74 

 Professor Phares, of Mississippi, says : 



This grass is also called Bromus Schraderi, Bromus Willdenovii,Ceratoc1iloa unioloides, 

 and Festtica unioloides. It is an annual winter grass. It varies iu the time of start- 

 ing growth. I have seen it ready for mowing the first of October, and furnish fre- 

 quent cuttings till April. Again, it may not start before January nor be ready to 

 cut till February. This depends on the moisture and depression of temperature of 

 the fall, the seeds germinating only at a low temperature. When once started, its 

 growth after the successive cuttings or grazings is very rapid. It is tender, very 

 swe;t, and stock eat it greedily. It makes also a good hay. It produces an im- 

 mense quantity of leaves. On loose soil some of it may be pulled up by animals 

 grazing it. 



(Plate 85.) 



Bromus ciliatus. 



A tall, coarse species, much addicted to rocky woodlands, but of DO 

 agricultural value. 



LOLIUM. 



Spikelets several-flowered, solitary on each joint of the continuous rhachis of the 

 simple spike, placed edgewise against the rhachis, the glume wanting on the inside, 

 the outer empty glume nearly as long as, or longer than, the spikelets ; flowering 

 glume rounded on the back, not keeled ; palet shorter, two-keeled. 



Lolitim perenne (Italian Rye Grass). 



A perennial grass, introduced from Europe. The culms are 2 to 3 feet high, very 

 leafy, and terminating in a loose, spike-like panicle, 6 inches or more in length. 

 The spikelets are arranged alternately on the axis, placed edgewise ; that is, with one 

 edge of the flat spikelet applied to the main stem at short distances, so that there 

 may be twenty or more in the panicle. The spikelets are one-half to throe-fourths 

 of an inch long; generally seven to eleven-flowered. The inner empty glume is gen- 

 erally wanting, so that, except on the terminal spikelets, only one glume is apparent, 

 which is half or more than half the length of the spikelet, narrowly lanceolate, and 

 acute. The general appearance of the panicle is like that of couch grass (Agropyrum 

 repens). The flowering glumes are thickish, obscurely nerved, rather hispid, acutely 

 pointed, or, in the variety Italicum, with a rather long awn. The proper palets are 

 similar to the flowering glumes, and of nearly equal length. 



An intelligent writer whom we have frequently quoted, says, respect- 

 ing this grass : 



It occupies the same place in Great Britain that Timothy does with us, and is there 

 esteemed, on the whole, higher than any other species of grass, and is called rye grass 

 or ray grass. Of all the varieties of Lolium perenne which are known, that called 

 Italicum is by far the most valuable. Its spikelets are conspicuously bearded, the 

 flowers being all terminated by long, slender awns, which character distinguishes it 

 very easily from Lolium perenne. Its name (Italian rye grass) is derived from the fact 

 that its native habitat is on the^plains of Lombardy, where broad and extensive plains 

 of pasture laud are frequently inundated by the mountain streams which intersect 

 them. It is mainly adapted to irrigated meadows, and in these it is undoubtedly 

 superior to any other grass. 



Professor Phares says: 



This grass stands drought well and grows most luxuriantly in our Southern States. 

 If not kept grazed or mowed, however, the leaves cover the ground so deeply and 

 densely that an excess of rain in very hot weather in the extreme South causes it 



