The Book of Grasses 



In all the fragrance of outdoor life the grasses bear their part 

 in diffusing that most subtle essence which is as untraceable as the 

 odour of spring. Vanilla Grass is one of the most 

 fragrant grasses, and its perfume in the air sug- 

 gests that of delicate orchids hidden among 

 sedges and rushes by the brookside. 



Vanilla Grass is found in abundance only in 

 the more Northern States and in Canada, but as 

 far south as New Jersey it is occasionally found 

 in damp soil. In bloom the short panicles are 

 ornamented in chestnut-brown and purple, but 

 it is the long-leaved sterile shoots which have 

 gained for the plant a wide recognition far from 

 its native meadows. These leaves are very 

 fragrant in drying, and are gathered by Indians 

 who weave them into many varieties of baskets 

 and placques. It is even said that European 

 peasants attach to the plant some mysterious 

 power of inducing sleep, and that bunches of the 

 leaves are sold in the north of Europe to be 

 suspended in sleeping-rooms. 



When, in olden time, the custom still lingered 

 of scattering sweet-scented grasses before the 

 churches of northern Europe on Saints'-days 

 and holy festivals, this plant received the name 

 of Holy Grass and was used with the less 

 strongly scented Sweet Vernal-grass to make fra- 

 grant the pathways leading to shrines of the saints. 



Fragrant grasses were at one time much 

 lauded by agriculturists, who thought that sweet 

 grasses should improve the flavour of butter and 

 milk, but alas for theories! it was proved that 

 Vanilla Grass and Sweet Vernal-grass were not 

 only valueless, but were even disliked by cattle. 



Vanilla Grass. Holy Grass. Seneca Grass. 



Hierdchloe odorata (L.) Wahlenb. 



Perennial, from creeping rootstocks. 

 Stem 1-2^ ft. tall, slender, erect. Ligule \"-2" long. 



Stem leaves very short, basal leaves, and those of 

 sterile shoots, long and narrow. 



I 



"TIT- 



Vanilla Grass 

 Hierochloe odorata 



98 



