34 GRASSES. 



without scent, bat some are fragrant, especially 

 when dry; and few are known to be poisonous, 

 except the Darnel, Lo'lium temulen'tum, and 

 Festu'ca tridenta'ta, which have poisonous seeds. 



EDWARD. 



I have never seen the flowers of grasses. Are 

 they pretty ? 



MOTHER. 



I am not surprised that you have never observed 

 them ; for not having petals of brilliant colours, 

 the flowers are generally overlooked; but their 

 construction is not less curious than that of the 

 most beautiful in appearance. 



The care taken by nature to ensure the produc- 

 tion of grass is truly wonderful. Though the leaves 

 be trodden down or consumed, the roots still in- 

 crease ; and the stalks which support the flowers 

 are seldom eaten by cattle, so that the seeds are 

 always allowed to ripen. Some of the grasses that 

 grow on very high mountains, where the heat is not 

 sufficient to ripen the seed, are propagated by 

 suckers or shoots, which rise from the root, spread 

 along the ground, and then take root themselves. 

 Grasses of this kind are called Stolonif'erous. Some 

 others are propagated in a manner not less remark- 

 able : the seeds begin to grow within the calyx 

 itself, which in grasses is called the Husk; and 

 plants are formed there with little leaves and roots; 



