148 A. ALBA, L. CREEPING BENT- GRASS. 



grass in this country. In that country it is not given in the lists 

 of grasses recommended for cultivation. 



l}r. Lindley says: " They are little better than weeds, except 

 in soils where better grasses cannot be obtained. It grows in dry, 

 gravelly, sandy places, and is a troublesome weed." 



Mr. Gorrie, of England, says: :e Remarkably variable in habit 

 and appearance, too common and disliked by cattle. It starts 

 late in spring." 



Baron J. B. Lawes, says: "It flourishes most on dry soils, 

 and is a troublesome weed on arable land, disliked by cattle and 

 sheep. It is reported as useless, and should be discouraged as 

 much as possible. In manuring the land, the proportion of this 

 grass was very much reduced in every instance, a result certainly 

 not to be regretted." 



Agrostis alba, L. Creeping or Marsh Bent, Florin, White 

 Bent, White Top, Bonnet Grass. A perennial, 6-24 in. hi., 

 often prostrate below. Leaves flat, sheaths smooth, ligule long, 

 acute. Panicle contracted, narrow, 3 in., many small branches 

 in a whorl. Palea with two tufts of hairs at the base. Very 

 variable. 



By some this is equivalent to Agrostis stolonifera, by others it 

 is thought to be a mere variety of red top, or red top a mere 

 variety of this grass. Although not considered very valuable, 

 yet it is often recommended in Great Britain in mixtures for 

 permanent pastures. It starts early and holds out very late in 

 autumn. A creeping habit makes it much like June grass, diffi- 

 cult to kill out on wet land. It is not suitable for dry land, but 

 for wet, bottom lands or for permanent irrigated meadows, where 

 it often produces large crops. 



Along the Connecticut river, the straws are cut for braiding 

 to make bonnets. In this country, so far as the writer has seen, 



FIG. 71. Agrostis canina L. (Brown Bent. Rhode Island Bent), a, plant ; b, spikelet 

 c, back of floral glume with awn. (Riechenbach.) 



