527 



Panicum Crus Galli, L. — Cocksfoot ; a coarse annual grass in gar- 

 dens and in rich fields. 



Panicum Glaucum, L. — Panic (irass ; in similar situations. 



Triticum Repens, L. — Couch Grass ; Twitch Grass ; troublesome 

 and very difficult to eradicate ; the roots eaten in Italy.* 



Carex, Sp. — The Carices are grasses with three-sided stems, and 

 compose the principal herbage of the coarser products of fresh mead- 

 ows ; some species always growing in hummocks. 



With the Carices are some of the Cyperi, distinguished by the inflo- 

 rescence being in branching heads and of greater beauty, but coarse 

 and wiry in structure. 



The Scirpi enter largely into fresh meadow hay. 



Equisetum Arvense, L. — Horse-tail ; Mare's-tail. 

 do. Hyemale, L. — Scouring Rush, 



do. Sylvaticum, L. — Wood Horse-tail. 



More or less common in moist meadows, and sometimes increasing 

 rapidly when the soil has been ploughed and again laid down. Al- 

 though silicious in their structure, and very brittle when dried, yet cat- 

 tle are said to devour them greedily. A fourth species, viz : Equise- 

 tum Uliginosum, Muhl. — Pipes ; is considered valuable as hay. 



Aspidium, several species. — Polypodium, do. do. — Osmunda Cinna- 

 momea, L. — do. Regalis, L. — do. Interupta, Mx. — Are usually known 

 as Polypod, Brake, Fern, Buckhorn, &c., and of little if any value. 



Pteris Aquilina. — Eagle Brake ; a tall, trifidly leaved fern in damp 

 woods. 



The Mosses (Musci) are generally small plants, scarcely distinguish- 

 able as species by any but the botanist. They in some species cover 

 the ground with a speedy growth, even when under cultivation. Seve- 

 ral are parasitic on trees, and injurious to the orchard, as the refuge 

 and hiding places for insects, and should be removed by scraping the 

 bark. Several species of Sphagnum are the especial agents in the 

 production of peat. Some of these are used in packing boxes of but- 

 ter and the like, being retentive of water and very cool. 



The Lichens and Fungi are also parasites, on timber and orchard 

 trees, and oftentimes indicate decay. 



* 1 have reason to think this grass one of the most valuable that ai*e 

 found. G. B. E. 



