IN EXTRA-TROPICAL COUNTRIES. 17 



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 (according to Dr. Channing). It starts into new growth 

 immediateiy after being cut, is for its sweetness picked by pasture 

 animals preferentially, has proved one of the best grasses for dairy 

 ground, and suppresses weeds like Hordeum secalinum. One bushel 

 of seed to an acre suffices for pasture-land ; two bushels are used 

 for lawns. 



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). It is essentially a winter-grass. The 

 chemical analysis in spring gave the following results : Albumen, 

 4-OS; Gluten, 8-81; Starch, 1-34; Gum, 2-5g^U^5 per 

 cent. (F. v. Mueller and L. Hummel.) 



Agrostis vulgaris, Withering. rj ^'. 



Europe, North Africa, Middle Asia, North Jpjierica. One of the 

 perennial grasses which disseminate themselves with celerity, even 

 over the worst of sandy soils. Though not aHall grass, it may be 

 destined to contribute perhaps with Aira carieseens and others 

 largely to the grazing capabilities of desert lands ; yet it -will thrive 

 also even in moist soil and Alpine regions, and is essentially a grass 

 for sheep-country. 



Ailantus glandulosa, Linne. 



South-East Asia. A hardy, deciduous tree, 60 feet high, of rather 

 rapid growth, and of very imposing aspect in any landscape. Par- 

 ticularly valuable on account of its leaves, which afford food to a silk- 

 worm (Bombyx Cynthia) peculiar to this tree; wood extremely durable, 

 pale yellow, of silky lustre when planed, and therefore valued for 

 joiners' work ; it is tougher than oak or elm, easily worked, and 

 not liable to split or warp. In South Europe planted for avenues. 

 For this purpose prevailingly staminate trees are not eligible on 

 account of the strong odour of the pistillate flowers. Valuable 

 also for reclaiming coast-sands, and to this end easily propagated by 

 suckers and fragments of roots according to Professor Sargent. 

 The growth of the tree is quick even in poor soil, but more so in 

 somewhat calcareous bottoms. Thrives on chalk (Vasey). Professor 

 Meehan states that it interposes the spread of the rose-bug, to 

 which the tree is destructive. 



