70 



Glyceria fluitans (Floating Manna Grass). 



Culms are usually 3 to 4 feet high, rather thick and succulent, and quite leafy. 

 The leaves are 4 to 9 inches long, and 3 to 4 lines wide. The panicle is often a foot 

 long, very narrow, the short distant branches mostly in twos or threes, 1 or 2 inches 

 long, erect and close, each having usually two or four spikelets. The spikelets are 

 half an inch to three-quarters of an inch in length, rather cylindrical and nearly of 

 the same thickness throughout, seven to thirteen-flowered. 



This species grows in shallow water on the margins of lakes, ponds, 

 and sluggish streams. 

 Hon. J. S. Gould says : 



This grass is found growing in shallow water, overflowed meadows, and wet woods, 

 but will bear cultivation on moderately dry grounds. Schreber says that it is culti- 

 vated in several parts of Germany, for the sake of the seeds, which form the manna 

 crop of the shops, and are considered a great delicacy in soups and gruels. When 

 ground into meal they make bread, 'very little inferior to that made from wheat. In 

 Poland large quantities- of the seed are obtained for culinary purposes. All granivor- 

 ous birds are exceedingly fond of these seeds. Trout, and indeed most fish, are very 

 fond of them; wherever it grows over the banks of streams the trout are always 

 found in great numbers waiting to catch every seed that falls. 



There is a great difference of opinion among agricultural writers with respect to the 

 fondnesss of animals for the leaves and culms of this grass. We have often seen the 

 ends of the leaves cropped by cattle, but have never seen the culms or root-leaves 

 touched by them. On the other hand, reliable writers have asserted that cattle, 

 horses, and swine were alike fond of it. 



Glyceria nervata (Nerved Meadow Grass). 



This is similar in appearance to the tall meadow grass, but is smaller, 

 with a lighter panicle and smaller flowers. It has also much the same 

 general range. It usually grows along the wet margins of streams and 

 swamps. It is nutritious and might be advantageously mixed with 

 other grasses in wet grounds. It is especially abundant in the Rocky 

 Mountains. It is sometimes* improperly called fowl meadow grass. 

 No attention has been given to its cultivation in this country. In the 

 Woburn Agricultural Experiments conducted in England by the Duke 

 of Bedford, this grass was under trial, and was very highly esteemed. 

 Mr. Sinclair states that in February, 1814, after the severe winter pre- 

 ceding, this grass was perfectly green and succulent, while not one 

 species of grass, out of nearly three hundred that grew around it re- 

 mained in a healthy state, but were all inferior and more or less injured 

 by the severity of the weather. The aftermath was found to be re- 

 markably abundant and nutritive. It was found to be adapted to most 

 soils except such as were tenacious. Mr. Sinclair also said that further 

 experience in the cultivation of the grass enabled him to stace that it 

 possesses very valuable properties, and that it will be found a valuable 

 ingredient in permanent pastures, where the soil is not too dry, but of a 

 medium quality as to moisture and dryness. (Plate 80.) 



