284 DWARF GRASSES OF THE TEMPERATE ZONE. 



The foliage of some of them much resembles that of 

 the smaller bamboos, something in the style of that of 

 our common lake reeds at home. 



Before closing our remarks upon the subject of 

 grasses, however, it is desirable to make a note of 

 the fact, that although the splendour of tropical vege- 

 tation generally far exceeds that of the temperate 

 zones, in the matter of pasture grasses, we find that 

 the tropics can show nothing to compare with the 

 evenly growing velvety carpet of succulent verdure 

 which delights the eye in our English meadows. 



The dwarf grasses which constitute our pastures are 

 not only peculiar to the temperate zones, but confined 

 to the colder portions of them, where showery, damp, 

 inclement weather is prevalent. Nature thus displays 

 a remarkable instance of that beneficent power which 

 we so often find exhibited, of adapting herself so as 

 to present some special advantage in each kind of 

 climate, thus balancing inequalities, and supplying the 

 needs of each particular country. In the warmer por- 

 tions of the temperate zones, these grasses are coarser, 

 turn brown, and wither away, under the influence of 

 continued fine weather and brilliant sunshine ; a super- 

 abundant moisture being necessary to their existence. 

 In climates such as those of Spain and Italy therefore, 

 these verdant meadows are comparatively rare. In 

 Ireland, on the other hand, the vapour-laden breezes of 

 the ocean, and the prevalence of a warm south-westerly 

 wind, occasioning copious rains, specially favour the 

 growth of grasses, thus obtaining for that country the 

 well-earned soubriquet of " The Emerald Isle. " 



That being so, in the torrid zone, as might be 

 anticipated, meadows such as we are accustomed to 



