76 GRASSES AND FORAGE PLANTS. 



pying the place of grain. This, if there were no other reason, 

 would be sufficient to determine that it should be cut at or 

 before the time of flowering. I have never seen rye worse 

 affected than my specimens of this grass are. The effects of 

 this mysterious disease are well known. The noxious power 

 it exerts on the system of animals whicli receive even a small 

 portion of it, is oftentimes dreadful, producing " most hor- 

 rible gangrenes, rotting of the extremities, internal tortures 

 and agonizing death ; it has been known to slough and kill not 

 a few human beings who have accidentally or inadvertently 

 eaten grain or flour infected with it." 



The flower of the reed canary grass is shown in Fig. 83. 

 The variety called striped grass, (^colorala,') is exceedingly 

 hardy and may be propagated to any extent by dividing and 

 transplanting the roots. In moist soil it spreads rapidly and 

 forms a thick mass of fodder which migl* be repeatedly cut 

 without injury, though it is of little value for feeding stock. 



The Common Canary Grass, (^phalaris canariensis,} is cul- 

 tivated in gardens, and to some extent in fields and waste 

 places for the sake of the seed for the canary bird. It has a 

 spiked, oval panicle, glumes wing-keeled ; rudimentary flowers 

 smooth and half the length of the perfect one. Flowers in 

 July and August. 



Millet Grass, (millium effusum^ is found growing com- 

 monly in moist, shady woods, mountain meadows, and on the 

 borders of streams. Panicle widely diffuse, compound, glumes 

 ovate, very obtuse, leaves broad and flat, thin, root perennial, 

 flower oblong. Flowers in June. Introduced. Of no value 

 for cultivation, the foliage possessing but slight nutritive quali- 

 ties. The seeds are sought by birds. It will thrive trans- 

 planted to open places. 



Hairy Slender Paspalum, (^paspahim setacemn,^ has an 

 erect or decumbent, slender culm, from one to two feet high, 

 leaves and sheaths hairy, spikes slender, smooth, mostly solitary 

 on a long peduncle, spikelcts narrowly two rowed. Flowers in 

 August. It is found on sandy fields and plains near the coast, 

 and is rather common. 



Slender Crab Grass, (panicum fdiforme^ is another species 

 of the subgenus digitaria, or finger grasses, and resembles the 

 last somewhat, but the upper glume equals the fioiver, while the 



