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Lolium perenne. Rye Grass. 
This well known grass has been longer in cultivation than any 
other species, and still maintains pre-eminence, although scientific 
experimenters assure us that it is greatly inferior to Cocksfoot, 
Meadow Fescue, or Meadow Foxtail grass, in weight of produce 
and durability ; for whatever may be its merits otherwise, Ryegrass 
is apt to die out at a comparatively early period. Improved 
varieties have been raised of late years. It appears indeed almost 
everywhere in the lowland districts. 
Lolium temulentum. Darnel. 
Fortunately for Cumberland, the occurrence of this vile weed is 
rare and exceptional. If not actually poisonous, its seeds are 
extremely hurtful. Neither beast nor bird will voluntarily eat them. 
In comparison with other grass seeds, they are large and heavy. 
I never saw this grass in a living state but once, when it grew 
among a crop of Flax, near Aspatria, doubtless introduced with the 
seed. It is very upright and rigid in habit, and the spikelets of 
seeds, though larger than in the ryegrass, are at greater distances 
apart. 
Hordeum maritimum. Sea Barley. 
Another grass that is not strictly indigenous to the district— 
though I have seen it, with other aliens, growing on the ballast 
mounds at Silloth. A worthless species. 
Nardus stricta. Common Mat-grass. 
Moist moorlands and mountainous heathes are the homes of this 
grass. Higher than Sheep’s Fescue, and the Wavy Hair Grass, 
but at a lower elevation than /uncus sguarrosus and Common 
Heather, this grass is abundant. Its florets all point one way—its 
leaves, one to each culm, are bristle like. In some places the turf 
consists almost entirely of Mat-grass. Its roots are frequently much 
infested with grubs, and I have observed rooks and starlings pulling 
up large patches of it to arrive at their favorite food. Its wiry 
nature renders it very difficult to cut with the scythe. 
