GREEN FORAGE 



Glyceria fluitans, manna grass. Rachis unilateral; branches at right angles when 

 in bloom, later compressed; spikelets very long, appressed. (Fig. 23.) 



Glyceria aquatica s. spectahilis, water chess. Rachis symmetrically spread out, 

 very branchy and spreading; culm thick, reed-like. (A large and handsome grass 

 cultivated for hay in Europe. — Wood.) 



Phalaris arundinacea, Canary grass. Leaves wide, grayish green ; panicle branched 

 in bloom, contracted at other times; spikelets in clusters. (Fig. 24.) Tall and 

 reed-like. 



According to nutritive value and palatability the sweet grasses are arranged in 

 three classes as follows: 



Grasses of the first rank: Meadow foxtail (Alopecurus pratensis), timothy grass 

 (Phleum pratense), orchard grass (Dactylis glomerafa), tall fescue grass (Festuca 

 elatior), Italian rye grass (Lolium italiciim), English rye grass {Lolium perenne), 



Fig. 20. Spear Grass (June Grass) {Foa Pratensis). 



spear grass or June grass {Poa pratensis), rough meadow grass {Poa trivialis), 

 golden oats {Avena flavescem — European species), meadow oats (Avetm pratensis 

 — European), so-called French rye grass (Avena elatior — European species, natur- 

 alized in United States), white or English bent grass {Agrostis alba s. stolonifera) , 

 manna grass (Glyceria fluitans). 



Grasses of the second rank: True manna grass (Glyceria aquatica s. spectahilis), 

 hairy oats (Avena pubescens) , dog's-tail grass (Cynosurus cristatus), red fescue 

 grass (Festuca rubra and F. heterophylla), Canary grass (Phalaris arundinaceae) , the 

 various species of chess (Bromus sp.), common redtop, dew grass, or Herd's grass 

 of the Southern States (Agrostis vulgaris), annual spear-grass (Poa annua, P. 

 serotina, P. compressa, P. nenioralis) , quaking grass (Briza media), honeygrass or 

 soft grass (Holcus lanatus), sweet-scented vernal grass (Anthoxanthum odoratum), 

 and Brachypodium pinnatum and B. sylvaticum. 



Grasses of the third rank: Aira fleuosa and A. caespitosa, tuft-like grasses of 

 the United States, 1 to 2 feet and 18 to 30 inches high, respectively. The former is 

 an erect, elegant grass, common. Bromus giganteus (giant cheat or chess). Agrostis 

 spica (a species of bent grass). Calamagrostis epigea (a calamus-like Agrostis). 



