in Extra-Tropical Countries. 19 



United States and valuable as an admixture to many other grasses, 

 as it becomes available at the season, when some of them fail. Sinclair 

 regards it as a pasture-grass inferior to Festuca pratensis and Dactylis 

 glomerata, but superior to Alopecurus pratensis The variety with 

 long suckers (A. stolonifera) is best adapted for sandy pastures, and 

 helps to bind shifting sand on the sea-coast, or broken soil on river- 

 banks. It luxuriates even on saline wet soil or periodically inundated 

 places, as well observed by Langethal. It is more a grass for cattle- 

 runs than for sheep-pastures, but wherever it is to grow, the soil must 

 be penetrable. Its turf on coast-meadows is particularly dense and of 

 remarkable fineness. For sowing, only one-sixth of the weight of 

 the seeds as compared with those of the rye-grass is needed. The 

 creeping variety is also valuable for fine and enduring lawns. 



Agrostis rubra, Linne. 



Northern Europe, Asia and America. A perennial grass, called 

 red-top and also herd-grass in the United States of North- America. 

 Professor Meehan places it for its value on pasture-land among grasses 

 cultivated there next after Phleumpratense and Poa pratensis (the latter 

 there called blue grass), and before Dactylis glomerata, the orchard- 

 grass of the United States. 



Agrostis scabra, Willdenow.* 



The hair-grass of North-America. Recently recommended as one 

 of the best lawn-grasses, forming a dense turf. It will grow even on 

 poor gravelly soil, and endure drought as well as extreme cold. Its 

 fine roots and suckers spread rapidly, forming soon dense matted sods 

 (Dr. Channing). It starts into new growth immediately after being 

 cut, is selected for its sweetness by pasture-animals, has proved one of 

 the best grasses for dairyground, and suppresses weeds like Hordeum 

 secalinum. One bushel of seed to an acre suffices for pastures ; two 

 bushels are used for lawns. A. perennans (Tukermann) is an allied 

 species of similar value. 



Agrostis Solandri, F. v. Mueller. 



Extra-tropical Australia and New Zealand. Produces a large 

 quantity of sweet fodder in damp localities (Bailey). Valuable as a 

 meadow-grass (W. Hill). In Australia it is essentially a winter-grass, 

 but available also in our sub-alpine regions (J. Stirling). Chemical 

 analysis in spring gave the following results : Albumen, 4'08; Gluten, 

 8-81 ; Starch, 1'34 ; Gum, 2'50 ; Sugar, 9'75 per cent. (F. v. Mueller 

 and L. Rummel.) Under the name A. Forsteri (Roemer and Schultes) 

 only some forms of this very variable grass are comprehended. 



Agrostis vulgaris, Withering. 



Europe, Northern Africa, Middle Asia, North- America. One of 

 the perennial grasses, which disseminate themselves with celerity, 

 even over the worst of sandy soils. Though not a tall grass, it may 

 be destined to contribute perhaps with others largely to the grazing 



