewhat coarse, but with their nutritive qualities must 
be valuable, especially in chaff. Iam not aware of its having been tried as 
a self-crop; but there can be no doubt that, if examples be tried different 
from those generally employed, this grass has much to recommend it.” It 
has been found to succeed when in combination with the rough meadow- 
grass, the hard variety of the sheep’s fescue (duriiscula), the meadow fescue, 
and the ray-grass, the far greater proportion being the Cock’s-foot. It will 
thrive even during drought. 
30. (32) Doa’s-TAIL-GRASS (Cynosiirus). 
1. Crested Dog’s-tail (C. cristdtus).—Panicle long, narrow, one-sided 
and spike-like; flowering glumes with a very short awn. Perennial. This 
grass is, during June and July, easily distinguished by the involucre at the 
base of each of its spikelets, consisting of segments scarcely thicker than 
threads, and very rigid. The spikelets are on short stalks, and are arranged 
cle 
