58 



And in case it might, against his intentions, have advanced too 

 far already before he perceives such, he might use it yet as fodder 

 for his horses, which do not object so much to that sort of hay 

 as cattle do. 



Poa aiiniia (Annual Meadow-grass). A very short, fine tuft- 

 forming 5 to 10 inches high growing grass, springing up wild on 

 tracts of land which are a while out of cultivation. It might be a useful 

 grass for lawns if it were a perennial and had not the bad habit 

 of turning yellow already a short while after it has made its 

 appearance. There is, therefore, no practical use for it, and the 

 seed of it is scarcely ever handled. 



Poa aquatica (Water Meadow-grass). A tall 80 inches high 

 growing water-grass, thriving exactly and in the same places as 

 Phalaris arundinacea, and all we said about the habits and 

 merits of the latter, applies to this variety likewise. 



Poa or Festuca fliiitans (Floating Fescue or Fowl Meadow- 

 grass). A grass serving for much the same purpose as the prece- 

 dent variety, except that it reaches a size of from 40 to 60 inches 

 only, and that instead of having it stems turned upwards as all 

 other grasses, it has same, through its weakness, heaviness 

 and long size of seed-head bent and floating on the surface of 

 the water in the ditches at the immediate side of which only this 

 plant will thrive. It is not at-all strange to see such ditches covered 

 all over with both stalks and foliage of this plant. 



It is has a good agricultural value and is eagerly eaten by both 

 horses and cattle. But it stands to reason that, on account of the 

 way it grows, it contains a great percentage of water, reducing 

 the nutritive value of a certain quantity of hay in the same pro- 

 portion when saved. 



Poa nemoralis (Wood Meadow-grass). A tuft-forming 15 to 20 

 inches high growing grass of a deep-green colour and with thin 

 stalks and fine narrow blades. It grows in woods only and by 

 preference under beech-trees, as it likes the shadowy places. It 

 is of no agricultural value, except that it helps to nourish the 

 game (hares and deer). Its great merits are those of serving as a 

 magnificent lawn-grass in shadowy places and under high-growing 

 trees rich in foliage, the fact being, that it is the only grass which 



