WOOD FESCUE-GRASS. 431 



pasture, for permanent lawn pastures, and for fine lawns, bowl- 

 ing-greens, and the like, kept constantly under the scythe, in 

 the proportion of from J Ib. to 1 Ib. for the imperial acre. A 

 bushel of the seeds averages 5 Ib., and the number of seeds in 

 an ounce stands at 118,000. 



Brachypodium. The genus Brachypodium is that to which 

 the grass commonly called wood fescue-grass is now referred, 

 under the name of Brachypodium sylvaticum. This grass 

 was once called Festuca sylvatica, and again Triticum sylvati- 

 cum. It is a fibrous-rooted perennial. It grows from one to 

 two feet high. It flowers in the first week of July, and ripens 

 its seed near the end of the same month. It is produced 

 naturally in damp woods and moist shady places, but thrives 

 well in open cultivated ground. It is a coarse grass not liked 

 by cattle. Oxen, horses, and sheep refuse it, except when 

 there is no choice. Hares and rabbits are said to crop the 

 ends of the leaves during deep snow or severe frost. It is 

 met with to the height of 1000 feet above the sea-level. It 

 is useful to form an under- covering of verdure in thick woods. 

 It is one of the plants recommended to be sown, to the 

 extent of from 1 J Ib. to 2 Ib. per imperial acre, for pasturage 

 and cover in thick shady woods. A bushel of the seeds aver- 

 ages 10J Ib., and the number of seeds in an ounce amounts to 

 15,500. 



Bromus. To the genus Bromus is referred the grass other- 

 wise known as Bucetum giganteum, Festuca gigantea, tall 

 fescue-grass, or giant-wood broine grass, under the name of 

 Bromus giganteus. It is a fibrous-rooted perennial. It grows 

 from three to four feet high. It is produced in woods and 

 damp shady places, yet when cultivated it thrives in open 

 situations. It is in greater favour with cattle than the Bra- 

 chypodium sylvaticum. Horses and cows eat it, but plainly 

 do not prefer it to most grasses. The leaves, though produced 



