NORTH-CAROLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 177 



Resembles beach grass in its mode of growth ; it is also a 

 valuable grass for confining blowing sands. 



In England it is called the sugar cane, from the quantity 

 of sugar in its stem. 



The E. virginicus, (wild rye,) E. canadensis, (Canadian 

 lyme grass,) E. striatus (slender, hairy lyme grass,) grow along 

 the banks of rivers and streams, but they are of no special 

 value for cultivation. 



LOLIUM. 



Spikelets many flowered, solitary on each point of a con 

 tinuous rachis, placed edgewise. 



LOLIUM PEEENNE. 



Stem erect, smooth, leaves flat, acute, smooth on the outer 

 surface, roughish on the inner, glume shorter than the spike, 

 flowers from six to nine, awnless. Flowers early in June. 

 From 15 to 24 inches high. Root perennial, creeping. 



This is regarded as valuable grass both in England ,and 

 France. It is relished by stock previously to its blossoming, 

 afterwards it becomes hard and less palatable. 



It is not equal to the orchard grass in any respect, but at 

 the same time it must be admitted that it could not have stood 

 its ground so long in England and France unless its merits are 

 considerable. It is doubtful whether it can be cultivated in 

 this State with protit. It seems to attain perfection in a more 

 humid climate than ours. 



LOLIUM ITALICUM ITALIAN RYE-GRASS. 



It is inferior to our best grass, as timothy, orchard-grass, 

 blue-grass, etc. In some points of view r , however, it is supe 

 rior to them, as it may be cut several times, when sown upon 

 moist rich land. It grows luxuriantly, and for soiling cattle 

 it is an excellent addition to our grasses, as it bears cutting- 

 well. Its actual value to us, however, is still to be determin 

 ed by farther experiments. 

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