356 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE. 



Phalaris intermedia — American Canary grass. 



This species resembles the Canary grass {Phalaris canariensis), which 

 produces the seed commonly sold as food for Canary birds. It is, how- 

 ever, a taller and more robust species, growing 2 to 3 feet high, with a 

 stout, erect culm, and broadly linear leaves, which are from 4 to 10 inches 

 long. The spike is oblong and compact, 1 or 2 inches long, or in the 

 variety angustata it is narrow and cylindrical, 3 or 4 inches long, and 

 more or less interrupted at the lower j)art. The spikelets are 3 flowered, 

 the 2 lower flowers being imperfect and reduced to 2 hairy scales. The 

 upper flower is perfect, consisting of 2 boat-wshaped palets which become 

 thick and hard, and 2 nearly equal, narrowly-keeled glumes which are 

 one-third longer than the ovate hsiirj flower. 



This species grows in South Carolina and the Gulf States, extending 

 to Texas, and then stretching across to the Pacific coast and occurring 

 through California and Oregon. It has frequently been sent us from 

 the Southern States as a valuable winter grass. 



Mr. Thomas W. Beaty, of Conwayborough, S. C, sent specimens for 

 analysis, and says : 



Tlie grass I send you was planted last September, and the specimens were cut on the 

 9th instant (March). You will notice that it is heading out, and is just now in a right 

 condition for mowing. It is wholly a winter grass, dying down in the latter part of 

 April and first of May, and it seems to me shoxild be a great thing for the South if 

 properly introduced and cultivated, or rather the ground properly prejiared and the 

 seed sown at the right time. It would atibrd the best of green pasturage for sheep 

 and cattle all winter. It is what we call Gilbert's Relief grass. 



ManyyearsagoDr. Lincecum, of Texas, experimented with this grass, 

 and recommended it highly. (See the Patent Office Eeport for 1860.) 



In California the grass is called California timothy, and is said to liave 

 no agricultural value. It is an annual or biennial. (See Plate XVIII.) 



Anthoxauthum odoratum — Sweet Vernal grass. 



A perennial grass, much employed as a part of mixed lawn grasses, 

 and also in meadows. It grows thinly on the ground, with slender culms, 

 seldom more than 1 foot to 18 inches in height, and scanty in foliage. 

 The panicle is close and narrow, except that it expands considerably 

 during flowering time. The spikelets consist of two thin keeled glumes, 

 of which the lower is only about half the lengtli of the upper, and 

 the upper closely incloses the flowers, of which there are two or three 

 in each spikelet ; only the central or upper one is perfect, and the two 

 lower ones reduced to an awned haiiy palet on each side of the perfect 

 flower. 



The perfect flower consists of two small unawned jialets, two stamens, 

 and two styles. The awn of one of the imperfect flowers is long and 

 twisted, that of the other is shorter and straiglit. It is very fragrant, 

 and gives a pleasant odor to hay which contains it. 



Mr. J. Stanton Gould says : 



. It is nowhere considered a very valuable variety for hay, as the cnhns are wide 

 apart, very thin, and bear but few leaves ; hence it gives a light crop of hay. 



(See Plate XIX.) 



Dactylis glomerata. — Orchard grass» 



This is one of the most popular meadow grasses of Europe, and ia 

 well known to most farmers in the Northern and Eastern States. 



