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hay, the pleasant odour they impart being grateful to most herbivorous 
animals ; but I express the opinion at once that our scented grass is 
of no agricultural importance. It is true that it is probably fairly 
nutritious ; but its foliage is sparse, the whole plant is wiry, the seed 
is less abundant than in the other Australian (and in most other) 
species; and, supposing for a moment that anyone in the Colony 
thinks of propagating it, the warning of Mr. Fletcher, of Canada, as 
to the tendency of a closely-related species to become (in Manitoba) 
a noxious weed, should be borne in mind. 
Speaking of a native Hierochloe, Mr. Bacchus states : “I am aware 
that stock eat the grass, but know nothing of its merits for grazing. 
We will now inquire what is the opinion held in regard to Hieroch- 
loes in older countries. 
Under the name of Holcus odoratus, there are some interesting 
notes on Hierochloe borealis in Sinclair’s Hortus Gramineus Woburnensis 
(2nd ed., p.167). There are some data as to the product per acre 
of this grass, dried and green, and at different seasons. Mr. Sinclair 
proceeds : “‘ Though this is one of the earliest flowering grasses, it is 
tender, and the spring produce of herbage is very inconsiderable, the 
flowering straws rising up in a manner destitute of leaves. This 
deficiency of produce is much to be regretted, as the nutritive 
qualities of the grass are greater than in most of the early spring 
grasses. It sends forth but a few flower straws, which are of a slender 
structure compared with the size of the leaves. Inno instance that 
I have observed was this grass eaten by the hares and rabbits which 
preyed upon many of the other grasses. The powerful creeping 
roots of this grass, its tender nature, and the great deficiency of 
foliage in the spring, are demerits which discourage the idea of 
recommending it further to the notice of the agiculturist.” 
H. borealis is dedicated to the Virgin Mary on account of its sweet- 
ness, and is strewn about Catholic Churches in Northern Europe on 
festival days. Hence the name Holy-grass. The odour it emits is 
much more powerful when it is trampled upon. It is often called 
Vanilla-grass, on account of its perfume. This is the grass stated 
by Don to be indigenous to Scotland, as well as to Sweden, Norway, 
&c. No one else found it in Scotland, and it was dropped out of 
lists, until Robert Dick, the baker, botanist, and geologist, of 
Thurso, rediscovered it in that country, and an account of the 
discovery is pleasantly recounted by Samuel Smiles in his life of that 
worthy. 
Hierochloe borealis is common along the streams and rivers in the 
mountainous districts of Montana, U.S.A., frequently occupying ex- 
tensive areas to the exclusion of all other grasses. (Prof. Scribner, 
quoted by Dr. Vasey.) Dr. Vasey says that this grass is known in 
the United States as Vanilla or Seneca Grass, and Holy-grass. “ It 
is a perennial grass of northern latitudes, growing in moist meadows 
near the coast, also in low marshy ground in some parts of Illinois 
and other States bordering the great lakes, and in the mountains of 
Colorado and northward. . . . In our country it does not appear 
to be adapted to general cultivation.” ; 
