12 GRASSES AND FORAGE PLANTS. 



fine specimens of this grass in tlie State cabinet, were oljtained 

 at Westborough. 



White Grass, Virginian Cut Grass, {Leersia virginica,^ 

 is rather smoother than the preceding ; panicle oblong, spiked, 

 flowers considerably smaller — white ; found in damp woods. 

 Flowers in August. Native of North America. 



Indian Rice, or Water Oats, (zizania aquatica,^ is also 

 found in swampy borders of streams, in shallow water, and on 

 the borders of ponds, and is common. It grows from three to 

 nine feet in height, with flat, long, lanceolate leaves. Flowers in 

 August, and drops its seed, when ripe, at the slightest touch. 

 This furnishes food for water fowls, and was also used by the 

 aborigines for food. Native of North America. 



Meadow Foxtail, (alopecurus pratensis.') Generic char- 

 acteristics : Spikelets, one flowered, glumes compressed and 

 keeled, united at the base, lower palea awned on the back, 

 upper palea wanting, stamens three, styles generally united, 

 stigmas long, panicle compressed into a cylindrical spike like 

 the tail of a fox, from which it derives its name. Native of 

 Great Britain. 



The specific characters are, an erect, smooth stem, two or 

 three feet high, with swelling sheaths, spikes cylindrical, obtuse, 

 equalling the sharp cone-like glumes, awn twisted and twice the 

 length of the blossom. The spike not so long as that of Timo- 

 thy. Flowers in May, in fields and pastures. Perennial — intro- 

 duced. Fig. 6 shows the root, stem or culm, and spike of this 

 grass, and Fig. 7 the blossom somewhat magnified. 



The meadow foxtail closely resembles Herds-grass, but may 

 be distinguished from it as having one palea only. The spike 

 or head of meadow foxtail is soft, while that of Timothy or 

 Herds-grass is rough. It flowers qarlier than Timothy, and 

 thrives on all soils except the dryest sands and gravels. It is 

 common in some sections of this State, as the western part of 

 Worcester County, where it is disliked by many farmers as a 

 field grass, being very light in proportion to its bulk. 



It is a valuable grass for pastures, on account of its early and 

 rapid growth, and of its being greatly relished by stock of all 

 kinds. The stems and leaves are too few and light to make 

 it so desirable as a field crop. It thrives best on a rich, 

 moist, strong soil, and the quantity of its nutritive matter when 



