46 



patches, from 1J to 3 feet high, with an abundance of long, flat, fine- 

 pointed leaves at the base, and a narrow terminal panicle, frequently a 

 loot in length, composed of short, erect, sessile branches, which are 

 very closely flowered. 



Professor Phares says : 



It grows abundantly and luxuriantly on many uncultivated fields and commons, 

 and furnishes grazing from April till frost. It thrives under much grazing and many 

 mowings, and grows promptly after each if the soil is moist enough. Cattle and 

 horses are fond of it, if it is frequently cut or grazed down, but if allowed to remain 

 untouched long they will not eat it unless very hungry, as it becomes tough and un- 

 palatable and probably difficult to digest. 



(Plate 47.) 



AGROSTIS. 



Spikelets one-flowered, in a contracted or open panicle ; outer glumes nearly equal 

 or the lower rather longer, and longer than the flowering glume, one-nerved, acute, 

 unawned ; flowering glume shorter and wider, hyaline, three to five-nerved, awn less 

 or sometimes awued on the back; palet shorter than the flowering glume, frequently 

 reduced to a small scale or entirely wanting ; stamens usually three ; grain free. 



Agrostis vulgaris (Redtop, Fiuetop, Herd's Grass [of Pennsylvania], Bent Grass, etc. ) 

 A perennial grass, growing 2 or 3 feet high from creeping root- stocks, 

 which interlace so as to make a very firm sod; the culms are upright, 

 or sometimes decumbent at the base, smooth, round, rather slender and 

 clothed with four or five leaves, which are flat, narrow, and roughish, 

 from 3 to 6 inches long, with smooth sheaths, and generally truncate 

 ligules. It is extensively cutivated. 



Agrostis alba, the fiorin grass of Ireland, and Agrostis stolonifera are 

 usually considered synonymous, and are distinguished from Agrostis vul~ 

 garisby having a closer, more verticillated panicle and with longer and 

 more acute ligules. 



Mr. J. Gr. Gould" says of Agrostis vulgaris: 



This is a favorite grass in wet, swampy meadows, where its interlacing, thick roots 

 consolidate the sward, making a firm matting which prevents the feet of cattle from 

 poaching. It is generally considered a valuable grass in this country, though by no 

 means the best one. Cattle eat hay made from it with a relish, especially when 

 mixed with other grasses. As a pasture grass it is much valued by dairymen, and in 

 their opinion the butter would suffer much by its removal. 



Professor Phares, of Louisiana, says, respecting this grass: 



It grows well on hill-tops and sides, in ditches, gullies and marshes, but delights in 

 moist bottom-land. It is not injured by overflow, though somewhat prolonged. It 

 furnishes considerable grazing during warm spells in winter, and in spring and sum- 

 mer an abundant supply of nutriment. Cut before maturing seed, it makes hay and 

 a large quantity. It seems to grow taller in the Southern States than it does farther 

 north, and to make more and better hay and grazing. 



Mr. Flint says: 



It is a good permanent grass, standing our climate as well as any other, and con- 

 sequently Avcll suited to our pastures, in which it should be fed close; for if allowed 

 to grow up to seed the cattle refuse it ; and this seems to show that it is not so much 

 relished by stock as some of the other pasture grasses. 



(Plate 48.) 



