SWEET SCENTED VERNAL-GRASS. 153 



in spring or after feeding or mowing. It is fine, nutritious, and 

 palatable for all kinds of stock. 



Like Timothy, it has no tendency to spread, as is the case with 

 June grass, quack grass, and white clover. Mr. Lawes' experi- 

 ments show that it thrives best with high manuring, supplying 

 much nitrogen. In this respect it comes into competition with 

 orchard grass. 



There is considerable difficulty in procuring good seed, which 

 is very light, and sold in the chaff, only weighing five pounds to 

 the bushel. If sowed alone, three bushels to the acre is none too 

 much. The seeds are often adulterated with those of Holcus 

 lanatus, Alopecurus agrostis and rye-grass. The first two grasses 

 are of very poor quality, the latter is much cheaper and costs not 

 over one-eighth part as much per pound. Other seeds are also 

 often found with those of meadow foxtail. 



The seeds ripen unevenly, some beginning to fail while much 

 is yet immature or even in flower. 



Many glumes are empty; insects, blight, or something else 

 causing the failures. The small seed produces a small, feeble 

 plant, which requires a favorable chance for a long time before it 

 becomes well established. 



It will not likely ever be popular over a very large portion of 

 the United States. It is well adapted to parts of New England, 

 New York, Canada, and mountain districts farther west and 

 south. It is a native of Europe, and one of the five grasses 

 recommended for permanent grass lands by Mr. De Laune, of 

 England. 



ANTHOXANTHUM, L. SWEET VEBKAL-GEAS8. 



Spikelets 1 -flowered, narrow, slightly compressed, crowded into 



a cylindrical spike-like panicle ; rachilla jointed above the lower 



glumes, often hairy. Glumes 6, the 2 lower persistent below the 



joint, acute, mucronate, or very short awnecl, the second longer 



20 



