AIRA. 189 



1. A. Flexuosa, (Wood Hair Grass, or common 

 Hair Grass.) 



Kemarks. Tliis Grass is also called Zigzag Hair 

 Grass. Height one and a half to two feet ; llowers in 

 June and July. Grows naturally on healthy soitsin 

 England, and has been recommended for sowing on 

 such, but as its chief produce consists in culms or 

 stems with very little foliage, and few joints, and as 

 cattle do not seem to relish the former, it is scarcely 

 deserving of culture, except perhaps, in small quan- 

 tities as a mixture on moorish soils. This is a com- 

 mon Grass in this country on dry and rocky hills 

 and roadsides. It is sometimes found at a high alti- 

 tude on mountains and hills above the level of the 

 sea. Sheep eat it readily. 



2. A. C^spitosa. Tufted Hair Grass. 



SPECIFIC CHARACTER. 



Culm tufted, 2 to 4 feet high, leaves Hat, linear^ 

 panicle pyramidal or oblong, 6 inches long, awn 

 straight, barely equaling the palet. Shores of lakes 

 and streams ; common Northward. Flowers in June 

 and July. 



Flowers in latter end of July in England. Grows 

 naturally on rather superior marsh or damp soils, 

 forming large tufts or hassocks, as they are some- 

 times termed ; and as the grass is scarcely eaten by 

 domestic animals, it becomes the business of the 

 farmer to extirpate these as soon as possible, not 

 only on account of their unsightly appearance, but 

 because they occupy a considerable portion of the 

 soil which would otherwise be capable of producing 

 more valuable grasses, particularly as these tufts or 



