6 Grasses of the Lothians. [Sess, 



\\\.—GBA88E8 OF THE LOTHIANS. 



By Mr A. MURKAY. 



{Read Dec. 17,1902.) 



I HAVE been asked to say a few words about the collection 

 of grasses now exhibited. These, as many of you know, 

 belong to the natural order Graminacese, without doubt the 

 most important in the vegetable kingdom, for if you leave out 

 Solanaceee, Leguminosae, and Cruciferse, man is wholly de- 

 pendent upon the plants of this order for his food. Bread 

 is the product of wheat (Triticum cesHvum and its vars.), 

 oats {Arena sativa and its vars.), and barley {Hordeum vul- 

 gare and its vars.) ; and in some countries rye (Sccale cereale), 

 Indian corn (Zea mays and vars.), and rice (Oryza sativa) are 

 added or used by themselves. We can easily imagine that 

 if this order of plants, which provides food for man and beast, 

 were suddenly to cease growing, there would be such a famine 

 as would nearly depopulate the globe of man and many of 

 the lower animals before substitutes could be provided. Be- 

 sides supplying food, many of the species are used for other 

 purposes. Eopes are made from some, and also paper, and 

 they often form part of our beds. Though generally of low 

 statvire, yet some are found of such a length and size as 

 to be used as masts for small ships and boats, the range 

 being from one inch to nearly one hundred feet, as in the 

 bamboo cane. Again, consider the rich verdure which carpets 

 our fields, and which is so restful to our eyes. What would 

 our English and Scottish fields be like without their covering 

 of grass ? Many of the species are, besides, very graceful 

 and ornamental, and the study of so important and useful 

 a family can hardly be over-valued. 



For many years I have felt the want of a knowledge of 

 these plants, and again and again I have said, " I must 

 devote some time to the study of grasses," but I never made 

 a start until the Society's prize was offered : this had the 

 effect of setting me agoing, and once set agoing, I am not 

 easily stopped. I am very pleased that I won the prize, 



